I outline the head so I know where better to draw in the other features and get everything positioned wear I want it on my page. Kind of like drawing the map of an island you have to know the shape of the island first.
i really had to think about this! for me it depends on what angle the head is at..if it's straight on i start with the eyes..if it's a profile i'll start with the nose for some reason.
I mostly start with one eye, than nose, eyebrows, mouth. than try to position rhe ear (or both, depending on direction of face) right, only than the outline of the head and hair.
@Explainit
Sometimes I wish I could get the hang of starting a face the way you do. Number 1. I believe I'd have better luck with my feature placement and Number 2. My proportions may improve as well. I don't know why but a circle first just throws me off. I guess we do what works. But one of these days I'll leave my comfort zone and begin a different way. Have a great weekend, Oh, I also love fountain pens :)
I draw the head shape and then go on to the rest although I am one of those people who needs everything to be perfect so It takes forever for me to get it exactly how I want it.
@arthurkoestler , in fact I think the symmetry (or maybe not so rarely the correct asymetry, as real faces are not very symetric) is not too difficult, when drawing eyes, eybrows and nose together as 'one system' instead of single objects. I use to think of a cruslike structure of axis of nose+la conncted line of lower contours of eyes when doing so (only in my mind, without actually drawing any constructions).
I think, what is more difficult, than getting the 'eyes-eybrows-nose-mouse-system' right, is to relate it correctly to ears, fore- and nackhead and chin. maybe because those are not as close together. here I generally do the ear next (easiest if person has glasses, if not, I might imagine some). To me, especially good positioning and shape of ears is crucial to get a likenes,. Guess, this is a reason why we might have been teached to start with the shape of the head, from 'rough to details'. Guess this still is the most successful way, if you have to fit a face in a given composition. But, if I am not forced to that, I prefere, to draw like my view moves, when I whatch a face, which is normally from the inside out, starting with eyes, maybe even mouth, as 'core of expression' . Actually I cannot know or controll the result very well, going this way, but this is the fun ....
I start with the eyes, because they give me a feel for what kind of creature I'm dealing with. Are they slim, big, buggy, weird, ugly, scary? Then I create the creature or person accordingly. It's fun to draw the face around the eyes so that the eyes are way too small, or way too big, or coming off the side, or too low or too high, then try to make that "work."
First, I map out the dimensions of the face or/and the body, the outline of the face and the hair. Then I roughly sketch the features of the face and start the actual drawing with the eyes, which usually is the focal point in a face. Once I've drawn out eyes, if any proportions are off, my base is the eyes and I measure everything according to them.
I used to begin with the face outline but I shifted to drawing eyes first as it helped me get the proportions better and more quickly than going in and erasing features all the time so they could "match"
I usually start with the ear which is weird but it helps me place the rest of the facial features. In my art class however I am learning a different way and we start with the outline of the head then the hair then we do the nose it is different since I am not used to that but I am sure I will learn tho the face may be deformed
it's been forever since I've drawn a portrait. But back when I did, I used to always start with the eyes. I have many fully drawn eyes and unfinished face art.
The outline of the face, then the hair and only the the details (eyes, nose, mouth, not necessarily in that order) so as to insure the overall proportions are accurate.
I typically start with the overall head shape and some reference lines that wrap around the head for the direction it is facing. There can be so much character that is defined by the silhouette of a basic shape. When doing more realistic stuff where I'm looking for realistic proportions, I might start with an oval for the top part of the skull.
I normally start with their face shape then work on the nose. I am trying to start drawing differently because my drawings aren't that good, so maybe I'll start with the eyes...
I'm terrible at drawing people and sadly I don't care to improve. So for me I draw a very incorrect circle and then rely on facial, body, or clothing features to make the character recognizable. (Moustache, thick eyebrows, glasses, big ears, hairstyle, etc.) And if the character isn't recognizable I'll draw the name of the person and point an arrow at him because why not!! :-)
Hi. I start from the centre (the eyes) then work outwards. So, eyes, nose, mouth, jawline, ears and then the rest of the head and the hair but the main thing is to keep it all light and sketchy then darken up when you’re happy with it. Here’s a tip: if you’re drawing from a photo and the head is cocked, twist the pic (and your canvas also) so that the eyes are level. That makes them easier to get right. Anyways, that’s how I draw a portrait. Best wishes.
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62 Comments
Nicole Reck (@NReck)
I outline the head so I know where better to draw in the other features and get everything positioned wear I want it on my page. Kind of like drawing the map of an island you have to know the shape of the island first.
èf (@ef11)
I struggle a lot to draw "pretty" faces but when I start with the nose it's easier to place all the features then
Dietrich Adonis (@ArtNinja2000)
The eyes then the outline of the head. . .
