Draw a mouth from the front or side

What can we use instead of a blending stump or tissue if we don't have one?

If you don't have a blending stump or tissue, use a rolled-up piece of clean cotton, a Q‑tip, or the rounded edge of a crumpled tissue to softly blend the light shading under the lower lip as the instructions describe.

My lips look flat or my shading is blotchy—what step is likely going wrong and how can I fix it?

Keep your horizontal guideline and corner marks very light, sketch the M-shaped top lip and U-shaped lower lip with gentle strokes, then apply soft shading under the lower lip and blend slowly with a tissue or stump, erasing extra guidelines afterward to avoid smudges and preserve the mouth shape.

How can this activity be changed for different ages or skill levels?

For preschoolers, simplify by tracing a printed mouth and using crayons on thick paper to practice the M and U shapes, while older kids can refine the profile curves, add subtle shading at the back corner and under the lower lip, and lift a tiny highlight with the eraser for realism.

How can we extend or personalize the front-and-side mouth drawing activity?

Try drawing different expressions by changing the M and U curves, add details like teeth or a tongue along the thin line between lips, color the lips with pencils or markers, and then photograph your front-and-side versions to share on DIY.org.