If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to draw a realistic female face, then you’re in the right place. In this step-by-step tutorial, we will break down the process, providing detailed explanations and illustrated examples for each step. Whether you prefer using pencil and paper or any other drawing medium, these techniques can be applied across the board.
Defining Features of a Female Face
When it comes to drawing a female face, there are distinct features that set it apart from a male face. While facial features can vary from person to person, females generally have smoother, less pronounced features, rounder faces, and smaller chins.
Face Proportions
Before diving into the specifics of drawing a face, it’s essential to understand the general proportions. Take a look at the image below to get an idea of the positioning of different facial features. Keep in mind that these are just guidelines, and actual facial features may vary.
Using these guidelines can help you avoid significant mistakes when proportioning a face.
How to Draw a Face
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the process:
- Start by drawing the entire shape of the head.
- Create a rough sketch of all the facial features, making sure they are correctly placed before adding smaller details.
- Keep different parts of your drawing at the same level of completion.
Step 1 – Drawing the Female Head
To ensure symmetry and proper spacing of facial features, begin by drawing a vertical line through the middle of your drawing area. Then, draw a circle for the top part of the head. From there, project two lines that go to the jaw area and curve inwards, forming the chin.
For this tutorial, we’ll make the chin fairly small and narrow to emphasize the feminine look.
Step 2 – Refine the Shape of the Head
In this step, you can adjust the top shape of the head and add a hint of the cheekbones. Once done, erase the circle guideline, but leave the middle line intact.
Step 3 – Proportioning the Face
To create guidelines for the facial features, divide the face into four parts using horizontal lines. These lines should start from the hairline area down towards the chin, resulting in three evenly spaced sections and a smaller hairline portion.
Step 4 – Placing the Eyebrows
Sketch the eyebrows directly below the second line from the top of the head, right after the hairline line.
Step 5 – Placing the Nose
Start drawing the nose near the inner tips of the eyebrows. Simplify the nose into flat planes for the front, sides, and bottom in the initial sketch. Note that the nose should narrow towards the bridge and widen towards the bottom of the face.
Please keep in mind that noses can differ greatly from person to person. The average nose depicted in this tutorial generally extends slightly past the middle portion of the three divisions. Longer noses may go farther down.
Step 6 – Placing the Ears
Draw the outline of the ears inside the middle portion of the three evenly spaced divisions, touching the second and third lines from the top.
Step 7 – Placing the Eyes
Draw another horizontal line through the middle of the head, crossing out the previous horizontal lines. On this line, sketch the shape of the eyes, leaving enough space in between for another eye. The width of the eyes should be slightly less than the space on the sides.
Step 8 – Placing the Mouth
Position the mouth by drawing a horizontal line between the bottom of the nose and the chin. This line represents the bottom of the bottom lip. Then, draw a horizontal line for the mouth and another one above it for the top lip. Remember that the bottom lip tends to be larger than the top lip.
Step 9 – Drawing the Facial Features
Now it’s time to add details to the facial features. Let’s break it down:
Drawing Female Eyes
Inside the shape of the eyes sketched in previous steps, draw the circles of the irises. Make sure the top part is slightly covered by the eyelids, with the bottom touching the bottom eyelid. Keep in mind that bigger, wider eyes can create a more youthful and feminine look.
Drawing a Female Nose
Drawing a female nose can be tricky, as defining its shape too much could make it appear less feminine. Based on the earlier proportions, sketch some lines to indicate the nostrils and sides of the nose. Add a hint of the tip and the bridge.
Drawing Female Lips
For the top lip, draw a flattened “M” shape. The bottom lip consists of two evenly split curves that join at the bottom of the mouth, forming one larger curve.
Drawing Female Ears
Since the ears will be covered by hair in this tutorial, we won’t go into drawing their inner shape. You can refer to additional resources for drawing ears.
Drawing Eyebrows
For this tutorial, we’ll simply create an outline of the eyebrows. To achieve a more feminine look, make the eyebrows relatively thin.
Step 10 – Drawing the Outline of the Hair
The way you draw the hair will depend on the desired hairstyle. In this example, the hair is divided into two major shapes stemming from the parting line. The left side has more hair, resulting in a larger shape compared to the right side.
Step 11 – Drawing the Hair Details
To add texture and detail to the hair, draw lines flowing from the parting line down along the shape of the hair. Vary the length and spacing of these lines to create a natural look.
Step 12 – Drawing the Eyelashes
If desired, you can add realistic eyelashes to your drawing. Draw individual hairs with slightly different distances between them, maintaining an overall even distribution. Remember that eyelashes tend to grow more towards the outer half of the eyes, following the curved shape of the eyelids.
Conclusion
Drawing a female face can be challenging, especially with its subtler features. However, with practice and following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can improve your skills as an artist.
For further guidance on drawing different types of faces, check out these resources:
- How to Draw a Male Face Step by Step Tutorial
- How to Draw a Young Girl in 12 Steps (With Proportions)
Remember, practice makes perfect, and don’t be discouraged if it takes time to master the art of drawing faces!