Lauren Konopacki (@lettermore)
i really had to think about this! for me it depends on what angle the head is at..if it's straight on i start with the eyes..if it's a profile i'll start with the nose for some reason.
AKU NAPIE (@akunapie)
i will eyebrow first..and something the shape of face i draw first. depend on easy or hard to draw their face.
George Wheeling (@RipitDesigns)
I start with the chin and up to the cheek bones so I can place the eyes in the right position.
Derek Lowes (@nervepixel)
A circle for the orb of the scull... then the jawline, eye line and centreline of the face. Then usually the eyes or base of the nose.
Caroline Rodriguez (@carolinerodriguez)
Definitely the eyes, they seem like the easiest thing to draw.
Embracing nightmares (@gibroni87)
It use to be the mouth. But now it’s either the eyes or shape of the head
Rolf Schroeter (@rolfschroeter)
I mostly start with one eye, than nose, eyebrows, mouth. than try to position rhe ear (or both, depending on direction of face) right, only than the outline of the head and hair.
Colin Reid (@Blueflow)
Eyes, then work out from there, similar to Rolf.
Shari Wolf (@Handmade13)
I always draw the head first. This helps me decide what the hair, eyes, nose etc. look like.
brianne carroll (@willow)
I used to do the eyes first, but now I do the shape of the head.
Franny (@franimationsyt)
The outline of the head. I've never done it a different way.
jan (@janl)
the left eye
jan (@janl)
@Explainit isn't this the way we're taught?
Derek Lowes (@nervepixel)
Yeah maybe that’s why I doi it that way wh knew... it works for me @janl
jan (@janl)
@Explainit Sometimes I wish I could get the hang of starting a face the way you do. Number 1. I believe I'd have better luck with my feature placement and Number 2. My proportions may improve as well. I don't know why but a circle first just throws me off. I guess we do what works. But one of these days I'll leave my comfort zone and begin a different way. Have a great weekend, Oh, I also love fountain pens :)
Lillian DiGrazia (@SketchMaster223)
I draw the head shape and then go on to the rest although I am one of those people who needs everything to be perfect so It takes forever for me to get it exactly how I want it.
Joseph T. Yawus (jojo) (@Jojoyawus)
The outline then eyes. nose and the mouth.
Arthur Koestler (@arthurkoestler)
@rolfschroeter When you start with one eye like you mentioned do you notice it difficult to re-create the second eye or the symmetry in the face?
Rolf Schroeter (@rolfschroeter)
@arthurkoestler , in fact I think the symmetry (or maybe not so rarely the correct asymetry, as real faces are not very symetric) is not too difficult, when drawing eyes, eybrows and nose together as 'one system' instead of single objects. I use to think of a cruslike structure of axis of nose+la conncted line of lower contours of eyes when doing so (only in my mind, without actually drawing any constructions).
Rolf Schroeter (@rolfschroeter)
'cruslike' should have been 'crosslike', sorry ...
Rolf Schroeter (@rolfschroeter)
I think, what is more difficult, than getting the 'eyes-eybrows-nose-mouse-system' right, is to relate it correctly to ears, fore- and nackhead and chin. maybe because those are not as close together. here I generally do the ear next (easiest if person has glasses, if not, I might imagine some). To me, especially good positioning and shape of ears is crucial to get a likenes,. Guess, this is a reason why we might have been teached to start with the shape of the head, from 'rough to details'. Guess this still is the most successful way, if you have to fit a face in a given composition. But, if I am not forced to that, I prefere, to draw like my view moves, when I whatch a face, which is normally from the inside out, starting with eyes, maybe even mouth, as 'core of expression' . Actually I cannot know or controll the result very well, going this way, but this is the fun ....
Melba Christie (@MELBA)
I usually start with the eyes. The eyes are as they say “the windows to one’s soul”.
Elena (@PetiteElleDesigns)
I love to start with the eyes! I tried to begin with other features but I feel more comfortable with the eyes :)
Rubina (@Rubynnastory)
The eyes and the wherever the pencil leads me.
Hugo Seijas (@hugo)
@Elena9 i agree, eyes seem to be the easiest for me.
Leah Lucci (@SuperStarling)
I start with the eyes, because they give me a feel for what kind of creature I'm dealing with. Are they slim, big, buggy, weird, ugly, scary? Then I create the creature or person accordingly. It's fun to draw the face around the eyes so that the eyes are way too small, or way too big, or coming off the side, or too low or too high, then try to make that "work."
Līga Jekabsone (@ligathelatvian)
First, I map out the dimensions of the face or/and the body, the outline of the face and the hair. Then I roughly sketch the features of the face and start the actual drawing with the eyes, which usually is the focal point in a face. Once I've drawn out eyes, if any proportions are off, my base is the eyes and I measure everything according to them.
