Question on sketching with cranium circle

[bright quail]

(Note: Very beginner artist) Im having a hard time figuring out the structure of reference photos using the Loomis Method. I'm very new to art, have only been practicing reference drawings to get an idea of structure, and I think im messing up where exactly the beginning circle is supposed to be in a sketch.

From my understanding its supposed to be the cranium shape, but I never seem to get it consistent when imagining it over art. For example, image attached with headband man has a circle where I think the cranium is, but it completely misses the ear (which should be touching the edge of the circle I think).

Basically, I would just like to know what this beginning circle actually consist of in structure; does it include the mouth and the nose? does that depend on the angle? does it touch the ear and end of jawline? does it go more elliptical on certain head angles or is it always a circle?

[marble lodge]

Depending on the angle, gender, type or just the face shape can change the appearance of the circle more so the chin

Male has a more defined jawline

normally u put the circle and the jawline, then eyes+nose+mouth+ ears

For a more defined example
Big Mom is a more obese character so her face shape is different compared to someone like Ubel

[bright quail]

But in all those scenarios you still always start with a circle, right? So are you saying that the circle cranium would be placed on a different part of the face depending on all those aspects, or just the jawline?

My main issue is I cant figure out where this circle is supposed to go, since it seems to be very important in the loomis method; the mid line of the circle is the brow line, so the circle has to be positioned right to get at least that correct

[marble lodge]

yep

dont try to go for "perfection"

you can always erase and change aspects of it

you can always decide what characters u want to draw first

[shy basin]

i would suggest you study the skull first, as you would see clearly the structure of the bones. The cranium isn't actually a circle but more like an oval shape when it's viewed from the side and becomes "circular" when view from the center but also from various angles.

and yea, depending on the angle it would contain more or less the other structure of the face but the nose and cheekbone is usually in there.

[bright quail]

yeah I suppose maybe im overthinking it, since these are fictional characters who maybe dont have the exact loomis face structure

[bright quail]

idk why but studying the skull never occured to me lol, ill go do that to clear this up. Ty!

[shy basin]

hehe have fun! just in time for this spooky season 💀 👻

[olive cape]

I would rather work on drawing over real people— that’s what the Loomis method was used on— real people with practical proportions.

The circle for the cranium encompasses the bottom of the nose (varies on angle), eyes, and browline. And in different perspectives it can show the side of the head.

Although with what I said above about practicing on real people, you have circle in a spot where you would normally assume the circle for the cranium would be. But you’re consistent on the error for the brow line. The browline marks the top of the ear and the nose line will map the bottom of the ear. Everything is broken into thirds on the face. Sometimes smaller than that.