Learn to draw like a sculptor, by Will Davies Art on YouTube. 2 min 58 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 58 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pick a clear reference photo with even lighting and a face turned slightly, so you can see the form of the head rather than a flat front view.
Lightly draw the head as a simple block or egg shape. Think of it as a solid object sitting in space, not a flat outline.
Mark the centre line of the face and the eye line halfway down the head. Use these to place the eyes, nose and mouth before any detail.
Block in the big shadow shapes with the side of your pencil. Squint at the reference to see light and dark masses rather than features.
Check the proportions against your reference. Compare the distance between the eyes, the width of the nose and the height of the forehead.
Refine the features with a sharper pencil, building them from the shadow shapes you already have instead of drawing new outlines.
Add the darkest accents last, such as the pupils, nostrils and the shadow under the chin, to make the head feel solid.
Step back from the page and compare it with the reference. Adjust any area that looks flat or out of proportion.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep your first lines light so you can move features without leaving grooves in the paper.
Squint often to simplify the face into light and dark shapes.
Draw the head as a whole before working on any single feature.
Use a 2B pencil for shadows and an HB for finer detail.
Questions
Do I need a special pencil for this?
No. A standard HB pencil works, and a 2B helps for darker shadows. An eraser and plain sketch paper are enough to start.
How long should I spend on the block-in stage?
Spend roughly half your time getting the head shape and proportions right. Fixing them early saves work later.
Why think like a sculptor when drawing?
It helps you see the head as a solid form with light and shadow, which makes a portrait look more real than copied outlines.
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.
