Many readers have asked me to provide a tutorial on how to draw faces, and I’m happy to oblige! In order to make it easy to understand, I have divided the tutorial into three parts: drawing a face from the front, side, and 3/4 view. This article covers part 1 of 3. The methods I will be sharing in these tutorials are based on careful measurements taken from numerous adult faces, ensuring that each tutorial incorporates the same accurate measuring techniques. Once you have a good grasp of proportions, drawing faces will become as simple as pie.
Please note that this beginners’ step-by-step tutorial focuses on drawing a basic male face. The proportions differ for females.
Part 2: Drawing Male Faces (Side View)
Part 3: Drawing Male & Female Faces (3/4 View)
NEW: Drawing Female Faces from the Front
NEW: Drawing Female Faces (Side View)
NEW: Simple Version with Video!
Note: For these steps, it is recommended to use a blunt HB pencil. I used a 4B pencil in the accompanying images to provide clear visibility of the process. Keep in mind that the darker and harder you press, the more difficult it will be to erase the under-layers and guidelines.
Tools:
- HB Pencil
- Ruler
- Sakura Electronic Eraser
- Kneaded Eraser
- Canson Recycled Sketch Paper
Learn How to Draw a Realistic Face
Step 1: Initiate with a Circle
Begin by drawing a large circle and adding a horizontal line under it to represent the chin. Then, sketch the jawline. To ensure symmetry, draw a vertical line down the center of the face, ensuring both sides mirror each other.
Step 2: Add Guidelines on the Face
There are two methods to accomplish this step: using a ruler or freehand. It is highly recommended to use the ruler method for your first few attempts, as it helps maintain proper proportions. The ruler method involves creating a ruler beside your drawing that is the same height as the face. Divide the ruler into eight equal spaces. Start by drawing the center line and then faint lines through the face at the designated markings (CENTER LINE, 2, 3, A, and C). Once you become accustomed to this technique, you won’t need to draw the ruler each time.
The freehand method involves drawing lines in the following order: CENTER LINE, 2, 3, B, A, C. Drawing the forehead section in half first (B) makes the process easier, especially when drawing without a ruler.
Super SIMPLE Method: If you find the above methods confusing, you can check out my simple method and accompanying video for a clearer understanding.
Step 3: Position the Eyes Correctly
On the face, mark the center line with four ticks equally spaced apart. The eyes will roughly align with this line. Don’t be afraid to position them slightly above or below the line, as eyes often have a slanted appearance. For tips on drawing more mysterious and masculine eyes, refer to the provided link.
Step 4: Sketch a Proportionate Nose
Extend two lines from the inner corners of each eye. These guidelines will determine the width of the nose. With the guidelines in place, start drawing the nose. If you want a sculpted look, emphasize angular shapes when sketching the nose. For a detailed nose-drawing tutorial, click on the link provided.
Step 5: Add the Eyebrows
Extend the bridge of the nose beyond the eyelids to define the brow bone (this step is optional). Make sure these lines are light! Using a 4B pencil, draw the eyebrows along the brow bone. Thick and bushy eyebrows can enhance a masculine appearance. For an in-depth tutorial on drawing eyebrows, click on the link provided.
Step 6: Depict Lips Using a Triangle Shape
Draw a vertical line through the center of each eye. This will serve as a guide for the outer boundary of the lips. To start, place a triangle in the small area under the nose. If you positioned the nose well above line 2, extend the triangle until it touches the nose.
Step 7: Include the Ears
The center line and line 2 indicate the general boundaries for each ear. If you wish to learn how to draw an ear from the front, refer to the link provided.
Step 8: Draw the Hair
Position the upper hairline between lines A and B. You have the freedom to determine the size of the forehead. To draw a receding hairline, extend the hair from the sides of the head above line A. When drawing a man’s face, it is essential to bring in hair from the sides to create a solid and visible hairline. For guidance on drawing six different hairstyles, follow the link provided.
If you have an electric eraser, use it to quickly eliminate the guidelines in your drawing. You can also use a kneaded eraser to clean up any dark spots or tight spaces.
Click here if you want to learn shading techniques for faces!
Experiment with Drawing Various Types of Faces
As always, feel free to deviate from the exact guidelines provided above. Learn to draw heads using the basic guidelines and then explore various combinations of facial features and proportions.
Take a look at the different faces I created below using rough measurements!
You can draw unique faces by experimenting with different eye shapes, eyebrow angles, nose lengths, and more. Grab a piece of paper and challenge yourself to draw as many faces as possible!
By engaging in this enjoyable exercise, you will be able to draw faces effortlessly, identify any proportional errors in your previous drawings, understand why certain faces appear more realistic, and even create cartoon and caricature illustrations.
I hope you found this tutorial on drawing faces for beginners enjoyable and easy to follow. If you have any questions or requests, please leave a comment below, and I’ll respond as soon as possible.
Happy drawing!
Other Face Drawing Tutorials:
Part 2: Drawing Faces from the Side
Part 3: Drawing Faces from the 3/4 View
NEW: Draw Female Faces from the Front
NEW: How to Draw Female Faces (Side View)
NEW: Simple Method to Draw Male/Female Faces
