There is a sweet and simple science to positioning your subject matter on your paper or canvas. No matter what type of portraiture that interests you — whether it be portrait drawings or portrait painting — the Golden Ratio, the Eye of God and certain other “sweet spots” are good to know about.

When learning to draw with graphite pencil, knowing the fundamentals is key. Below, Lee Hammond shares expert insight into the basics, excerpted from her book, Lee Hammond's All New Big Book of Drawing.

Do you ever look at the painting-in-process on your easel and wonder what you’re going to title it? Do you think you have to give an artwork a title? That there’s no other alternative?