How to Draw a Portrait

Many beginning artists seek advice on how to draw a portrait.

This project usually comes to mind when an artist is inspired by a person they know or by a celebrity. Drawing portraits requires skill. However, if an artist learns to break down each skill and master each facial feature separately, he or she will meet with success.

The initial step in learning how to draw a portrait is learning to draw the different human facial features. Like any other skill, sketching the human face takes practice. It also takes a great deal of observation and mastering pencil technique.

By separating each feature and practicing drawing each one alone, an artist can learn the elements of how to draw a portrait more easily. How to draw a portrait begins with many basic techniques. From there, this skill can advance to any level when an artist is willing to put the time and effort into developing these sketching skills.

There are many details to facial features. Begin with many sheets of paper and good quality pencils. Fill the papers with sketches of eyes, lips, noses, etc. to get some sense of how they look and how you can re-create these features on paper. Although tempted to work in small proportions to be safe, it might be better to sketch more broadly as this will allow more space to add details and to apply various degrees of shading.

One feature at a time is a good answer when asked how to draw a portrait.

Proper placement of the features of the human face is critical. There are general rules of proportion and spacing to follow in order to achieve success when addressing how to draw a portrait.

What is the proper layout for correct distances and layout of human features? Follow these rules: Eyes are located midpoint between the top of head and the chin. This placement is one of the most important aspect when considering how to draw a portrait. Many beginning artists make the mistake of placing the eyes too high. This gives a flat look to the forehead. That is why it is critical to place the eyes halfway between the chin and top of the head.

Be aware also of the eye placement regarding the left and right eye. Always allow enough space for exactly an additional eye between both. This also applies to the placement of each eye between it and the contours of the face. Again, on each side of the face,there should be space enough for one more eye.

Where to place the eyebrows? Another rule to remember: the distance between them and the eye itself is equal to the height of the eye.

Halfway between the eyes and chin, the nose can be sketched in. And, the mouth should be placed halfway between the chin and nose. Generally speaking, the mouth’s corners on most faces are found below the center of the eyes.

The top of the ears begin where the eyebrows are located, and aligned with the bottom of the nose.

These are general placement rules for sketching human features in a portrait. In reality, there are many unique variations of the human face. This is why it is important to measure and observe what you see in your subject. By observation, developing your sketching and shading techniques, you will capture the differences between faces. Artistic recreations in sketching an individual’s unique features will lead to many enjoyable moments when discovering how to draw a portrait.

How to Shade

An artist must work on mastering how to shade in order to add perspective, tone values, and depth to artwork. In sketching an object or portrait, shading is a key element to achieve realism.

Knowing how to shade will enable an artist to change shapes and lines into three-dimensional objects. (Shape is an object’s outline; form represents its three-dimensional appearance.) There are many shading techniques available to artists. The tools needed are: graphite or carbon pencils with round, sharp, or blunt points. A paper stump artist tool is used to soften the lead and blend the lines. A beginning artist should practice with the pencils and stump to explore various textures and how he or she can represent tonal values that can be applied to the actual drawing.

Before an artist practices how to shade, he or she must begin with basic shapes. Every object can be simplified into these basic shapes: circles, rectangles, squares, and triangles. Once an outline is drawn, the shape can then be established with artists’ tools. The shape can be built up to reflect its form, dimension and depth. This is where the artist must know how to shade in order to complete a realistic drawing or portrait.

To begin shading a drawing, follow the surface angle of the object or image itself. Keep your eye focused keenly to allow the texture to emerge as you work. Sharp-pointed HB pencils can be used to depict patterns. Lighter backgrounds can be done with a round-pointed pencil with a harder lead. Blends and softer lines can be achieved using a 2B pencil. The softer lines can easily be blended and controlled using a blending stump tool. Practice rendering gradual blends in order to suggest form and shadow. The side of a round HB pencil is also an effective tool for blending. Also, by applying pressure on the softer pencils (using the side of the lead) allows for darker patterns to emerge in the drawing.

One important aspect of when an artist is learning how to shade is in observing where natural light falls upon your subject. Studying the light source will help an artist know where to place shadows using the various pencil shading techniques. Then the artist must be aware how to place the shadows using the various shading techniques he or she has practiced.

