How I Draw Faces | Beginner Friendly Tutorial, by 蛋糕wavy on YouTube. 14 min 41 s.
- Video length
- 14 min 41 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Start with a light sketch of the head shape. Keep your lines loose and soft so you can adjust them later without smudging the paper.
Mark the vertical center line and a horizontal line for the eyes. These guide lines keep both sides of the face balanced.
Place the eyes on the horizontal line, leaving one eye width between them. Sketch simple almond shapes before adding any detail.
Add the nose halfway between the eye line and the chin. Keep it as a few light marks rather than a full outline.
Draw the mouth below the nose, roughly a third of the way down to the chin. Check that it lines up with the center line.
Sketch the jaw and chin, then the ears level with the eyes and nose. Step back to check the overall proportions.
Refine the eyes, brows and lips with a darker B pencil. Build detail in layers instead of pressing hard straight away.
Erase the guide lines and soften any harsh edges. Compare the finished face to your first sketch and adjust what looks off.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep your first sketch very light so mistakes are easy to erase.
Use the eye as a measuring unit: the face is about five eyes wide.
Draw the features on both sides at once to keep the face symmetrical.
Work from a reference photo instead of memory when you start out.
Questions
Do I need special pencils to draw a face?
No. A normal pencil and a soft eraser are enough. A 0.3mm mechanical pencil with 2B lead just makes fine lines easier.
How long does it take to learn face drawing?
Expect a few weeks of short daily practice to get proportions right. Each full sketch takes about 30 minutes at first.
Is this realism or semi-realism?
This method teaches semi-realism, with simplified features and softer shading. Realism needs more study of anatomy and light.
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.
