This interactive presentation was developed to help art students learn and apply the basics of portraiture. Users are guided step-by-step through the entire process of drawing a human portrait. Afterward, students are asked to submit a drawing for review. Students will apply this new knowledge to drawing portraits of subjects such as Great Americans, Great Artists, Gods of Mythology, etc.

1. The Art of
Portraiture
Drawing the Human Head
By Brian Anderson

2. The Art of
Portraiture
Drawing the Human Head
By Brian Anderson

3. The Art of
Portraiture
Drawing the Human Head

4. The Art of
Portraiture
Drawing the Human Head
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5. This button will
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6. This button will
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7. See. You’ve
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it out.

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9. There you go.

10. Right on.

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13. Ready to move on, eh?

14. Let’s move on then.

15. Let’s move on then.

16. These buttons allow you
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17. These buttons allow you
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18. These buttons allow you
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19. Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Art Supplies
Chapter 2: Head Proportions
Chapter 3: Drawing the Outline
Chapter 4: Adding Features

20. Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Art Supplies
Chapter 2: Head Proportions
Chapter 3: Drawing the Outline
Chapter 4: Adding Features

21. Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Art Supplies
Chapter 2: Head Proportions
Chapter 3: Drawing the Outline
Chapter 4: Adding Features
This is your home button.

22. Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Art Supplies
Chapter 2: Head Proportions
Chapter 3: Drawing the Outline
Chapter 4: Adding Features
It’ll take you back here.

23. Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Art Supplies
Chapter 2: Head Proportions
Chapter 3: Drawing the Outline
Chapter 4: Adding Features

24. Let’s begin.

25. Chapter 1
Art Supplies

26. You will need some
art supplies like ...

27. paper
Letter-sized
(8 1/2 x 11)
will do.

28. pencil
with an
eraser.

29. ruler

30. Use these
tools to draw
as you progress
through this
program.

31. After this
program, you
will submit a
portrait for
review.

32. You may
repeat any
portion of this
program, if
necessary.

33. For this
unit, you’re
going to draw
a portrait that
looks like this
one.

34. Don’t worry
if yours isn’t
exactly the
same.

35. If you’re a
beginner,
follow the
steps as
closely as
possible.

36. If you’re a
bit more
practiced,
you may make
variations to
your own
drawing.

37. When you’ve
finished with
this unit,
don’t forget
to turn in
your drawing
for credit.

38. Your drawing
will be graded
on overall
head shape,
feature
placement and
correctness.

39. Are you
ready?

40. Then,
let’s begin.

41. Chapter 2
Head Proportions

42. Let’s start
by creating a model
for our head.
Similar to a mannequin.

43. The height
of a human
head is
1.5 times
its width.

44. 5”
This head is
5 inches wide
therefore, its
height would 7 / ”
1
2
measure
7 1/2 inches.

