We'll first discuss Loomis' approach, which is more complex, but more accurate. If you find that this approach is a bit difficult for you, you can skip to the simpler approach further down the page. Remember, either way, the goal is to create a convincing drawing of a face so either approach you take is fine.
Step 1 - Draw a Circle and a Cross
We'll first draw a circle with two intersecting lines that connect directly in the center. The circle represents the top portion of the head. We'll use the intersecting lines to determine the locations of the facial features.
Step 2 - Draw a Square within the Circle
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- 5 Ways to Start Drawing Figures. You can begin drawing figures with the head and neck. Perhaps the most common and logical way to begin a figure drawing is to work from top to bottom - to initially indicate and place the model's head. Completed drawing on the left by William Adolphe Bouguereau.
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Next, we'll draw a square in which each corner touches the circle. This square will eventually represent the edges of the face. The top line will eventually become the bottom hairline. The bottom line will become the nose line, while the center line will become the brow line.
Step 3 - Draw the Chin
Now we'll measure the distance from the center line to the bottom line. You can use your pencil to do this. From the bottom line of the square, use this measurement to mark the location of the bottom of the chin. Then, draw the edges of the chin from each side of the square so that they connect at your marked location.
Step 4 - Locate the Eyes
Now we have the basic structure of the shape of the face in place. We'll next locate the eyes. We can use the height of the head to help us determine the location of the eyes on the face. The eyes are generally found on a line in the center of the head.
The brow line is represented by the center line that we drew in step one. So we know that the eyes should be found just below this line, in the center of the head. We can draw a line here for the 'eye line'.
Step 5 - Draw the Eyes
Now that we know where our eyes are located on the face, we can draw them. There's another measurement to keep in mind. We also should consider the width of the eyes. The width of the head, from ear to ear, generally measures the same length of five 'eyes'. This means that if we want to draw the eyes with accurate proportions, then we need to draw them so that they match this approximate measurement.
In this lesson, we're focusing only on drawing the face but if you want more instruction on drawing eyes, take a look at these lessons...
Step 6 - Locate and Draw the Nose
Moving down the face, we'll next draw the nose. The bottom of the nose can be found on the bottom line of the square that we drew in step two. The width of the nose varies from person to person, but is generally as wide as the inside corners of the eyes.
It may be helpful to draw two light lines down from the inside corners of the eyes to help you find the width of the nose.
Need a little help with drawing a nose? Take a look at these lessons...
Step 7 - Locate and Draw the Mouth
We find the mouth slightly higher than half-way between the bottom of the nose and the chin. Of course, this measurement varies from person to person. We can draw a line to mark the positioning of the mouth.
We can use the eyes to help us determine the width of the mouth. The corners of the mouth generally align with the inside edges of the pupils. It may be helpful to draw light lines from the pupils to the 'mouth line'.
Want some instruction on drawing a mouth? Take a look at these lessons...
Step 8 - Draw the Ears
Next, we'll draw the ears. Here again, we can use the locations of the features of the face to help us determine the location of the ears. The top of the ears will generally align with the brow line, while the bottom of the ears align with the nose line.
Keep in mind that the ears come out of the head and extend upward slightly. This means that the ears will extend outward from the head, near the eye line.
We've only sketched in a couple of loose ears for this lesson. If you want to take a closer look at drawing an ear, check out this lesson...
Step 9 - Draw the Hairline
Now we'll draw the hairline. If you're drawing someone that has long hair that overlaps the forehead, the hairline may not be visible, but it's still important to know where it's located. The hairline is found on the top edge of the square that we drew in step two.
Hairlines vary greatly from person to person. In this example, we'll draw a widow's peak pattern.
Step 10 - Draw the Hair
Step By Step Sketching People
Now that we have the hairline in place, we can draw the hair. Shorter hair extends only slightly off of the top of the head, while longer or bushier hair may extend quite a bit. In both cases, however, the hair extends out from the head and should not be drawn directly on the head.
Want more instruction on drawing hair? Check out this lesson...
Step 11 - Add the Neck
Sketch Of Person
Now we need to add a neck to our floating head. The tendency of most beginning artists is to make the neck too narrow. Generally speaking, the neck extends down from the bottom of the ears. Female necks are slightly more slender, while the necks of males are broader.
Person Sketch Outline Face
To draw the neck, we'll simply extend two lines down from the bottom of the ears.