WieldingColor (@Wieldingcolor)
The first thing that I usually start with is the forehead or the skeleton sketch before I move onto the eyes. :)
Kathieh Miller (@KathiehMiller)
The eyebrow...
Kaden (@Kestep)
I draw the outline of the head but I've been told you start on the eyes because the size of your eye proportions the rest of your face.
mrinalini vodela (@meenu)
I start with the eyes, then I outline the face.
Anna Thomsen (@Annaillustrated)
i do the exact same thing as you haha @laurendoodlecode . I really can't put a finger on why It's different though.
Gwendolyn E. Urquhart (@GwendolynSedai)
I draw the eyes.
Sohini (@bookboozer)
I used to begin with the face outline but I shifted to drawing eyes first as it helped me get the proportions better and more quickly than going in and erasing features all the time so they could "match"
Abby Byers (@Abby12)
I always start with the head, and then add in everything else. This helps with knowing how big everything should be.
MGB (@Thatonewierdperson)
I usually start with the ear which is weird but it helps me place the rest of the facial features. In my art class however I am learning a different way and we start with the outline of the head then the hair then we do the nose it is different since I am not used to that but I am sure I will learn tho the face may be deformed
Doodle Baaz (@doodlebaaz)
Eyes . Well i m not good in sketch but love to doodle the faces :)
Remy Francis (@Noname101)
I draw the outline of the head.
ellen (@Keepmakingthings)
The eyes
Nai Obeid (@naio)
it's been forever since I've drawn a portrait. But back when I did, I used to always start with the eyes. I have many fully drawn eyes and unfinished face art.
Jenny Catherine (@artsideofthemoon)
when I draw a face I always start with the right eye. then I do the nose and the mouth going in a circle .
Ana Sofía Jaramillo (@anasofiaaaaa)
the eyes then eyebrows, then the nose and finally the mouth
Alexi Noir (@alexinoir)
For me... the outline of the face first... and continue with the hair and so on...
Hawwa Lahfa (@lahu)
Eyes. Always the eyes. :D
Sandra Antunes (@SandraNez)
The outline of the face, then the hair and only the the details (eyes, nose, mouth, not necessarily in that order) so as to insure the overall proportions are accurate.
Cindy LeGrand (@legrandlife)
I always try to get the eyes (size and orientation to each other) done first. Everything else usually seems to fall into place from there.
Mike Litecky (@Twitchyscribs)
I typically start with the overall head shape and some reference lines that wrap around the head for the direction it is facing. There can be so much character that is defined by the silhouette of a basic shape. When doing more realistic stuff where I'm looking for realistic proportions, I might start with an oval for the top part of the skull.
Karmen Cordel (@PreciousChild)
I normally start with their face shape then work on the nose. I am trying to start drawing differently because my drawings aren't that good, so maybe I'll start with the eyes...
Eddie (@AniMentos)
I usually do cartoons, so I start by drawing the main point on a face, like a multicoloured afro
Junkyard Sam (@JunkyardSam)
I'm terrible at drawing people and sadly I don't care to improve. So for me I draw a very incorrect circle and then rely on facial, body, or clothing features to make the character recognizable. (Moustache, thick eyebrows, glasses, big ears, hairstyle, etc.) And if the character isn't recognizable I'll draw the name of the person and point an arrow at him because why not!! :-)
Melissa Hentges (@MelKeithArt)
I used to start with eyes, but lately I'm finding happiness starting with the nose.
J.Kill & Hide (@Dallyvanters)
Face shape...then tha eyes.
Machukov (@denni)
https://www.instagram.com/machukov.d/
Caitlin Carter (@Holybellhooks1313)
The face cause I can't proportion very well out of a certain area. I suck at art...
k librandi (@thespecterhermit)
I usually draw a basic head shape and then go straight for the eyes lol, but it depends sometimes I start with the nose.
Mark Lane (@MarkLane)
Hi. I start from the centre (the eyes) then work outwards. So, eyes, nose, mouth, jawline, ears and then the rest of the head and the hair but the main thing is to keep it all light and sketchy then darken up when you’re happy with it. Here’s a tip: if you’re drawing from a photo and the head is cocked, twist the pic (and your canvas also) so that the eyes are level. That makes them easier to get right. Anyways, that’s how I draw a portrait. Best wishes.
Poppy Bagel (@PoppyBagel)
Usually the nose, but sometimes the outline of the head, if there's something especially striking about that shape.
:) (@cherryBlossom)
I usually start with the nose and work my way around. Most of the times I end up having to make one of the eyes at last
Robin Stevens (@robbinStevens)
i usually do the nose then do the rest of the facial features.