Do your face drawings always turn out a little off? Maybe the eyes are too far apart, the nose looks strange, or you just can’t get the mouth right. You’re not alone – drawing faces is something almost every beginner struggles with. But here’s the good news: you don’t need to be born with talent to create a good face drawing. What you really need is a clear process and the right face drawing references to guide you.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to draw a face step by step, from basic head shapes to small details like eyebrows and hair. You’ll also learn how to use face drawing references the smart way, where to find them (there will be a big gallery in this post), and how they can instantly improve your sketches.
Start With the Basic Head Shape
Every great face drawing starts with a simple shape – a circle. This circle forms the top portion of the head. To create the lower half, sketch a curved line downward from the sides to create the jaw. Depending on the look you’re going for, the jaw can be round and soft or angular and sharp.
At this stage, don’t worry about making it look perfect. You’re just laying the groundwork. Think of it as building the skeleton that everything else will sit on. Light pencil strokes work best, so you can adjust as you go.
Use Guidelines to Place Facial Features Correctly
Now comes the most important part: placement. Without guidelines, it’s easy to draw crooked eyes or a mouth that floats too low. Use a vertical line down the center of the head to divide it in half. Then draw a horizontal line across the middle, this is where the eyes will go.
Next, divide the space below that into halves again. The lower line marks where the nose ends, and the space between the nose and chin gets divided again for the mouth. These guides don’t just help you stay organized – they train your eye over time to spot proportion.
A fun trick I use: imagine the face like a grid. You’re just plugging features into the right boxes.
How to Draw Eyes Step by Step
Eyes are often the first thing people look at in a drawing, and the hardest to get right. A simple rule helps a lot: the human face is about five eyes wide. Even though we only draw two, that extra space helps you place them correctly.
Start with soft almond shapes that sit right on the eye line. The corners of the eyes usually tilt slightly upward or downward, depending on the expression or ethnicity. Don’t forget to leave one “eye-width” of space between the two eyes.
Once the shapes feel right, add pupils, irises, and eyelids. Keep your strokes light and build up details slowly. Adding a bit of shading can make your eyes come alive.
Sketching the Nose With Simple Shapes
Noses are tricky, but you don’t have to dive into complex anatomy. Start with a basic triangle or a curved “U” shape that ends right at the bottom of your nose guideline. This helps you get the width and position just right.
The nostrils can be little commas or dots on each side of your base shape. Then, add soft shading under the tip and around the sides to create form. Look at reference photos to see how light falls on different noses.
Here’s a small tip I swear by: draw the shadows around the nose, not the nose itself. This creates a softer, more natural look.
Drawing Mouths That Look Natural
The mouth sits about one-third of the way between the nose and the chin. A good tip: the corners of the mouth usually line up with the center of each eye.
Start with a light line showing the division between the top and bottom lips. Then add the upper lip with a soft “M” shape and a fuller bottom lip beneath. Keep your lines subtle – too much detail can make it look stiff.
Mouths change a lot with emotion. So practice smiling, frowning, and surprised mouths using real references or photos of yourself in the mirror. You’ll quickly get the hang of it.
Adding Ears in the Right Position
Ears are often forgotten, or drawn too high or too low. But they actually have a simple rule: the top of the ears lines up with the eyes, and the bottom lines up with the nose.
Draw a soft “C” shape on each side of the head and add some simple lines inside to show the curves. You don’t have to go into too much detail unless the ear is the focus.
Remember, ears come in all shapes and sizes. Use references from different people to explore the variety.
Shaping the Jawline and Chin
Once the features are in place, it’s time to define the jawline. Use smooth lines from the ears down to the chin, following the shape you sketched at the beginning.
A round chin gives a softer, youthful look. A pointy or angular chin makes the face look more mature or masculine. Don’t be afraid to exaggerate slightly, especially if you’re going for a stylized look.
Want to improve quickly? Try drawing just jaws and chins from different people. It’s a great mini-exercise.
Drawing Hair Without Getting Lost in the Details
Hair can overwhelm beginners because it looks so complex. But here’s the trick: don’t draw every strand. Think of hair as big shapes, not individual lines.
