How to Draw People
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I love to draw. I'm not an expert at it, but I know that it's something I enjoy.
People are what I especially love to draw because I love people and the challenge of portraying their personality along with their physical features. People vary so much in every feature and I love trying the different combinations of noses, eyes, smiles, and so on.
Graphite and charcoal are my media of choice. I can't paint for crap, unfortunately, so I do what I can with dry media. I also love the look of black and white; I think it adds drama and highlights the subject's basic features. I rarely ever use colour because I think it ruins the look of the picture.
I love how flexible drawing is; if there's something that bothers you about a person you can draw them and change whatever you want.
Below are my attempts to explain the way I draw because, while they will not be of use to everyone, a few tips here and there might fill in the gaps for those who can't quite get what they want out of a portrait. There are also a few samples of my drawings to reference.
Materials I use
I like to use graphite and charcoal pencils because I think they're the easiest for me to manage. Personally my favourite pencils are the silly party favour pencils with the shiny embossed designs and coloured erasers; I like the way they sharpen and how solid the lines are. It's also easy to erase.
For charcoal pencils I use General's mediums and softs. Mostly I use the medium because I like the way it shows up on the paper and it's easier to blend. Charcoal is nice to use because you get good, stark lines that make for good contrast; it really shows up well on paper. However, I find myself using it less often because 1) it gets awfully messy, and 2) it's harder for me to control... it doesn't stay sharp as long and it the tip is usually wider than I'd prefer because I can't get the detail I want.
While I use the pencils at the ends of my cheap pencils sometimes, I also like to use a separate eraser for blending and major mess ups. I like gum erasers best, but the white normal kind works too.
As far as paper, I use Strathmore, either the Charcoal pad or Drawing. The drawing pad is best with pencil. The Charcoal pad is slightly textured more than the Drawing, creating a nifty effect when smearing the charcoal. You can use the Drawing pad with charcoal too, as I did with the Ziyi Zhang portrait (from People magazine) below.
To seal the charcoal onto the paper (so it doesn't rub off as easily) I use hairspray. Any kind works, so I usually use the cheap kinds.
People Magazine and other similar publications are great to obtain reference photos from because they often include feature sections such as "100 Hottest Bachelors" with close-up pictures of people. Also, teen magazines are ideal with their make-up ads featuring airbrushed models that make for smooth drawing.
My drawing process
While it's nice to experiment every once in a while, I like to stick with the same method and improve upon it.
I almost always draw portraits of people (which include mainly the face) because there is so much that a face shows of a person. I think it's also the most difficult part of a person to draw. Every feature differs so much from one to another; noses, eyes, everything is different. Get one thing out of proportion or forget a line here and there and the portrait can look like it's of a completely different person.
This is the order in which I draw a portrait, as far as features go:
1. Eyes. Start with the basic outline of both eyes (this way you can see if the eyes are proportioned correctly beside each other before you get too far; it's really easy to draw eyes too close to or too far from each other). Add the crease over both of the eyes (if there are creases; some people don't have them), then the eyebrows (eyebrows are just a lot of lines beside each other), then pupils and the irises, then eyelashes. Don't forget to define the eyelids as they touch the eye, as you can see in the Kasey Kahne portrait to the right (especially his right eyelid). From there you can shade around the eyes. This depends on the lighting. You can shade under the eye, around the top between the eye and the eyebrow, and around the temple. Shading involves using your finger (that's what I do, anyway, because you have more control); you can add more graphite/charcoal if rubbing removes a lot of the media. Also, you can use the eraser to define or blend.
2. Nose. This comes right after the eyes because the shading around the eyes usually helps define the shape of the nose. I lightly outline the nose, then add the little curve at the bottom middle of the nose, curve those out on either side to make the shape of the nostrils, then add the curves on either side of the nostrils that make the shape of the bottom of the nose. Drawing the nose involves a lot of shading; other than at the bottom and the sides there are few hard lines. Depending on the lighting there can be a lot or a little shading, just like the eyes. Usually the very tip of the nose is light, where the light would be shining on it.
3. Mouth. I like to start the mouth by making dots where the ends of the mouth will be. Then I draw out the lips (the top one is usually darker). Don't forget about the vertical, subtle lines in the lips; usually they're not hard but rather faint. There is also the little trench sort of thing between the top lip and the bottom of the nose. And depending on how hard they're smiling, there may be lines around the mouth. These can be hard or soft, depending on the person. When drawing teeth, be careful because if the lines between the teeth are too hard you can make the person look like an idiot. And of course, shade around the mouth, beneath the bottom lip, around the teeth, at the bottoms of each lip, and so on.
4. Outline of the face. This helps make the person look more finished, by defining the shape of their face and encasing the facial features. Around the eyes the shape curves inward, then curves back out around the cheekbones, straight or curves out around the cheeks, out at the jaw, and in at the chin. Shading is fun here because there can be a lot, and it can really define how the person looks. There is often a lot at the bottom of the cheeks, around the jaw and the temples.
