Steps to Sketching:

Vary the Shape but Maintain the Centerline

You can move most of the construction lines around, but don’t mess too much with the centerline. It’s an important anchor for the rest of the structure.

Step 1: Draw the Structure

Draw the profile line of the face. Begin at the eyebrow, then draw the cheek, jaw and chin. Vary the line width for interest. Thicker lines attract attention. Think of what you can exaggerate to make it funny!

Step 2: Add Hair

Add the hairline around the face. Then add the silhouette shape of the hair. Use a “V” shape to indicate a part in the hair–the deeper the “V,” the puffier the hair will appear. You can break the two lines up by using decorative strokes, but they should appear to create a shape of hair.

Step 3: Start Adding Features

Draw the eyes. These are the windows to the soul. Draw them carefully; if you miss the mark here, you are heading into troubled water. Draw the far eyebrow first, then the near one. Continue with the far eye, then the near one. Add the glasses.

Step 4: Add More Features

Draw the nose. Start at the bridge by the eyebrow and work your way down to the tip of the nose. Add the near nostril, then the far one if you can see it. Add any decorative strokes that will help define the nose.

Step 5: Finish and Refine the Features

Draw the mouth area. There is no opening in this model’s expressive grin, so you will simply draw the top lip, then the bottom one. Don’t forget the smile lines.

Step 6: Add the Neck

Complete the sketch by first drawing the neck and collar. Go to the top of the sketch and work your way down adding decorative strokes. Look for anything you may have skipped: freckles, earrings, strokes in the hair, glasses and so on.