Drawing Faces: A Beginner’s Guide

Drawing faces is a difficult task for many people. It can be frustrating and intimidating, especially when you are just starting. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Our Winged Canvas guide will teach you everything you need to know about drawing faces in an easy-to-follow format with plenty of step-by-step instructions and helpful illustrations. You’ll learn how to draw different facial expressions, build the structure of the face accurately, and add hair or other accessories if desired. This article will show you how to take your drawings from okay to amazing!

Step 1: Outline the Face

The first step in drawing the face is to outline it. Start by sketching a circle, and then use the oval tool to draw an egg shape that will serve as your skull. Sketch lines for both eye sockets on either side of this egg shape, and add horizontal lines across these to create three sections: one for each eye socket (left, center, right), and a third section for the nose.

Step 2: Add the Ears and Hairline

Add the ears, hairline, and eyebrows in step two. Sketch a line at the bottom of your egg shape drawing for where the neck meets the base of the skull; this will be your hairline. Draw lines on either side to indicate where one ear should go—use these as guides while sketching out each ear with an oval or triangle. Add a line for the eyebrows and sketch in two oval shapes below to indicate where one eye socket is.

Step 3: Mark Guidelines and Start Drawing the Eyes

Marking guidelines for the eyes and mouth is one of the trickier parts of the process, but it can be done! Add lines where you want to place your eyebrows and the natural line from one eye socket that will form an arch when you close both eyes. Sketch two more lines below these—one below the other on either side of the nose. For now, don’t sketch out any other lines or shapes; these guidelines will help you get proportions right later on when you start drawing in the eyes and mouth.

Start to draw the eyes by adding two ovals below your eyebrows and a curved line from one eye socket that should curve around until it meets the other eye socket.

Step 4: Complete the Nose

Fill in the nose and mouth with step four. Add two shapes below your nose to indicate where you want it placed, then sketch out a line on either side of this that curves back around until they meet at each other’s mouths. Now add any detail such as hair or eyebrows by using these guidelines for placement! 

Step 5: Draw in the Lips

Draw in the lips by adding one oval shape below your nose for where they should go. Sketch a short line on either side of this to indicate the lower lip, and then sketch out two lines that come down from each corner of the mouth. Add a curved line from the left end of these lines until it meets with the right!

Step 6: Complete the Skin Shading

Finish the skin shading by adding in color! Draw lines for where you want shadows to appear, then fill them with a darker shade of your chosen color. You can draw these on with your finger or use the paint bucket tool if desired. Add more detail such as freckles or birthmarks using this technique, and practice drawing faces from every angle!

Step 7: Add Hair to Your Face Drawing

Add hair to your face drawing by sketching out a line where the neck meets the skull and then adding some curves that will guide you in determining how much of it should go around each ear. Add two lines above this at either side of what would be the forehead—these are guides for placement, so feel free to adjust them as desired. Sketch out two shapes on either side of the eyebrow that should curve around and meet at what would be the temples. Add a line above this for where you want hair to start, then sketch in additional lines below these to indicate how much hair there will be!

 Keep practicing, and you’ll get the hang of it! Drawing faces is a little tricky initially, but once you take your time to sketch out guidelines for where things should go, then drawing more detailed shapes becomes easier. Just remember that these are just rough drafts—if you make mistakes or want to change something up, feel free!