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
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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Here is your PDF download link:
Click here to download the PDF version of this tutorial :)
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To learn how to draw short hair and shade it realistically, click here!
Other face drawing tutorials:
Part 1: Drawing Faces from the Front View
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.
Wow thanks so much for all this work, saves us a tonne of time!
Thank you very much for the invitation :). Best wishes.
PS: How are you? I am from France :)
This is a really helpful way I will surely try it out.🙃
Thanks so much!!! this helped a LOT with my project.
thank u for the lessons for my art, i just need to work on my eye. but practice makes perfect-ish.
hello everyone thanks for approve
Tnx… First time I would like draw the these type of pictures… Its show a professional skill… Tnqu very much… Awesome.. ❤️
Hello. And Bye.
i draw! faces but am not pleased with my drawing though, i like drawing! and i get tired quicklt
I want to draw my father face,this measurements can helps me or not.can you say please…..
really amazing way to learn. very simple and I agree practice makes perfect.
Thank you and looking forward to more tutorials
thank you darlene this will really help to improve my knowledge you good in drawing i liked this congratulations!!
Excellent work Darlene…..with your help my human faces draw have been more refined and cleaner(I don’t have to use shading to cover up anymore)…please, can create a tutorial on animal faces and figures too…thank you so much : )
i can hug u for these awsome things u thouth ❤️
I’m an beginner I’m interested
Hi Darlene,I’m a self taught artist an do really enjoy doing some of your exercises, one of my teachers in school or someone told me once (and this has helped me alot,and maybe it will help some of your followers)they said”draw it the way it’s supposed to look and not the way you want it to look”this has helped me numerous times,thank you soo much and keep up the great work!