Many RFA readers have requested me to write a tutorial on how to draw faces, so here it is!
To make it easy to digest, I split the tutorial up into 2 parts: How to draw a face from the front and from the side. This is part 1 of 2. I came up with the original methods in these 2 tutorials by measuring over a dozen adult faces, so each tutorial carries over the same measuring techniques. Drawing faces should be easy as pie after you get the proportions down.
This beginners’ step by step tutorial is for a basic male face. The proportions are different for females.
Click here for more face drawing tutorials…
Part 2: Drawing male faces (side view)
NEW: Drawing female faces from the front
NEW: Drawing female faces (side view)
NEW: SIMPLE version with video!
Note: Remember to use a blunt HB pencil for these steps. I used a 4B so you can clearly see what I’m doing. Remember, the darker you go and the harder you press, the more difficult it will be to erase your under-layers/guidelines.
Tools:
Learn How to Draw a Realistic Face
Step 1: Start with a circle
Draw a large circle and make a horizontal line below it for the chin. Then sketch the jawline. Draw a vertical line down the center of the face and make sure both sides of the face are symmetrical.
Step 2: Draw guidelines on the face
There are 2 ways to do this step: Ruler or no ruler. I highly recommend using the ruler method for the first couple of faces you draw. Why? Because doing this step without it can throw your proportions off like crazy. Especially if you have trouble locating the ‘center’ of an object with your eyes. The no ruler method requires you to split multiple sections of the face in half and then in half again.
Ruler Method: Make a ruler beside your drawing that is the same height. The ruler should be marked so there are 8 equal spaces. Always start with the center line.
Draw faint lines through the face on the markings labelled CENTER LINE, 2, 3, A, and C. As you get used to this, you won’t need to draw the ruler on the side.
No Ruler Method: Without the ruler, I draw lines in this order: CENTER LINE, 2, 3, B, A, C (B is included because it’s easier to break the forehead section in half first, especially when you’re drawing freehand). This is the method I use to draw heads all the time.
Super SIMPLE Method: If it’s still a little confusing, check out my simple method here. It’s also paired with a video so you can see how I do it!
Step 3: Draw eyes in the right spot
On the face, mark the center line with 4 ticks spread equally apart. The eyes will sit roughly on this line. Don’t be afraid to move slightly above or below the line, since eyes are usually slanted. If you want to draw more mysterious manly eyes, click here.
Step 4: Draw a proportionate nose
Extend the 2 lines where the inner corners of each eye are located. These guidelines will determine the nose’s width. Now that we have a box, it’s time to draw the nose.
Click here to see my nose tutorial!
Start with a circle, resting it anywhere between line 1 and 2. You can give your male character a more chiseled appearance by drawing the nose using very angular shapes.
Step 5: Add the eyebrows
Extend the nose’s bridge past the eyelids to define the brow bone (this step is optional). These lines should be very light!
Using a 4B pencil, draw the eyebrows along the brow bone. Facial features that can accentuate masculinity are thick bushy eyebrows!
Click here for my in-depth tutorial on how to draw eyebrows!
Step 6: Use a triangle shape to draw lips
Draw a vertical line down the center of each eye. This will mark the lips’ outer boundary. Click here for my lips tutorial. If you’ve already read it, place your triangle in the small box under the nose to start. If you drew the nose well above line 2, extend the triangle so the tip touches the nose.
Step 7: Add the ears
The Center Line and Line 2 mark the general boundaries for each ear.
In-depth tutorial on how to draw an ear from the front
Step 8: Draw the hair
Draw the upper hairline somewhere in between line A and B. It’s up to you how large you want the forehead to be. To draw a receding hairline, go above line A. When you’re drawing a man’s face, bring in hair from the sides of the head to create a solid and visible looking hairline.
How to draw 6 different hairstyles – 7 detailed steps
If you have an electric eraser, use it to quickly get rid of all the guidelines that run through your drawing. You can clean up certain dark spots or tight spaces with a kneaded eraser.
Click here if you want to learn to shade faces!
Experiment with Drawing Different Types of Faces
As always, you don’t need to stick to the exact guidelines above. Learn how to draw heads using the basic guidelines and then mix and match facial features and face proportions.
