How to draw a face - a free face drawing guide

Draw a realistic face step by step using pencil, guidelines, and shading. Practice proportions, facial features placement, and basic observation and shading techniques.

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Drawing

What you need

Colouring materials (optional), eraser, paper, pencil, ruler or straightedge, tissue or cotton bud for blending

Step 1

Gather all your materials and find a comfy place to draw.

Step 2

Pick a photo or look in a mirror to use as your reference.

Step 3

Lightly draw a vertical oval to map the overall head shape.

Step 4

Draw a faint vertical center line down the middle of the oval.

Step 5

Draw a horizontal eye line across the widest part of the oval (about halfway down).

Step 6

Draw two almond-shaped eyes on the eye line with about one eye-width of space between them and add the irises and pupils.

Step 7

Draw a simple nose centered on the vertical line halfway between the eye line and the chin.

Step 8

Draw the mouth centered on the vertical line about one-third of the way between the nose and the chin.

Step 9

Draw the eyebrows above the eyes following the shape of each eye.

Step 10

Draw the ears on each side of the head between the eye line and the bottom of the nose.

Step 11

Draw the hair around the head using simple shapes that start near the top of the oval.

Step 12

Draw the neck and shoulders with two smooth lines down from the jaw.

Step 13

Erase extra construction lines to clean up and refine your face shapes.

Step 14

Shade the face lightly to show where light hits and blend gently with a tissue or your finger.

Step 15

Share your finished face on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

Complete & Share

Help!?

What can we use instead of a tissue or mirror if we don't have them?

If you don't have a tissue for the 'Shade the face lightly...' step, use a clean fingertip, a folded paper towel, or a cotton swab, and if you don't have a mirror use a printed photo or a phone camera as your reference.

My eyes look uneven — how can I fix them while following the instructions?

If the eyes look uneven when you 'Draw two almond-shaped eyes...' lightly mark the one-eye-width gap with your pencil and use the vertical center line and horizontal eye line to check that both eyes align before finishing their irises and pupils.

How should the activity be adjusted for younger kids or older kids?

For younger kids simplify shapes by using circles for eyes and a single curved mouth while older kids can follow the full steps to add 'irises and pupils', detailed 'hair' shapes, and light 'shading' to practice proportions and value.

What are simple ways to extend or personalize the drawing after finishing the basic face?

To enhance the finished face try changing the 'mouth' position and 'eyebrow' angles for different expressions, add color to the 'hair' and clothing, or create a background scene before sharing on DIY.org.

How to Draw a Child's Face and Study Proportions - Narrated

4 Videos

Fun Facts

✏️ Soft hatching and gentle sideways pencil strokes make shading look smooth and help turn flat drawings into round faces.

🎨 Artists often start portraits with simple shapes (ovals, circles, lines) to map features before adding detail.

📏 Most faces are about five eye-widths across, so the space between the eyes is roughly one eye wide.

🧠 Newborns prefer face-like patterns within hours of birth — humans are wired to notice faces early!

👀 The eyes sit about halfway down the head — a super handy trick for getting face proportions right!

How do I teach my child to draw a face step by step?

Start with a light circle for the skull, add a vertical center line and a horizontal eye line halfway down. Sketch the jaw and chin, then mark eye, nose and mouth positions using simple proportions: eyes sit on the eye line, the bottom of the nose about halfway between eyes and chin, mouth a third below the nose. Add ears at eye-to-nose level, block in hair, then refine lines and add light shading to show planes and depth.

What materials do I need to draw a face with my child?

Use plain drawing paper, a few pencils (HB for guidelines, 2B or 4B for darker lines), a kneaded eraser, pencil sharpener, and a blending stump or tissue for shading. A ruler helps with proportion lines. Optional colored pencils or markers add color later. Keep materials non-toxic and age-appropriate, and place everything on a flat surface for comfortable drawing.

What ages is this step-by-step face drawing activity suitable for?

This activity works for children about 5 and up with adult help; younger kids need simpler shapes and guidance. Ages 7–12 can follow proportions and shading exercises independently, while teens can practice more complex features and values. Adapt difficulty by simplifying shapes for little ones or introducing perspective, light source, and anatomy for older children to keep it challenging and fun.

What are the benefits of teaching kids to draw faces and any safety tips?

Drawing faces boosts observational skills, spatial reasoning, fine motor control, and emotional expression while building confidence. It also teaches attention to proportion and light. Safety tips: supervise small children with sharp pencils, use non-toxic supplies, and encourage regular breaks to avoid eye strain or stiff posture. For variety, try blind-contour drawing, drawing from photos, or practicing different facial expressions and ages.

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How to draw a face