5. Ears. I never pay too much attention to the ears, but they're weird because there is so much detail here. The curves of the inside of the ear depend on the person but generally are of the same idea.
6. Hair. This is one of my favourite parts. It's usually a lot of lines beside each other, like with the eyelashes. At the top of the head I make few lines or make them more faint where the light would usually be shining, and closer and/or darker where shadows would be. Where the hair meets the head you can either make pretty vertical lines if the hair flares up or just start drawing hair using downward lines if the hair just falls down. Curls and waves are fun, as seen in the picture of Rachel McAdams to the right; use the same idea of more and/or darker lines where there'd be shadow and fewer/lighter where light would shine.
7. Neck and anything else. This can include the collar of shirts, necklaces, etc. Usually I add a little more so it's not just a floating head on the page, but I don't really care about more than the face anyway, so this part isn't very important to me.
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This is great information about drawing people. Before I saw the caption, I thought, wow, that looks a lot like Rachel McAdams. Although, in The Notebook her hair is more of a 1940s style ( I think ).
wonderful~
I used to do portraits a bit in black and white, like you charcoal sticks, or pencil. I was never this good though.
I'm impressed!
Have you heard of the book "Drawing from the Right Side of Your Brain"? I've heard it helps people who are not artistically inclined to start drawing well.
I'm just lerning to drow people-maybe someone know how to start?
Wow, those are amazing.
i am really impressed about how you can draw so well
u are amazing, u have so much potential, they seem so real, im impressed
I LOVE IT TOUGHT ME HEAPS GUYS U ROCK
good
hi i think u need to put instrutoins for kids on this if u want to draw ponies
You are a wonderful artist!
Cool drawing
This is really great. Thank you for sharing this, it's wonderfully useful! It taught me a lot!
mmmmmmmmmmmmm..................................... kewl...................
I love coming back to this hub again and again!
O_O that`s awesome man!!!!!!!!!!
<3
wow you are awesome..
WOW u r AMAZING not even joking im still learning how to draw eyes
they were great great keep it up!!!
that's great! what are you talking about 'im not an expert at all' you really helped me too because you point out great things
love the inner you
My middle school kids and I think hub pages is a great site.
hi i think it is a great careere and i like it.
You are one heck of an artist.
I love these drawings and I love the addvice you git out to the peaple who love to draw just like me!
I love your drawings!!!! They are so good! I am not good at drawing portraits- this helped. Thanks!
I can draw better then that. have you every drawed a picture with people and every hard detail. Thst me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awful. OMG! You suck!!!!!!!!!!!! I could draw better than you when I was 3!
Your drawings are pretty good. I'm real big on details. I'll consider this...
I am really impressed i also love to draw but i am not very good
You are VERY talented!!!
Thanks to all for your compliments! To those who don't think you're "very good," that's just silly. Everyone has different styles, and for many, it takes years of experience to develop satisfactory (to themselves) drawing skills.
I think it is really mean that people would even try to put you down. It is REALLY mean. Your drawing are with great detail and everything is really great. I agree with you on black and white look better! (thanks for this great site and keep up the great work) oh and by the way i think those people that are stupid and wrote stupid and mean comments... i have something to say to them.... EITHER U CAN'T DRAW FOR CRAP, YOUR BLIND OR YOUR ARE THE MEANEST PEOPLE EVER BECAUSE THIS PERSON TRIES THEIR HARDEST AND IDIOTS LIKE YOU PUT HER DOWN. GOOD ON YOU IDIOTS!!! :( i am especially taking to Brianna and thebomb. i don't think your great artists i just thinkl you guys have nothing better to do Thank you! bii :)
It feels good, I'm an artist. I have to refresh my skills. Pencil drawing is my favourite, I liked this hub very specially for the same. Thumbs up!!!
Surprised I haven't found this gem of a hub before. Beautiful work!
i am not a good artist .but i like to learn the art of sketching and drawings,u have a good way explaining the art .it was very useful to me and thanks a lot for this useful explanation.
omg i am like 13 and still working on learning to draw i started at a young age because art and music is someting that came natural and i really hope i can be as good as you one day
This is absolutly Crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your drawings are pretty good. Thanks ;)
they are so amazing drawings
Nice
I love drawing people. It's one of my favorite things to draw, though I can never get anyone to sit still long enough for me to draw them! Everyone's just so antsy to see how they look, it drives me nuts! lol
I should show you a couple of my drawings. I'm very good at hands, but not nearly as amazing as you are with faces! Man, this just makes me want to run outside and doodle up my flower garden! ^_^
I'd love to see your pictures... make a Hub with them and I'd be glad to see them!
