How to Draw a Face in Profile

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How to Draw a Face in Profile-Draw a Circle and a Line

Portrait drawing is an important skill for any artist to know how to do.  Drawing the face from the front view is one thing, but drawing the face from the side, or in profile view, is slightly different.  One thing that is important in both types of drawing is understanding the proportions of a human face.

You should begin your drawing of a face in profile by drawing a circle.  This circle will represent the cranium.  Next, you will bring a curved line down.  This curved line will hold the features of the face.  You can bring the end of the curved line back in a bit at the bottom to represent the chin of the face.  Next, it's time to locate the features.

Drawing the Face in Profile- The Features

First we will need to determine where on the face to put the eyes.  This is easy because the eyes are in the middle of the head.  Draw a line in the middle of your first shape for the "eye line". 

Next, we'll determine where on the face to put the nose.  Again, this is easy, because the bottom of the nose will exist on a line exactly in the middle of the eye line and the bottom of the chin.

Finally, we'll add the mouth line. The mouth line fits nicely between the nose line and the bottom of the chin.

Next, you'll need to observe.  Drawing is really all about observation.  You'll need to observe the lines, shapes, and values that exist on your subject.  Use your guidelines for the features to put the lines, shapes, and values that you see in the right place.  It will take practice, but you'll get it in time.

The following video demonstrates how to draw the face in profile or from the side...

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Here are some more art lessons that you may like...

How to Draw a Person Standing
How to Draw an Eye in Chalk Pastels
How to Draw Hair
How to Draw Feet
How to Draw a Person Sitting