This tutorial has 3 examples for you to draw from: Overbite, Normal Bite and Underbite. When going through the tutorial, please pick only 1 example to follow instead of drawing all 3 lips at the same time.
Tools
- Kneaded Eraser
- Derwent HB, 2B pencils
- Mechanical pencil with 4B Ain lead by Pentel
- Canson Sketch Paper (I find sketch paper so much harder to work with if I want to blend smoothly. I much prefer working on Canson Bristol. Unfortunately out of bristol paper at the moment.)
How to Draw Lips from the Side:
Step 1: Choose top and bottom lip positioning
Step 2: Choose the lip angle
Step 3: Draw a triangle
Step 4: Draw the mouth’s corner
Step 5: Draw the top lip
You can start with the top or bottom lip. For this tutorial, I’m starting with the top.
Draw a curve that starts at the top left corner of the triangle. This curve can roughly follow the shape of the triangle, jut out or be drawn well inside the boundaries. It’s all up to you.
Step 6: Complete the top lip
Step 7: Draw the bottom lip
To draw the bottom lip, start your stroke from the bottom left corner of the triangle and wrap it up until it touches the top lip.
Step 8: Draw the upper and lower lip
When drawing the lower lip/chin for underbites, make sure the curve is less pronounced. The bottom set of teeth push the bottom/lower lip forward, reducing a lot of curvature.
Step 9: Draw the rim of the top and bottom lip
Using your HB pencil with as little pressure as possible, draw the rims around each lip, connecting them to the corner of the mouth. Then erase your guidelines.
Step 10: Add contour lines
Time to shade! If you think your lines are too dark, use your kneaded eraser to pick up 1 layer of graphite from your drawing. Then use a sharp HB pencil to lay down your contour lines.
Step 11: Shade the lips
Start building up more contour lines using your HB, 2B, then 4B pencils.
Around the rim of each lip, soften your edges so they don’t appear too harsh.
Step 12: Shade the skin
For this tutorial, I used circulism to shade the skin around the lips. I used a blunt HB pencil and built up layers and layers of circles. Then used a 2B to shade darker areas.
I shaded areas such as the lower lip, cheek, corner of the mouth and skin directly under the nose a bit darker. If you still see a lot of white space, use your HB pencil to go over the skin with even more layers. Don’t press too hard or your circles will be very visible!
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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 it works great I love the way it turned out
Thank you so much for making these tutorials and for making them free.
Darlene, thank you for your tutorials, I’m 72 years old, I have large family, so for years I couldn’t take time for something I have always love, drawing anything, I just love it, so with your tutorials I have been able to do good not great yet but looking forward to get perfect like you! Thank you again, and God Bless you and your family!
This is one of the best drawing sites I have seen. Excellent explanations and tutorials. Thanks Darlene.
Hi. I have to say I am inspired by your artwork and want to try to make my art just as good as yours. I am only 13 years old and always wanted to draw realistically and now thanks to your tutorials I can at least try to make my art better.
People used to tell me that I can’t draw. Thanks with your tutorials which are detailed and beginner friendly, I am not an artist yet but this improvement in my art in just 2 weeks is great. I am proving them wrong.
Way to go!! :)
Great tutorial again. Really appreciate the effort put into to share skills and knowledge with others. I posted just today on another mouth tutorial an now completed all three. I’ll post to the gallery if I can. I’m just into my second month of drawing.
Cheers
Silvano
I look forward to seeing your work!
i a beginner i am 14 and i love art and to draw and this is so helpful !! thank you so much and you are amazing artist
I’m new thanks for this
Welcome to RFA, Ishu!
I always thought I could never draw realistically. About a month ago, I decided to give it another try. I stumbled upon your website, and I was hooked. Your style of tutorial is perfect for my style of learning. Some I picked up after a try or two, others I’m still working on. However, your tutorials inspired me to keep at it. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and skill! You are incredibly talented!
Thank you for your kind words Tasha. If you ever have any questions or need constructive feedback on your work, drop me a message in the contact form! :)
Nice dear amazing I am loving it ,it helped me lot
So happy I could help!
Cool!