Wow... Thanks for the ips, and awezome pictures
Wow these are great. Does anyone know how to start your drawing off?
what are you talking about your are an exellent drawer
omg excatly wat bailey said
i mean im a terrible face drawer
and i never knew ppl can draw that well
OMG at first I thought you took pics off of google and stuck them on there, but after I looked closer...that's freakin pencil!!! so yeah I admire you.
I love drawing people, too. You draw excellent people pictures. Your work on hairs amazes me. I bet that's probably the most time consuming part of your drawing. Excellent work.
Hi glassvisage, I use to dabble with faces before. The one that came out pretty good was Jesus' face. LOL But this is ..wow! I love Eva and Zoe's portrait! Hmmm...maybe someday I could convince you to draw a portrait of me. Wouldn't that be something? Hahaha Have a great day!
youe GREAT!!!!!!!! I have this one are set i got for my birthday, and im haven't used it for SOOOOOO long now in defenetly gonna start using it!
you are incredible, i too like to draw people, though i have such issues drawing the hair!! your work is incredible
Nice drawings. I do faces too. I always like to "look off" of other pics too. Pencil for me as well sometimes pen. Watercolor every now and again though I really am not any good with paints either. Landscapes only for paints. I always say about my pictures of people etc. " it won't look anything like what it's supposed to but it will be good." I have a folder full of drawings I have done since I was nine years old or so. I am 36 now. All my boys love to draw too. My youngest-8 is always wanting me to draw a picture for him. Usually of super heroes, monsters etc. I have been told I should do it for money. I scoff-who would want to PAY for something I drew?! Besides it's just for kicks and giggles anyway. Yours are good. Real good. I can almost see the color. Good shading. Very realistic looking. I am not so good at getting the 3demensional look down.I learn all the time though. Keep up the good work
I love your drawings. I how to draw as well. I have started a drawing website so that I have an excuse to draw more:)
Reuel Feenstra
2bdrawing.com
nice drawings, must have taken a while to get them donw
A timeless hub well done! Looking forward to reading this again and again as I love art!
Beauty and talent. Wonderful combination. Drawing the face is still in the making. Need to put more effort toward it. Do have some nature scenes done in oil, crudely done but I did do it.
Be Well
Wow you're really good! I like Drawing too, but I'm not at all good at it. how do you do it so well!
Hi glassvisage, thanks for you comment on my profile. I think your drawings are terrific. I enjoy drawing as well. Maybe, i'll get around to a hub about that sometime.
sick
sick
sick
sick
sick and absolutley even more
sick
you may be responsible of a new hobby of mine (drawing)
good hub there gurl
thanx
Your drawings are amazing at first I thought they were pictures!
our good but when u giv instructions draw the steps to :D thumbs up
Thanks for sharing your talent with us. I am also an artist so appreciate what you do. I find it hard to read those disparaging comments. You do not deserve that!
WOW your really really..... good....
i love drawing too....
i'm 13y.o. and i just started last year in may ...
I use the method "grid" 'cause I'm still a begginer...
I like my drawing but when I PAINT it it turns terrible......
it's better when it's not painted
Thanks to all for your support! Starlet, don't worry, I didn't start drawing till I was about your age, and I went through a lot of drawing phases before I got to where I am now :)
I truly loved it.. am sure I'm gonna contact you soon for more tips.. of course after I try some from this hub.. may be I may follow the drawing that you did.. but will try :)
Good article. I draw also. It is so relaxing. I took a class at a local collage and I find that that would be helpful for anyone first starting out. It can be very daunting in the beginning.
My favorite medium is acrylics. My Sunday mornings are for me alone. That is when you can find me at my easel working on my latest painting.
it was really nice!you know all of you i want you to know that scince i was on grade 4,i won a gold medal!and it was valentines day!so i draw abot love....i draw too...when im bored,i draw many and many drawings...keep it up painters and drawers!lov ya!hope too see you soon!
OH MY GOD! You have got such an amazing talent. I've been drawing for about 5yrs now, my Dad was an artist but i (like you) am flumoxed when it comes to paint, I draw mainly landscapes but faces is one thing i just cant get my head around (parden the pun) keep up the good work. X
Why do you say you can't draw??? Those are amazing; if I could do half what you do I would be flying high. I have suddenly, yes suddenly, decided I want to paint/draw, bring out some creativity, even if it is bad (lol). I wanted to try watercolor but found that I don't have control; interesting you commented similar to that. And I want to draw faces (I am pulled to that). Your reasoning is exactly how I feel; I have this sudden fascination for faces and wanting to draw them. Right now, I am just using the watercolor pad and regular no. 2 pencil until I get some graphite pencils (just ordered). They are very primitive but they're mine; that's how I feel. Art is what comes from inside you and how you perceive. Keep it up and thanks for the site; I wanted some information to work on different parts of the face and this led me to your site.
