The Face Drawing Technique That Replaces Loomis Completely!, by It's Easy To Draw on YouTube. 15 min 54 s.
- Video length
- 15 min 54 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Pick a clear reference photo with even lighting and a straight-on or slight angle view. Print it or keep it on a screen you can see while you draw.
Draw a light cross on your reference: one vertical line down the center of the face and one horizontal line through the eyes. This locks in the main proportions.
Sketch the head shape around your cross, starting with a simple oval or egg form. Check that the width and height match the reference before adding detail.
Place the eyes on the horizontal line, roughly one eye-width apart. Block them as simple almond shapes first and only add lids and pupils later.
Mark the nose base halfway between the eye line and the chin. Draw the nose as a soft wedge, not a hard outline.
Set the mouth line about a third of the way down from the nose to the chin. Sketch the lip shape lightly and check its width against the eyes.
Do a freehand ghost sketch over your first lines, moving your hand in light loops before committing. This builds muscle memory and loosens the drawing.
Shade to shape the face using a 2B pencil, following the light direction in your reference. Build tone in thin layers instead of pressing hard.
Blend the shadows with a stump or tissue, then lift highlights with an eraser. Keep the darkest darks near the nose, eyes and under the chin.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep every early line light so you can adjust proportions without smudging the paper.
Focus on big shapes and tone before details; detail will not fix a wrong structure.
Mark up your reference directly with the cross so you can compare angles as you draw.
Step back from the page every few minutes to catch proportion errors early.
Questions
Do I need the Loomis method to draw faces?
No. The cross method is simpler and works well for beginners. You can learn Loomis later if you want to draw heads from imagination.
How long should I practice each day?
Short daily sessions of 15 to 20 minutes beat one long weekly session. Repeat the cross and head shape until it feels automatic.
What pencil should I use for shading?
Start with an HB for outlines and switch to a 2B for shadows. A softer 4B works for the darkest areas.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
