Drawing a side of the face is something even the seasoned artist takes seriously. Every artist wants to get the proportions of the human face right, as accurately as humanly possible. Drawing a side of the face can be daunting, but it’s a doable task with some practice. With the right structure and patience, you’ll be able to draw the side of a face that looks true-to-life.
1. Start with pencil lines
The best way to start is to start light. That’s why drawing the side of a face is best done with pencil. Use a light touch when sketching out the side of the face, from the forehead to the chin. Visualize the different parts of the face as you line them up. Mentally note the proportions of each part as you draw them. There’s no need to be perfect, but having a basic structure to start with is key.
2. Add shape and contours
Shading and contours are what bring life to the face. Once you have the structure down, start to add curves and lobes to the forehead, the cheekbones, the chin and the nose. Inhale the face and build up the different elements as you go. You can use a graphite pencil or a charcoal pencil or a combination of the two. With some patience and a little creativity, you’ll come up with something that looks very natural.
3. Sketch in the details
Starting to shape the face with more detail is the next step. With a fine tip pencil, start to add more detail to the eyes, the nose, and the mouth. It’s important to be very light-handed here with any pencil or charcoal you may use. Start to draw in the eyelashes, the eyebrows, the nostrils and the mouth. Even the shape of the ears can be added here. Add the details that you find so attractive in a face and make sure that you give each part its due attention.
4. Shade to bring depth
Next comes shading, which is perhaps the trickiest part of drawing the side of a face. Make use of the knowledge you have about the structure of the face and the light source that you’re using for the shading. There are many different techniques in shading but the most important thing is to remember that light and shade should always be balanced. You’ll need different tones of darkness and light to make sure the face appears three-dimensional. Experiment a little and you’ll soon be able to create something that looks amazing.