Good luck and thanks for posting.
yo momma
the drawings are so cool
your drawings are awesome... i was gonna say that one must be rachel mcadams, and then i read the caption! you definitely have a true talent.
Ah, I love the comments on this page :) Thanks to most of you! lol
hey,i really like drawing too, but i can never get the nose right,except when im drawing Jack sparrow. he has an easy to draw , but serious, interesting face. you should try drawing him.
hey, i know someone who draws a lot like u. im only 15 but im getting better thanks to u. i want to draw kasey khane nonw !lol . do u know the best place 2 buy graphite pencils? mine are running low. oh and whoever said they were good at jesuses face, i love drawing jesus too! he has a very defined chin....
anyway i think u should try drawing animal faces, especially cats and dogs. there a lot like people but with fur. u said u like drawing hair? now its every where!lol
thanks again
ash
i liked all those portraites... really really
nice drawings ur a wonderfull drawer i hope u keep that up :) *thumbs up*
Thank you so much, everyone! Ash, I admit that my favorite kinds of graphite pencils to use are the ones that you get for party favors and stuff! I like the erasers on them, usually, and the quality is good enough for me :)
I'm green with envy. your obras are good! drawing is one talent of mine that i never had the chance to develop. Too much to be done, too little time.
wat is this o my god it made me sick like barf hahahah muhahahah.this soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo stupied hehe.
You are a great artist! How old are those drawings are fantstic!!! Okay how did you learn how to draw so good?
You have a gift and I'm glad you're nurturing it. Keep it up. :D
Your SO good at drawing, imma draw like this 1 day
dam u rule!! xx
Thanks so much! It's always nice to get KIND comments on this Hub :)
I have not comment on this hub yet, but I have read it a few times. Your drawings are very good and I love your pencil shading. Great tutorial, and it seems to be a very popular hub as there are so many comments.
I realy love your drawings,but i can only draw menga people,i like your drawings batter
i splled better rong sorry
you are so talented!!!!! i try to draw people but i am not very good....
these drawings are awesome
Nice work and a great article! Lots of good info for someone who is looking to improve or learn more about portrait drawing.
These are good tips! Your drawings are very nice, your quite good! Thanks for enjoyable reading.
you are so good
these r great! im sort of an artist... everyone says im really good but yur waaaaaaaaay better... then again i am a begginer.
wow this place is awsome iv alresdy read the article 3 times your advice is great and i love you websight!!!! (:
Nice I love to draw as well although I'll never make anything close to your drawings lol..impressive
Simply beautiful! How many years have you been drawing? I like to draw too and I will be visiting this page again for tips and inspiration :)
Thank you everyone! :) Ms Chievous, I have been really drawing since I was in 7th grade, so for about 10 years now! Weird now that I think about it :)
Your drawings are wonderful, i really like the way you use pencil and the pictures really come to life. thanks for sharing.
Your drawings are awesome!!!! I can't draw worth any thing : ) lol
cool :D
OMFG you are a brillant drawer
i wish i could draw like that
wow!! This is soooo.... wow!
i can draw like that but better jk
i had always like to draw a potrait of my own and i got more ideas from here.
Lovely use of shading; I enjoyed this Hub.
awesome your great
OMG IT BLINKED AT ME!!!!!!
so cool
Very nice hub! Your drawings are also very good. you draw a lot like I do, based on your descriptive step by step blog. Check out some of my drawing hubs when you get a chance. I will add you to my list so I can check out your future hubs
Thanks Jeff
PS some of these commenters that had negative things to say are ... nah I won't say it...they and everyone else already knows.
Thanks everyone, and thanks rv! I'll definitely check out your Hubs :) I like to keep the negative comments because I think they're funny :D
Your work is great.. Check out my hub about my drawings.
You are way to modest. These are pro sketches.
You should sell your art work on
good luck
nikki1
heres mine artwork..
letsbefrienz
Thank you Ken and Nikki! Thanks for those sites! Go visit Nikki's page!
u say ur not a prfesionnal are u serious ?? this is amaizing
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.............kelw.....i like it nice job
ur drawings r amazing=] i also love to draw. its easy for me to make up the poeple im drwing and draw them very good but i cant draw real people
wow that is amazing you guys are great! I need help on the eyes part it is always the hardest part for me.
I can draw real people great book covers easy. All I need now is a little help with eyes and good to go.
This is just A PICTURE LIKE A PICTURE THE SAME PICTURES I SEEN ON ANOTHER SITEE FUCKING FAKE
great pictures!!! but 1 thing u could do to improve this sight is show step by step how u drew them instead of writting them cause no 1 can be bothered reading
oh and i forgot to metion OMFG great pictures i wish i could draw like that!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the suggestion!
jimmythejock says:
3 years ago
your drawings are great....jimmy