Another highly requested tutorial straight from the oven! In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the art of drawing a female face with soft features. Although based on the original method, we will incorporate subtle modifications in each step to achieve an authentic feminine look. So, let’s get started!
Expertise, Authority, Credibility, Experience (E-E-A-T)
Before we begin, it’s important to note that drawing a female face requires some key measurements and proportions. This is especially helpful for beginners who are learning the fundamentals. However, once you master these aspects, you can confidently experiment without relying on measurements.
Your Experience with the Product You Write (YMYL)
For this tutorial, you’ll need the following tools:
- HB pencil
- Ruler
- Sakura electric eraser (for efficient guideline removal)
- Prismacolor kneaded eraser
- Canson Recycled Sketch Paper
Step 1: Determining the Face Shape
Begin by sketching a circle. Then, draw a small horizontal line at the bottom as the chin. The position of the chin should roughly be half the diameter of the circle vertically. This step is crucial because the circle is drawn freehand, which may result in varying horizontal diameters.
Remember that female faces typically have shorter chins compared to males. Longer chins tend to convey a more masculine appearance. Once you’re done, connect the circle to the chin by drawing the jawline. For our example, we’ll focus on a smooth, tapered jawline that appears less angular. Lastly, use a ruler to draw a faint vertical line down the middle of the face.
Step 2: Establishing Face Guidelines
Measure the length of the face and draw a ruler to the side of your drawing using a straight edge. Divide the ruler into 8 equal spaces lengthwise. Label each tick as shown in the image. Once labeled, use a ruler to carefully draw faint lines on the face through the designated ticks: CENTER LINE, 2, 3, A, and C.
If you’ve already followed this tutorial multiple times and feel confident, you can try drawing the lines in a specific order without using the ruler: CENTER LINE, 2, 3, B, A, C. This approach involves continuously dividing sections of your drawing in half. Refer to the example image for guidance.
Step 3: Drawing the Eyes
On the CENTER LINE, mark 4 ticks to separate the face horizontally into 5 equal spaces. If your cheek/jaw line is narrow, consider accounting for the full diameter of the circle (indicated by the two dotted lines). When drawing the eyes, keep in mind that females typically have wider and more open eyes compared to males. If you wish to learn more about realistic eye shapes and iris sizing, refer to the recommended tutorial.
Step 4: Shaping the Nose
To draw the nose, extend the two lines at the inner corner of each eye until they reach Line 3. This will serve as a guideline for the nose’s width. If you’ve already familiarized yourself with our tutorial on drawing noses, position your circle above Line 2. In this case, we’ll opt for a short, narrow nose with a thin bridge.
Step 5: Defining the Eyebrows
The left image showcases the top of the brow bone to help you visualize the natural position of eyebrows in relation to the bone structure. In the right image, you’ll notice that the eyebrows are drawn below Line C. For a surprised expression, the eyebrows can be positioned closer to Line C. If you’re interested in mastering the art of drawing realistic eyebrows, we recommend referring to our detailed tutorial.
Step 6: Shaping the Lips
From the center of each iris, draw a vertical line extending down to Line 3. This will establish the boundary for the mouth. If you’ve already practiced our lip-drawing tutorial, position the triangle-shaped lips below the nose. The base of the triangle should be drawn within the square, while the top extends to the bottom of the nose. After drawing the lips, you may feel the desire to adjust the chin’s length to achieve better proportions. This is completely normal, so use faint lines to make these alterations easily.
Step 7: Adding Ears
The CENTER LINE and Line 2 act as general boundaries for positioning the ears. If you’re interested in acquiring the skills to draw realistic ears, we recommend checking out our dedicated tutorial.
Step 8: Detailing the Hair
When drawing hair on females, consider that they usually have narrower and shorter foreheads compared to males. In our example, we’ve drawn the hairline well below Line A and added more hair around the temple area, ensuring that it doesn’t overlap with the eyebrows. To create a voluminous effect, leave ample space between the head and the hair. For a more comprehensive guide on drawing hair, feel free to consult our recommended tutorial.
Before erasing the guidelines, take a moment to review the facial features and make any necessary adjustments. You may wish to alter the nose length or eye shape according to your preference. Once you’re satisfied with the result, use a hard eraser to clean up all the lines. An electric eraser is particularly useful for this task. Additionally, you can employ a kneaded eraser to gently remove any dark spots where the lines intersected with your drawing.
This tutorial mainly focuses on establishing the structure and proportions of the face. If you’re interested in learning how to shade a face, we recommend visiting our dedicated page.
Time to Experiment!
After gaining a strong foundation through this tutorial, challenge yourself to draw faces without relying on measurements. The image below showcases the faces we created using rough estimates. Let your imagination run wild and practice drawing faces swiftly. How many faces can you draw in under 20 minutes?
If you found this tutorial helpful and would like to see more, don’t forget to share it with your friends. Your support enables us to produce more high-quality, free tutorials!
Other face drawing tutorials you might enjoy:
- How to Shade a Face
- NEW: How to Draw Female Face (Side View)
- Part 3: Drawing Faces from the 3/4 View
- Part 2: Drawing Faces from the Side
- Part 1: Drawing Faces from the Front View
- NEW: Simple Method to Draw Male/Female Faces
