The Basics of Drawing a Face Using Pencil

The first challenge you will encounter when drawing the head of your character/subject is placing the facial features properly.

Even if the features are very detailed and shaded with proper values accordingly it would still not look realistic (or worse, it may not look pleasing at all), if they are not placed appropriately.

 The key is to use reference lines to properly locate the placements of the facial features.

The reference lines that forms a cross mark are used to locate each facial features accordingly to their respective places. These lines serve as a guide to avoid misalignments and unusual distances between each feature.

• two parallel lines on the upper portion is used to align the eyes.
• a short line is used to align the nose wings.
• another short line is used for the mouth to establish  how wide it should be.
• The vertical line across the four parallel lines is used to locate the center of the head which is where the nose ball should be.

The distance of the forehead to the level of the eyes (usually the lower eye outline) is equal to the distance of the eyes from the chin. The location of the eyes is usually the center of the face (either the upper eye outline which is the eyelids, or the lower outline).

The distance of the forehead to the level of the eyes (usually the lower eye outline) is equal to the distance of the eyes from the chin. The location of the eyes is usually the center of the face (either the upper eye outline which is the eyelids, or the lower outline).

• The gap between the eyes is usually equal to the length of one eye.
• The length of the mouth is usually aligned to the center of each eye.

• The level of the ears is closely similar to the level of the eyes and ends to the level of the tip of nose.

Use these identical alignments and distances to easily construct a face of your own. Here's an example.

Place the reference lines on the constructed shape of the head.

Use the reference lines to properly positions each facial features.

Erase the reference lines and any other primary markings once you have all the features in place. Complete the figure by adding the hair.

Depict the contour of the face using shades.

Elaborate the gradations to depict the head's dimensions.

This topic along more tips are included in the book "Learn How to Draw Human Figures - For the Absolute Beginner". The very basics of drawing human figures along with common elements accompanying it are carefully explained and shown, in a manner that an absolute beginner in drawing could easily follow and understand.

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