How to draw a face from the side – 10 steps

Hey Guys! I’m back with a new tutorial as a followup to the last one: how to draw a face from the front. This tutorial is very similar to the last one because it uses the same ruler ‘a,b,c, center line, 1,2,3’. If you followed my last tutorial, this one should be easy for you to pick up.

This tutorial requires a bit of measuring, so bear with me!

Sorry in advance if the image quality is not up to par. I just moved back to Canada from a one year trip in Japan and couldn’t bring my scanner with me. So I scanned these images with my phone. I did my best to make everything clear, so I hope you guys enjoy the tutorial!

NEW: How to Draw Female Face (Side View)

Tools:

• HB Derwent pencil
• Kneaded eraser
• A straight edge or ruler (optional)

Step 1: Start with an Oval

Draw an oval and place a horizontal line below it that is a little bit less than one oval down. Then draw a vertical line down the middle.

Step 2: Draw a Ruler

On the side, draw a ruler the same length as your drawing and divide the ruler into eight equal spaces starting in the center. Make sure the spaces are as equal as possible! Use a straight edge to extend these markings over your drawing without pressing too hard.

You can also create these lines without the ruler on the side, but I recommend using it at least the first 2 or 3 times you practice drawing a face from the side.

Step 3: Add the Ear

Draw an ear on the left side of the head between line C and line 2. Click here for a detailed tutorial on how to draw ears.

Step 4: Face Outline

Draw a straight line down the front of the face (let’s call this the face line). Stop at line 2 and slant inwards the rest of the way down. Connect the ear to the chin to complete the jaw.

Step 5: Second Ruler

Make a horizontal line at the bottom of your drawing spanning from the middle of the head to the front of the face. Divide the line into 6 sections.

You can forget about this ruler for now. We’ll come back to it later.

Step 6: Define Brow Bone

Draw a shallow ‘c’ shape where the Center Line and Face Line intersect. Shape the brow bone, working your way up to the forehead and merge the line back into the oval.

Step 7: Draw the Nose

Draw two small circles: one on the face line between lines 1 and 2 and another circle to the right of that.

Click here for a detailed tutorial on drawing noses from the side.

Step 8: Lips and Chin

Line your straight edge or ruler up to the marking labelled ‘H’ and draw a straight line through the face.

Draw the top lip under line 2. Now that we have one lip drawn, it’s time to draw the mouth’s corner. Place a small tick on line H.

Draw the bottom lip above line 3. Underbite or overbite?? Your choice!

Followup with the jaw and chin. Keep in mind that they do not need to follow along the underlayer created in step 4.

Step 9: Eye and Eyebrow

Draw a line from the marking labelled ‘G’ all the way up through the head.

To draw an eye, create a triangle between lines G and H on the Center Line.

Click here for a detailed tutorial on how to draw an eye from the side! If you want to apply the method in the link, create another vertical line shooting up from the tick labelled F and draw your circle (eyeball) between F and H on the Center Line.

Draw the eyebrow below line C.

Step 10: Back of the Head, Neck and Hair

Draw the top and back of the head by following along the oval and taking a plunge all the way down, creating the back of the neck. When you draw the front part of the neck, try not to go too far left past the middle of the head.

Draw a regular hairline on the forehead between lines A and B or a receding hairline above line A.

Add some finishing touches.. and you’re all set! Practice this a few more times and when you’re comfortable, try drawing without the two rulers on the side and bottom of your drawing!

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To learn how to draw short hair and shade it realistically, click here!

Other face drawing tutorials:

How to Shade a Face

NEW: How to Draw Female Face (Side View)

NEW: Draw Female Faces from the Front

Part 1: Drawing Faces from the Front View

Part 3: Drawing Faces from the 3/4 View

Darlene Nguyen

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.