Buzz
Since ancient times, people have devoted countless hours to capturing the essence of human expressions through portraits. While admiring such works is delightful, the experience becomes even more fulfilling when you possess the ability to create them yourself. While the body conveys movement in a drawing, the face reflects emotions – the soul within each of us. You can learn to depict this by mastering the basics of drawing a human face, and the next step is to use charcoal or paint.
Steps
Draw an oval, slightly narrower at the bottom. Lightly sketch a vertical line down the center, then draw a horizontal line across the middle of the oval. The eyes will be placed along this horizontal line. Divide the space below into two equal parts and draw a line in the middle. This will mark the position of an average-length nose. Divide the lower space into three sections. The mouth will occupy the top third, and the remaining space will be the chin.
At the midpoint of the horizontal line, draw two almond shapes – these will be the eyes. In terms of anatomical proportions for a correctly scaled face, the width of the face equals five eyes placed side by side, with each eye matching the distance between the two eyes you are drawing. Starting from the left, the two eyes you draw will be the second and fourth in this sequence. Typically, the inner corners of the eyes point downward; the outer corners can tilt upward or downward depending on the face. For this guide, the outer corners of the eyes should tilt slightly upward, creating a subtle horizontal "s" shape for the lower eyelid.
Draw the nose along the central guideline. The nose will be narrowest between the eyes and widest at the nostrils. Pay attention to the shape of the tip below. Every nose is unique, and if you're drawing a portrait, capturing the exact shape of the nose will make your artwork more lifelike.
Return to the top horizontal guideline. Draw the ears on either side of this line. Note that the upper part of the ear protrudes outward more and tapers inward near the earlobe. Some people have attached earlobes, while others have detached ones. Ears are relatively complex to draw – start with simple shapes until you master their structure.
Shape the mouth. Draw a flattened, rounded "V" shape slightly below the lowest guideline. This will form the lower lip. Connect the lower lip with a soft, wide "M" shape to create the upper lip. Add a subtle "m" shape between the lips to separate them and define their proportions. Adjust the mouth's position and the ratio between the lips to add variety to the face.
Draw the hair. Hair can be challenging, but start by outlining the general shape of the hairstyle. Want straight hair? Draw parallel lines flowing around the forehead. For curly hair? Use curved strokes. Remember, curls form clusters with strands drawn in parallel.
Complete the neck. The neck is thicker than we often assume. The sides of the neck extend from the jawline and curve slightly downward.
Add a collar or neckline as desired. You can draw a shirt collar, coat collar, or turtleneck—or even skip the collar altogether. The style you choose will hint at the time and setting of your drawing.
Complete.
Tips
- Pay attention to every detail, as even the smallest strokes can make a difference.
- Keep your pencil sharp; a fine tip is essential. Use light strokes so you can easily erase any mistakes.
- Remember, practice makes perfect.
- Start with light sketches.
- Don’t give up, but be open to criticism. Constructive feedback will help you improve.
- Capture the expression of the person you’re sketching.
- If it doesn’t turn out right, try again. If you end up tearing the drawing, take a break and return with a fresh perspective.
- Practice daily by sketching people you see in the media or on the streets.
- Use varying shades and shading techniques to highlight facial features.
- Remember tiny details like freckles and moles, and aim for realism. You won’t get it perfect the first time, so be patient and avoid pressing too hard.
- If you feel frustrated with your drawing, step away for a while and try again later.
- Focus on proportions, as they are crucial for achieving realism. You can’t move on to finer details if the eyes are misplaced. Even in cartoons or stylized figures, maintaining basic proportions is key to creating unique yet believable characters.
Warning
- Your drawings won’t be perfect on the first try. Stay patient and never give up.
- Always use a sharp pencil. A dull pencil makes drawing difficult and can leave your work looking messy.
- Take short breaks occasionally to prevent sweaty hands, hold the pencil correctly, and create clean, precise lines for the face!
What You’ll Need
- Paper, pencil, and eraser—preferably a kneaded gray eraser.
- Tracing paper. If unavailable, you can place a light under a glass table.
- Colored pencils
- A variety of pencils: light, medium, dark, shading, etc. Visit an art supply store and ask for HB, 2B, and 6B pencils. These three are ideal for any sketch.
- A reference photo is helpful if you’re not drawing from a live model.
- For beginners, know that you can create a stunning face with a standard #2 pencil and an eraser. However, different pencils can enhance your work with better contrast and finer details.
