Describing uncertain shapes in old portraits

Harrylob

My current game art exercise involves designing several characters who appear in small conversation windows. When the image is reduced, differences in the outline often remain clearer than small facial details. I want to vary the proportions without making every rounded face friendly or every angular face stern. I found a face shape quiz while collecting vocabulary for my sketch notes. For this exercise, the terminology would be a starting point for variations rather than a set of constraints. One page could vary forehead width and jaw width while keeping the expression and viewing angle similar. The next step would be checking the portraits at game size, where some distinctions may become less visible. The labels would remain a private organizing aid, while players would simply see the finished character designs. Does anyone use a practical sketch exercise to separate face shape variation from familiar personality stereotypes?