Shadows can easily be implied using a technique known as hatching. Adding depth and shadows as in hatching is known as the additive method–or adding something to the drawing. The artist skeches a series of parallel lines which deliberately overlap to darken sections of the object or portrait. Shadows are effectively indicated this way. Fill in the opposite side of where the light falls upon the subject with the hatch marks. Adding several layers of hatching increases dark values. Extra hatching layers can be used underneath eye sockets, for example. Lighter shading is necessary to highlight cheekbones, or to indicate a gentle curving of a facial feature. A singled hatched layer gives a light effect; and, as expected, six layers will result in darker grey values. Cross-hatching can be used to create even more texture by drawing a series of parallel (hatching) lines then overlap with lines going in the opposite (horizontal) direction.

How to Shade Technique

Part of the how to shade technique is achieved by the stumping technique. This is known as subtractive drawing where values are lightened by removing or lightening the shading. Tools for this purpose are sold in art supply stores, however, the same effect can be achieved by wrapping a tight piece of paper around the pencil’s point, then dragging it across the shading. This will smudge and blend the shading to achieve the effect the artist wishes. Lighter values can be achieved by using a eraser on the areas where highlights fall.

To create depth in the drawing, the background shadows can be darkened while keeping the shading lighter in the foreground.

Now, a word about pitfalls. Shading adds depth and detail, but over use can complicate a drawing. Decide which pencils you’ll need to create your drawing. Softer, wider pencils suit the shadow values. On the other hand, thin, hard pencils are best to indicate wrinkles in portraiture.

Mastering how to shade will allow an artist to create realistic images.

How to Draw Lips

A challenge for both experienced and beginning artists is how to draw lips in portraiture. A good beginning point when drawing a portrait is to sketch in the shape of the head. This allows the opportunity to get all the facial features drawn correctly because you are working within a defined and proportioned space.

All facial features are important when sketching a likeness of a person. How to draw lips is key to achieving a realistic portrayal.

Most novice art students tend to outline the outer shape of the lips. In reality, the only line that exists is the one that appears between the lips. Observation is important when considering how to draw lips properly. When we look at the lips for the purpose of sketching them,, what we should concentrate on is the variations of texture, color, and line. Sometimes all that is required when an artist is studying how to draw lips, is a subtle shadow below to form a lower lip. When this shadow moves toward the mouth corners, the lips tend to flatten. Here is where the artist should use tonal variations to define the lips, specifically pencil shading techniques. Use the side of the pencil point to lay in middle values. For the darkest tones, use the side of a 2B pencil using overlap strokes until the desired dark tonal contrast is achieved. For the fine lines, the sharp-pointed pencil tip is used. Applying shadows properly–using observation of the subject– help define the lips.

How to draw lips includes these basic techniques:

Using a 2H pencil, make three marks which note the center and both corners of the lips. The center is usually located one-third of the way between the nose and chin. To find the lip corners, place each mark between the corner of the nose and side of the face on either side. The corners will be positioned lower than the lips’ center. Draw a small contour line for the center. The line is more visible where the lips part; less visible where they are held together. Keeping your eyes trained on your subject, draw both sides of the line between the lips. Begin eac hline from the center, drawing out to the corner. Use a 2B pencil to shade and build subtle shadows in order to form the upper and lower lip. Then switch to a 4B pencil to add the darkest shading values.

Keep in mind that the mouth consists of a pair of lips which overlap. Also remember that the lips stretch around the rounded shape of the human head. Not apart from the face, the lips actually are a continuation of facial skin.

Adult heads and children’s heads have different proportions. For a child, use a horizontal line to divide the head in half. From there, divide the lower half into fourths where guidelines will help you position the features. For adults, seek unique proportions that define the subject’s individual features. Again, when seeking how to draw lips properly, take special note of where the mouth falls between the chin and the nose. A profile portrait helps to more clearly define the outline and individual, unique form of the subject’s lips.

When the person’s lips are parted, it is alright to follow the same rules used for closed lips. The only difference is you need to account for space within the mouth opening.

How to draw lips is a challenge for any serious artist to study and practice. Doing so will result in more realistic likenesses of the subject.

Sketching Faces

The first and most important step in sketching faces is to draw many sketches until you feel the sitter’s personality is captured. The personality may be completely captured by your judgment call or reviewed by the sitter and both of you settle on an agreed decision. Use a live model to pose for you. This is portrait sketching at its best. A photo may substitute should you not be able to get anyone to pose.

The purpose of sketching faces is to outline general features; then detail and refine. I had a personal experience which taught me a lesson. Before completing your portrait painting check with your client to be sure the sitter is in agreement.

How to Hold Your Pencil

Okay, I hear what you’re saying. Your kindergarten teacher taught you how to hold a pencil, right? Well, in this case, believe it or not, how you hold your pencil can make the difference between hours of enjoyment, or physical exhaustion.

