How to Draw Smiles
Creativity is a powerful thing. A simple pencil and paper can bring worlds to life with your imagination. And one of the most important things to capture in your drawings is the oft-elusive smile. Smiles can take on many forms: joyous, sardonic, wry, sly, and more. Drawing a smile can be the perfect way to capture the mood and emotion of a particular situation, so it’s important to practice so you can become proficient at it.
It’s all about the curves. An easy way to think about a smile is to first draw curved lines. A crescent-like shape is used to represent the mouth. It should start close to the cheekbones, just below the eyes. The mouth should curve downwards to give the smile a gentle feel. If the smile is more upturned, the sides of the mouth will be nearly touching the cheekbones.
Be aware of the little details. Depending on the type of smile, you can add in little nuances to make it more realistic. Subtleties like adding slightly crooked teeth on each side or the indentation on the chin if the person is grinning widely can always add to the realism.
Appear life-like by looking natural. If you want your draws to look more life-like, consider the fact that no two smiles are the same. People have unique smiles, so strive to make yours unique too. One way to do this is by considering how the other parts of the face react when someone smiles. How does the eyes look? Do the person’s cheeks lift upwards? Are the eyebrows raised? The way these features interact gives the smile a sense of realism.
Move the pencil with confidence. Another way to make your drawings stand out is to keep your pencil in motion, lightly sketching and adjusting as you go. Many people give up after initial pencil strokes because they don’t look perfect, but that’s the beauty of sketching. Move your pencil with confidence, don’t be afraid to erase, and trust that you’ll be able to create something unique.
Finally, have some fun! Drawing is supposed to be an enjoyable outlet. Don’t stress yourself out too much over it—just pick up the pencil, relax, and trust your skills. With practice, drawing smiles will come naturally to you. Who knows, you may even start doodling brilliant smiles in the middle of your math notes!
Add Emotion
A great way to make your smile lively is to think about the emotion behind it. Is it a joyous smile or a sardonic smirk? A toothy, open-mouthed grin or a subtle one? Have fun experimenting with the subtle nuances and changes in the person’s expressions. Corner curling of the lips, raised eyebrows and a certain squint in the eye can all add to the emotionality of the smile.
Go Out Of The Box
Be daring by adding a bit of creativity to your drawing. Draw a rainbow filled with smiling suns and eyeballs, complete with hearts and stars! Play with shadows for a more somber atmosphere. Or use two lines for the lips and have a trail of stars or hearts shooting out! Experiment with different symbols and elements to create a unique and delightful composition.
Get Creative With Colors
If you’re feeling more confident, try playing around with colors, too. Bright pastels or a smoky charcoal gray can make your drawing come alive as its own unique art form. You can even match the color of the smile with the mood you’re trying to convey. A yellowish-greenish hue can reflect joy while a blueish tone can indicate sadness.
Smile Yourself
The best way to learn how to draw smiles is to simply smile yourself. Feel the sensation in your cheeks and eyes, observe how the mouth curves, and how it changes with different emotions. Notice how the mouth feels when you smile subtly, when you give a mischievous smirk, or when you grin widely. Do this a few times in front of the mirror until you get a feel for how a smile looks and feels. Not only will it help in your drawings, but it can also provide a dose of emotional wellness, too.
