In this tutorial, I will guide you through drawing lips using a simple triangle shape. By following these 10 easy steps, you can create various types of lips with just a few adjustments. Interestingly, I stumbled upon this method by associating lips with a bow and arrow. It’s quite amusing!
Many readers have reached out to me, sharing their success with this tutorial. I hope it works wonders for you too! Enjoy the process!
For this tutorial, you will need the following materials:
- Mechanical Pencil with 0.5mm HB Ain lead
- Derwent Graphic 6B Pencil
- Kneaded Eraser
- Blending Stump
- Smooth Bristol Paper
Step 1: Draw a Triangle
Start by sketching a long isosceles triangle. Draw a curved line partway down, similar to the shape of a “u.” Connect the “u” shape to the base of the triangle with a straight horizontal line. The length of the horizontal line determines the width of the lips. Longer lines create wider lips, while shorter lines create plumper lips.
If you’re wondering where to position the triangle on a face, check out my tutorial on drawing faces. It covers proportions and will help you determine the appropriate length and width of the triangle based on other facial features.
Step 2: Draw a Bow
Outline the top lip by creating a shape that resembles a cupid’s bow.
Step 3: Draw the Bottom Lip
Draw the bottom lip by sketching a curved line that doesn’t extend past the base of the triangle. Complete the mouth’s opening by using the horizontal line as a guide.
If you’re unsure about this step or need a more detailed demonstration, you can watch my step-by-step drawing on YouTube. I provide plenty of examples to make it easier for you.
Step 4: Decide on the Light Direction
After erasing the triangle, determine the direction of the light source. For this example, the light source originates from the top right. I’ve marked the areas I want to highlight and added a cast shadow on the left side of the bottom lip.
Step 5: Shade the Top and Bottom Lip
Shade both the top and bottom lips, keeping the areas mentioned in Step 4 the lightest. Notice the dark shadow under the bottom lip, which gradually fades on the right side to indicate the light coming from the upper right.
Step 6: Add Lip Wrinkles
Using a 0.5mm HB pencil, add some subtle lip wrinkles. Be careful not to press too hard, as it may affect the next step.
Looking to incorporate lip wrinkles naturally? Try the contour shading technique mentioned in my shading tutorial.
Step 7: Blend the Bottom Lip
Using a blending stump (learn how to use one here), smooth out the shading on the bottom lip. Avoid blending the areas mentioned in Step 4. These areas contribute to a plumper and rounder appearance of the lips. You’ll notice that the lip wrinkles blend in with the shading, but they should still be visible.
Step 8: Clean up Highlights
With the pointed end of a kneaded eraser, carefully go over the lighter areas and clean up the highlights. This step will create a subtle glare effect.
Step 9: Repeat
Repeat Steps 7 and 8 for the top lip.
Step 10: Touch-ups
Using a 6B pencil, darken the shadows on the outer edges of the lips, beneath the bottom lip, on the wrinkles, and at the corners of the lips. If desired, you can adjust the size of the lips by moving the horizontal line up (for thinner upper lip) or down (for thicker upper lip). Adding more glare will enhance the plumpness of the lips.
If you have any questions or specific requests, feel free to let me know in the comments!
Don’t worry if your first attempt doesn’t yield the expected results. Keep practicing, and with each step, you’ll gain a better understanding of the process. It will become easier, I promise! Also, feel free to experiment with various triangle shapes and guide placements in Step 2.
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Click here to learn how to draw various types of lips such as smiles, frowns, and smirks.
More Lip Tutorials:
- Drawing Lips from the 3/4 View
- Drawing a Smile with Teeth
- Drawing Lips from the Side
- How to Draw Lips on a Face
Looking for a simpler method? Here’s an alternative approach:
