When painting a portrait of a face, it is important to pay attention to proportions, but it's also important to not become overly rigid with measurements. The goal is to capture the essence and character of the subject, so while guidelines for proportions (like the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth) are useful, they should be adapted to fit the individual.
In this context, one might say that it is important to not ignore the emotional expression and personality of the subject. So, when considering what not to do, one might say: "It is important to do all of the following except to rigidly adhere to generic proportions." This allows for a more expressive and authentic portrayal of the subject.
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