45. Always begin
your drawing
with a
rectangle.
(Don’t draw
just yet.)

46. You will need
a rectangle
that’s about
half the size
of your paper.
(Hold off a
little longer.)

47. You can draw
any size
rectangle
as long as
its height is
1.5 times its
width.

48. Now, draw a
rectangle with
the ruler.
Draw lightly.
It’s easier
to erase later
if you do.

49. Now, draw a
rectangle with
the ruler.
Draw lightly.
It’s easier
to erase later
if you do.

50. Now, draw a
rectangle with
the ruler.
Draw lightly.
It’s easier
to erase later
if you do.

51. Now, draw a
rectangle with
the ruler.
Draw lightly.
It’s easier
to erase later
if you do.

52. If you’re 5”
having a hard
time, draw
this one. 7/ ”
1
2
It measures
5 inches by
7 21/ inches.

53. Do you have
a rectangle?

54. That’s okay.
Keep trying
until you do.
When you’re
ready, click
the forward
button.

55. If you’re
really stuck,
why don’t you
start from
the beginning.
Click the
rewind button.

56. Good, you
got it.
Let’s
move on.

57. Chapter 3
Drawing the Outline

58. In this chapter,
you’re going to begin
drawing the face.

59. A human head
is symmetrical.

60. Symmetrical means
one side mirrors
or reflects
the other.

61. Let’s divide
this head
vertically
through its
center.

62. See how each
half looks
the same,
only reflected.

63. To help,
let’s create
guides to keep
everything in
order.

64. Divide your
rectangle
in half using
a vertical line.

65. Next, divide
your rectangle
in half using
a horizontal
line.

66. You should
have something
that looks
similar to this.

67. We’re going
to start with
the top of
the head.

68. Draw a
gently curved
line like this
one.

69. Then, bring
it down the
other side.

70. Cone
Make sure Head
your head
isn’t too
pointy ...

71. Flat
Or, too flat. Head

72. Don’t give up.
Keep trying
until you get
the shape
you want.

73. Drawing
the jaw line
is different
than the top
of the head.

74. A human
head is
egg-shaped.

75. Therefore,
the jaw
should be
a bit more
pointy.
Here’s one
line.

76. Here’s the
other.

77. This is a
good shape
and size
for a human
head.

78. Divide the
horizontal
midline into
five equal 1 2 3 4 5
parts using
four marks.

79. A human head
is five eyes
wide.
1 2 3 4 5

80. And, the
eyes are
located on
gaps 2 & 4. 1 2 3 4 5

81. Draw the top
of the eye.
It should look
like the top
half of a
football.

82. Finish the
bottom of
the eye.
See how
it looks like
a football?

83. Repeat the
last two
steps to
draw the
right eye.
Step one.

84. Step two.

85. Draw a line
halfway
between the
eye line and
the chin.

86. This line
marks the
bottom of the
nose.

87. Place two
small marks
halfway
between each
eye and the
center vertical
line.

88. These marks
indicate the
width of the
bridge of the
nose.

89. Drop two
dotted lines
from the inside
of each eye
to the nose
line.

90. These dotted
lines mark
the width
of the nose
at the
nostrils.

91. Draw a
diagonal line
as indicated.

92. Continue to
draw the line
above the eye
with a smooth
curved line.
This is the
orbital bone.

93. Draw another
diagonal line
as indicated.

94. Again, draw
the line
above the eye
with a smooth
curved line.

95. Erase the
dotted lines
(marked here
in pink).

96. Draw a
horizontal line
that rests
on the top
of the eyes.

97. This line
marks the
top of the
ears.

98. The top of
the ear is top
even with the
top of the eye.
The ear lobe
ends with
the nose.
lobe

99. Draw a line
similar to the
red one.

100. Draw the
other ear.
Both ears
should be
symmetrical –
they mirror
one another.

101. Draw a
horizontal line
halfway
between the
nose and
the chin.

102. This line
marks the
bottom of
the lips.

103. Draw another
horizontal line
halfway
between the
lip line and
the nose line.

104. This line
marks the
top of the
lips.

105. Drop two
dotted lines
from the
center of the
eyes to the
bottom lip line.

106. Now, let’s
take a moment
and clean up
our drawing.

107. Erase the
lines marked
in pink from
your drawing.

108. Your drawing
should look
like this one
now.

109. Let’s finish
by adding
the neck.

110. The lines
begin at the
ear lobes
and gently
curve inward
before curving
outward.

111. We have
our model.
Beautiful.

112. Chapter 4
Adding Features

113. Let’s now improve
our model by adding
realistic features.

114. The eyes.

115. This view is
a close-up
of our drawing
from earlier.

116. Remember
to draw lightly
until you “see”
the correct
line.

117. Draw the upper
upper lid
first.