Some artists will tell you that after a long drawing session for sketching faces, their fingers, wrist or even shoulder hurts. They believe that this is ϳust a part of the sacrifice of the art. But, if they would simply consider the way they’re holding their pencil and make the proper adjustments, they may be able to get rid of that pain.

There is no absolute right or wrong way to hold your pencil while drawing. Some people prefer one way over another. However, I’ve seen people holding their pencil in a death grip, and this could be the cause of all that pain. Just hold your pencil with enough firmness to give your hand control over what the pencil is doing, and that should suffice.

What Type Of Pencil To Use

Choosing the right pencil for the right job is critical. Are you still using the old stand-by number 2 pencil that you used in elementary school? If so, it’s time to retire that number 2 and try a B, 2B, or even a 4B. These are softer pencils, which will enable you to create the right balance of light and shadow that you may be trying to achieve. You will be pleasantly surprised at how your drawings quickly improve by this simple change!

Circles And Scribbles

When you sit down to draw, start out by drawing just circles and scribbles for a few minutes, and see how relaxing it can be. You’ll experience a looser hand and wrist, and you’ll feel your creative juices start to flow. Practicing circular shading can add depth to your drawing and allows for distinctive objects that have similar tones. It can bring out the contrasting textures for a more realistic effect, especially when drawing faces and other “live” objects.

Using Contour Lines

Contour lines, the lines that help define what your objects will actually look like, are lines that follow the edges and curves of your objects. They obviously add volume and give the objects their shape. Practicing contour lines is a great way to add depth to your sketching faces, while at the same time making your shading appear more realistic.

How to Apply Smooth Shading

Proper shading can make a huge difference in your pencil drawing. It can bring a picture to life, giving it an added dimension, making it appear much more than ϳust a flat one-dimensional work on paper. This technique involves varying the pressure in a gradual motion to achieve smooth shading, while at the same time applying a constant tone. Make a transition from light to dark or dark to light in one, long stroke.

Sketching faces using Pencil

If you’re drawing a child, the features are more defined compared to those of a baby. So you’ll have to lock in the features with stronger and darker lines. But the skin is still smooth and gentle. Try not to add to many lines to the face of a child.

Teenagers are young adults. You may approach drawing the face of a teenager in the same way as you would approach drawing the face of an adult. The key to drawing a mature face is to capture the essence of the face.

That means capturing the personality of the face. Some people have a confident look. Some have a shy look, and some have a mischievous look and so on. Try to capture that in your drawing.

A decision needs to be made if there is to be a background or not for the person you are sketching for a portrait.

This should be an easy decision when sketching faces:

1.  A significant background symbol representing their interests

2.  Wearing apparel which identifies the person

3.  A piece of jewelry which marks their identity

4.  An emblem or medals signifying their accomplishments

5. Birthmarks or tattoos

The personality of the sitter needs to be captured on canvas with or without a significant symbol. If using symbols, do not let them take away from the sitter. The person is the focus point on the canvas.

Sketching faces and shadowing

After sketching faces consider where light and shadow will be noted in the portrait. Light and shadow are critical for emphasizing or de-emphasizing facial lines and expressions.

Once you have this technique mastered, you can easily create areas of subtle change in depth and tone that will dramatically improve your drawings. Have fun sketching faces!

How to draw eyebrows is an integral part of capturing an individual subject’s expression.

The human eye consists of eyeballs and eyelids. The lids wrap around the rounded eye itself. The upper eyelid is usually creased at midpoint. Both lids are fringed with eyelashes. The eyebrow, naturally, is located above the eye and is actually a fringe of hair which grows along the brow bone.

Begin by practicing, how to draw eyebrows, paying special attention must be paid to them since they provide a frame for the eye. In portraiture, rendering eyebrows is critical in capturing the individual character of a person. The eyebrow is one of the facial features which convey emotion, so it is important to practice drawing it in order to achieve a successful portrait. Exaggerating the brow’s position on the face can convey various emotions. If drawn closer together and angled, the artist can indicate confusion or anger. A raised eyebrow can indicate surprise or puzzlement. How to draw eyebrows begins with careful observation of the subject of the portrait. Note the unique and interesting features of your subject’s eyes and brows. Observe your subject’s eyebrows to determine if and when the direction of the brow changes. Also pay attention to how the eyebrows looks when your subject is relaxed. Sketching what one observes will help produce a completed portrait which is realistic, individualistic, and an attractive, recognizable likeness of the subject.

Be aware, when learning how to draw eyebrows, also that eyebrow hairs grow in different directions.