Start by sketching the outline of the hairstyle – how it falls around the head. Then add a few flowing strokes to show direction. Light and shadow will do the rest.
Experiment with different hair types, straight, curly, messy, neat, and use face drawing references to see how hair interacts with the skull.
You can also take a look at my Drawing Hairstyles Ideas: Inspiration for Sketching Trendy Hairdos 2024 for more inspiration.
Inspiring Face Drawing References for Every Skill Level
Face Drawing Proportions for Beginners
Learning face proportions will make your sketches feel balanced. Here’s a simple cheat sheet:
- Eyes sit halfway down the head
- The space between the eyes is one eye-width
- The bottom of the nose is halfway between the eyes and the chin
- The mouth sits one-third between the nose and the chin
- Ears line up with eyes and nose
- The Neck begins under the ears
Tape this list into your sketchbook. With repetition, it becomes second nature.
Using Face Drawing References to Learn Faster
Face drawing references are your secret weapon. They show you how real features look – how the light hits the nose, how an angry mouth curves differently, or how eyes squint when someone smiles.
The more you study real faces, the better your drawings get. Try drawing from reference, then drawing from memory. You’ll see where you need to improve.
And don’t just copy – observe. Ask yourself: Where are the shadows? How far is the nose from the mouth? What makes this face unique?
Where to Find Great Face Drawing References
Looking for quality face references? Here are my top sources:
- Unsplash and Pexels – Free, high-res portraits
- Pinterest – Search “face drawing references” or “portrait angles”
- Line-of-Action – A tool with random face generators
- SketchDaily Reference Tool – Filter by gender, emotion, and angle
Keep a folder or Pinterest board with your favorites. Group them by angle, age, or expression for quick access.
Drawing Faces From Different Angles
Most beginners only draw front-facing heads. But to really improve, you need to practice different views:
- 3/4 view – The most common portrait angle. One side of the face is slightly turned away, so the far eye appears smaller. The nose and mouth shift slightly to the side, and the jawline curves inward on the hidden side. Be careful not to place both eyes the same size – this is a common mistake. Use the center line of the face to guide the tilt and direction.
- Profile view – A side view that shows only one eye, one nostril, and the full outline of the forehead, nose, lips, and chin. Focus on the unique shapes of the nose bridge and how the lips stack in profile. Don’t forget to include the curve of the skull and ear placement – ears are much more visible in this view.
- Looking up or down – These angles are more dynamic but also more challenging. When the head is tilted upward, the neck becomes more visible, and the jaw may overlap part of the neck. The nose often overlaps the eyes slightly. When looking downward, the forehead appears larger, and the features are compressed lower on the face. Pay attention to foreshortening – this means parts of the face may look shorter or closer together depending on the angle.
Use references and rotate them. Or try taking selfies from wild angles – yes, it helps!
Always use clear face drawing references when practicing angles. They’ll help you understand how perspective changes the spacing and shape of each facial feature. Don’t be afraid to sketch the same head from multiple angles to train your eye.
Adding Emotion With Facial Expressions
A face drawing without expression is just… boring. Practice drawing laughter, sadness, surprise, and even anger. Each emotion changes the position of the eyebrows, eyes, and mouth.
Use photos of actors or pause movies during emotional scenes. Better yet, use a mirror and make the face yourself.
Capturing emotion is what gives your art soul.
FAQs About How to Draw a Face
How do I stop my faces from looking flat?
Add light shading to show where the light hits and where the shadows fall. Reference photos help a lot with this.
Do I need to draw from life, or can I use photos?
Both work! Photos are great for still practice, but drawing real people improves your speed and observation skills.
How can I make my drawings more unique?
Add your style! Play with exaggeration, different proportions, or emotions. Use references as guides, not rules.
The best way to get better at face drawing is to keep practicing and stay inspired. If you found this guide helpful, make sure to follow me on Pinterest, where I share fresh face drawing references, sketches, and drawing ideas.
Got your tips, favorite tools, or questions?
Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear what helps you draw better faces. Let’s learn and grow together!
