How to Draw the Side of a Face
Drawing people can be challenging for artists of all levels. The features on the human face can be difficult to define. Profiles are a good way to get started learning how to draw faces. A profile is a side view of a person's face, and since you are only concentrating on one side, profiles are much easier to draw. Learn how you can get started drawing profiles that will help you master the art of capturing the human face.
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Instructions
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Start by sketching the outline of the profile. Draw the rise of the brow and angle a line up to where the hair line will be. This will form the basis for the forehead. Do the nose next, keeping a single line as you curve the front of the nose. Add the rise of the lips, starting at the base of the nose and keeping your hand on the paper as you continue from the lips to the chin. Keep your pencil lines light for easier reshaping later on.
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Work from a reference photo if it helps. You don't need to mimic the profile exactly, but a photo is helpful for getting the outline down. You can make adjustments to dimensions and then add details and shading around the base of the nose to give it depth.
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Include a little of the front of the neck to give support to the profile. Start working on the hairline to further refine the overall shape of the profile.
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Sketch in the top of the head and work your way to the back, curving the line to define the shape of the head.
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Draw the eye in under the brow and erase and reshape the brow to fit the shape of the eye. Use lines and shading around the rim of the eye to give it some depth.
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Add structure to the cheek by shading, using light, side-to-side coloring motions until you begin to see the cheek bone. You can change the pressure as the cheek begins to form, giving it the shading necessary to adjust the cheek bone structure.
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Define the lips until you have them in proportion to the nose, make sure the brow is exactly the way you want it, then color in the hair with long, light strokes that give the hair a textured look.
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Comments
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jameswilkins25
Jul 08, 2010
Thanks for sharing this. Honestly, the 1st time I tried to draw I was kinda having a problem with the side of a face. It's no picnic on my part that is why I'm having a hard time to deal with it until I found a technique. -
brianjones10
Jul 07, 2010
Yes, I agree to you that to draw people might of a challenging level. The so good about that is when you see that people get to appreciate your hard work and you know also that you made a masterpiece. Keep it up!