Using a 2B pencil, lightly sketch a line which travels upward from the bridge of the nose. Follow this with another line which goes across the creased lid of the eye. Where these lines intersect, the eyebrow will begin. Then draw a line which curves above the eye itself. This line should go outward diagonally from the point where your eyebrow sketch began. This line will end at the highest point of the eye.

Next, a light vertical line should be drawn on the outside of the eye. This line marks the end of the eyebrow. A curved line should be drawn from the initial section of the sketched brow, slightly beyond the outside line of the eye. It should end where the line marking the top of the eye and the outside line of the eye meet.

Individual eyebrows will differ in size, shape, and fullness. When practicing how to draw eyebrows, begin by sketching several lines trying to duplicate different shapes of eyebrows you may remember from faces you have seen. Start sketching and filling in various shapes, using pencil strokes indicating indivual hairs. Practice a variety of color values, adding shading to darken, and lighter lines for softer brows.

Continue filling in shapes. For the lighter brows, use a tool designed specifically for softening pencil strokes. Most art supply stores have these tools in stock. If not available, use a tissue or paper town to subdue strokes which you find too dark or extreme.

Finally, use a soft gum eraser to eliminate any stray or unwanted lines in your sketch.

In considering how to draw eyebrows, it should be obvious that men mostly have thicker, heavier brows; while women’s are more defined, elegant, and groomed. Short, light pencil marks are used for the more elegant brow. While bolder, darker valued strokes can be used to indicate a thicker eyebrow texture.

In summation, when studying and practicing how to draw eyebrows consider these main points:

The first step in how to draw eyebrows, draw the brow’s outline. Then sketch in the brow line itself, this is where the eyebrow is shadowed and dips toward the eye socket. (This area requires shading and definition). Then shade in the remainder of the eyebrow. At the upper part of the browline (where the brow juts out a little more), this area should be sketched with lighter strokes; finally, darken the brow and add details and hairs.

How to Draw a Nose

Portrait artists need to master how to draw a nose…

In order to sketch a realistic rendition of the human subject. Beginning artists find it challenging when learning how to draw a nose because when looking at a face directly on, a foreshortened view of the nose is seen. In order to draw the nose correctly, it is necessary to create an illusion that the nose appears to be pointing out toward the portrait viewer. This helps convey the actual length and proportions of the nose. 2H, 2B, and 4B pencils are the best tools to use when drawing faces. Practice using the sides of the pencil point as well as the crisp, clean lines made with a neatly sharpened pencil point. Study how to shade in areas using the softer lead; while the harder lead adds border and definition.

Measure the head and face proportions before placing each feature will help you when learning how to draw a nose for portraits. On most human faces, the eyes are located halfway between the crown of the head and the chin. Begin by drawing the basic shape of the face and head. Then locate where to position the features accurately. Subdivide the head according to basic proportions. The root of the nose is positioned by drawing a line two-thirds of the way down the head. Halfway down sketch the eyes; one-third down place the eyebrow, etc.

Accurate proportions of the head width and height in relation to the features is critical in realistic rendering of the human face. A good way to test correct line when exploring how to draw a nose is to hold a pencil vertically before your nose. This creates a center line. The base of the nose will be seen as a horizontal line which is perpendicular to the pencil. The width of the lower nose at the nostrils will align accordingly with the distance between both eyes.

How to draw a nose requires observation. Trust what your eyes actually see, then record what you see using basic shapes and varying shading of pencil values. When studying in advance how to draw a nose, consider both a front-facing view and a profile view. A triangle is the basic shape for both perspectives.

Use a 2H pencil to sketch the shape of the nose. Mainly the nose appears similar to the shape of a tent. It has a bony ridge on top and two sides which appear rectangular. The tip of the nose appears sphere-like and is individual to the person being sketched. The nostrils to the left and right of the ball of the nose are also spherical in shape.

While drawing the nose, light contour sketched lines should be added to render the sides of the nose’s bony ridge and to give it shape. Avoid making this line too dark. Focus on your subject’s nose while sketching and shading, as these observations will help make your subject more recognizable and individual.

Next, add the nostrils using a 2B pencil. Again consult your subject, and avoid thinking of the nostrils as simply dots or circles. You will,, instead, notice that the shape of the nostrils is more bean-shaped than circular.

Clean up any out-of-bound lines with a kneaded, soft eraser. Study your work and then add needed emphasis to the lines that require darkening. The darker lines and shading will emphasize the areas of the nose that have extra weight and volume.

How to draw a nose is a challenging practice for any artist. By taking each facial feature one at a time and practicing sketching each one–such as a nose–until you are satisfied with the results, will go a long way in creating satisfying portraits. Remember, practice!