Structure and anatomy are topics I constantly return to - and once again today, while searching for an image, found what should have been a really nice celebrity portrait, spoiled by the melted-plastic-doll effect. It happens when you've gone straight for the detail, without using any kind of structure. Variations of tone and slight errors in placement make it look as though the subject is a plastic model - no bones, just skin - and left too long in the hot sun, and undoes all that careful detail. Good realist artists might not use drawn structure, but they are able to do so, so can visualize it even if they don't draw the lines - and they know their anatomy. They can take a step back and look at the drawing, identify the key planes and look for danger areas. They'll recognize inconsistent perspective, misaligned features or pencil marks or lighting effects that translate to blemishes or distortion.
The solution? Practice sketching faces from life. Know the proportions of the face and how to use these when drawing from life, and of course, study the anatomy of the face.
Image: Sketch in progress (c) Ed Hall, licensed to About.com, Inc.
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