How to Draw a Human Head: 13 Steps
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Drawing a human head can be challenging, but it’s a highly rewarding skill to master. Here are 13 steps to help you create an accurate and detailed human head:
1. Plan your drawing: Before you begin, decide on the position, proportion, and light source. This will help you ensure consistency and accuracy throughout your drawing.
2. Create an oval for the cranium: Ovals help define the outline of the cranium and give your drawing structure. An oval shape represents the back of the head.
3. Sketch a centerline: Draw a vertical line down the middle of the oval. This will help you maintain symmetry as you work on facial features.
4. Draw two intersecting lines to indicate eye level: These lines should be roughly halfway between the top of your oval and bottom, creating a cross shape with your centerline.
5. Add guidelines for facial features: To determine proper placement of features like eyes, nose, and mouth, draw horizontal guidelines around one-third down from eye level for eyebrows, another third for nose line, and one-third below that for lips.
6. Outline facial features: Begin working on details like eyes, nose, mouth, and ears using your guidelines to maintain proper proportions. Start with basic shapes before adding more detail.
7. Define the front plane of face: Draw a vertical line from the bottom center of your oval towards chin end point to separate front side from sides of head.
8. Sketch jawline: On either side of this centerline, draw sloping lines that form an angle to create jaw structure. These lines should gradually curve up to connect with bottom corners of your oval.
9. Refine neck placement: Trace two curving lines that extend down from jawline toward shoulders; make them slightly converge before ending at collarbones for realism.
10. Add hair: Choose hairstyle you want to depict and start sketching strands or large shapes according to preferred style. Remember that hair grows from scalp, so draw accordingly.
11. Add finer details: Enhance features like eyes, nose, and mouth by shading different areas as needed to bring them to life.
12. Apply shading techniques: To create depth and realism in your drawing, determine where the light is coming from, and accordingly apply shading to appropriate areas, including the face and neck.
13. Finalize your drawing: Look over your work, making any necessary revisions for proportion or detail. You can also strengthen lines or further refine shapes for added clarity.
With practice and patience, your ability to draw a human head will improve over time. Don’t be afraid to reference photographs or real-life subjects to grow as an artist. Good luck with your artistic journey!