Take a look at the different faces I made below using rough measurements!
Learn to draw unique faces by experimenting with various eye shapes, eyebrow angles, nose lengths/widths, etc… Grab a piece of paper and draw as many faces as possible!
Through this fun exercise, you will be able to draw faces faster with little effort, identify proportional errors when you revisit old drawings, identify what makes certain faces look more realistic than others, be able to draw cartoons, caricatures and more.
I hope you guys enjoyed this tutorial on how to draw a face for beginners and found it easy to follow. If you have any questions or requests, leave it in the comments below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Happy drawing!!
Other face drawing tutorials:
Darlene created RFA In 2013 with the goal of sharing simple yet detailed drawing tutorials with other artists on the world wide web. She is a self taught pencil portrait artist and Youtuber.
Thanks, Darlene, very helpful! One question, how far below the circle to draw the chin line. It’s clear the circle is more than half the length of the face, but the bottom of the circle doesn’t seem to quite line up with the 1 line either. So I find it a bit confusing to be so accurate with the ruler, but yet the circle doesn’t match anything on the ruler – no line matches the diameter or the bottom. Any assistance would be appreciated!
Hi Harry! There’s no definitive line for the chin because faces come in all sizes. At the bottom of the article, I drew a bunch of faces with some chin lines further away and some close to the circle. For an average head, I think a little more than half the length of your circle will be good :)
Thanks so much, Darlene, that makes sense!
Also, I wonder if you have any tutorials are drawing with ink, like in graphic novels, rather than shading?
My pleasure :)
I don’t have any tutorials with ink, sorry! I mainly work with graphite.
Do a simple cartoon face please
Your tutorials are really so helpful…my drawing ability is improving…
But I have problem with body parts proportions…for example I draw the head bigger in proportion to body…is there any tutorial of you about that? I will really grateful to you
Hi Firoz! Unfortunately I don’t have any tutorials on drawing the body yet. I do have an article that might help you with proportions based on measuring the size of the head. Please visit this link and scroll to the middle of the article: https://rapidfireart.com/2015/10/04/3-drawing-exercises-to-instantly-boost-your-drawing-skills/
please how can I get blending stump? I need it.
You can buy them in most art supply stores. They’re not common in general stationary sections of big box stores.
wow those tutorial were marvellous, but could you please prepare on how to shade face..
Thank you! I’m working on a detailed shading tutorial and face shading tutorial right now. They should be released around the same time. You can subscribe to the newsletter to get updates on new tutorials.
Thanks. I already subscribed and look forward to your new tutoriaks
I lòve your tutorials Your tips really work. Wish you would do one on drawing the tirso.
I live your tutorials Your tips really work. Wish you would do one on drawing the tirso.
I’ll add that to my to-do list :)
This is genius, your tutorials have helped me a lot. I cannot wait until the one on how to draw a face from 3/4 view is up! Keep up the good work!
Thanks for the encouragement Arnelle! I’m working on a shading tutorial at the moment. I will get back to the last face tutorial soon :)
These tutorials are splendid! Drawing has always been so hard for me, and all of my friends can do it with little effort. I felt a little left out, honestly. Every other site wants me to sign up for stuff and pay money that I don’t have. So, thank you for these free drawing lessons. It’s amazing what I can do now!
Glad you stopped by Savannah! :D
I really love this article, could you possibly do one on drawing body muscle? I would really appreciate it.
Hi Ryan, I’ll add that to my to-do list :)
thank you for this. Can’t wait to try it out. Can you make a tutorial on how to shade faces? I suck at shading and I really really need it so bad. Thank you once again! :D
Yes, for sure! That tutorial is high up on my to-do list :)
I love ur tutorials ^^ and pls make a tutorial on how to shade the face also !!
Thanks for the suggestion Sanchit! :)
I love that I found your site! Its given me the tips I need to create better face portraits. :D Its so clear and concise and the steps really help. Thankyou Darlene!
Darlene, u have been the best art teacher I have ever had !
I am proud of my progress. And I hope I never forget these. I’ll keep practising.
Awww thanks :)
Wow. I love your site and all of your tutorials.
Thanks Marykay :)
this is exactly what im looking for… thank you~