118. Then, draw
the lower
one.
lower

119. Now connect
them with
short curved
line like the
one shown.

120. Add another
curved line,
to indicate
the pink,
fleshy area
in the corner
of eyes.

121. Add the iris.
This is the iris
colored area
of the eye
such as blue
or green eyes.

122. Notice that
the top of
the iris is
covered by
the upper
lid.

123. Draw the pupil
pupil in the
center of
the iris.

124. Draw the crease
crease of
the upper
eyelid.

125. Draw the
crease for
the lower lid.
crease

126. For an added
touch, draw
one more
curved line
to indicate
the bulge of
the eye.

127. Erase the
lines marked
in pink.

128. You now have
an outline
of a realistic
human eye.

129. Let’s draw
the other
one.

130. Remember upper
to start with
the upper
lid.

131. Draw the
lower one.
lower

132. Connect them
to create the
inside corner
of the eye.

133. Draw the
fleshy part.

134. Add the iris.
iris

135. Draw the pupil
pupil.

136. Draw the crease
upper crease.

137. Draw the
lower one.
crease

138. Add the
bulge line.

139. Erase the
pink lines.

140. Another eye
done.
Good Job!

141. The eyebrows.

142. A compliment to the eye,
the eyebrow is an important
feature of the human face.

143. Orbital bone
It rests just
above the line
of the orbital
bone ...

144. It accentuates
the eye and
separates it
from the
forehead.

145. The hairs
grow towards
the outside
of the face.
Pay attention
to their
direction.

146. When drawing
the eyebrow
use lots of
curved lines
of varying
lengths.

147. Erase the
pink line.

148. You now have
the making
of a realistic
human brow.

149. Repeat for
the other
side.

150. Erase the
extra lines.

151. Another one!

152. The nose.

153. Use only
lines to
draw the
nose.
Do not use
shapes.

154. Start with
the tip of
the nose.
Use a wavy
line like this
one.

155. Add one
nostril ...

156. And then
the next.

157. Use a
wavy line
to indicate
one side
of the nose.

158. The bulge
at the bottom
reveals the
nose to have
some form.

159. Add a broken
line to the
other side
to define its
edge. This
also gives the
nose thickness.

160. Include a
few extra
little lines
to help with
definition -
make it look
more real.

161. Delete the
lines in
pink.

162. Voila!
You have
a nose.

163. The mouth.

164. Like the
eyes, the lips
are a very
expressive
feature of the
human face.

165. The lips
are created
with three
distinct lines
and they
center around
this box.

166. The first
defines the
line where
the upper
and lower
lips meet.

167. The second
marks the
edge of the
upper lip.

168. Remember
to include the
characteristic
“dip” in the
center.

169. The third line
finishes the
lower lip and
defines its
fullness -
narrow lips
or thick lips?

170. Add some
texture to
the lips by
adding some
fine lines.

171. Erase the
rectangle.

172. Houston,
We have lips!

173. The ear.

174. The ear is
less difficult
than it may
appear.

175. It can be
drawn with
as little as
three lines.

176. Start with
the outside
of the ear.
This line
defines the
ear’s shape.

177. The second
line shows the
opening to
the inner ear.

178. The ear is
made of folds
of skin and
this third line
shows the
inside ring.

179. Clean up
your drawing
by erasing
the pink line.

180. You now have
an outline
of a realistic
human ear.

181. Let’s do
the other
one.

182. Line one.
The outside
of the ear.

183. Line two.
The opening
to the ear.

184. Line three.
Outside ring.

185. Don’t forget
to erase the
extra line.

186. The other
ear is now
done.
You’re doing
great!

187. The sides of the face.

188. Let’s finish
the face by
finishing the
sides.

189. The sides
of the face
protrude from
the cheek
and indent
at each
temple.

190. The sides
of the face
protrude from
the cheek
and indent
at each
temple.

191. Darken the
line for the
neck, but
don’t darken
the scalp.
We still have
hair to do.

192. You now have
one realistic,
uhmmmmmm,
bald human
head.

193. The hair.

194. The hair
begins at the
scalp and
grows outward
from there.

195. Pay strict
attention
to the
direction of
hair.

196. Use wavy
lines of
different
lengths.

197. If you want
an area
darker,
add more
lines.

198. Take your
time. Hair
often makes
or breaks
a portrait
drawing.

199. You now
have one
realistic
human head.

200. Remember to turn
in your drawing to
receive credit.

201. And don’t forget,
if you want to get
better, then you have
to practice.

202. The Art of
Portraiture
Drawing the Human Head
By Brian Anderson