Drawing Portraits For The Absolute Beginner : A... May 2026

A common mistake is placing eyes too high. In a standard head, the eyes sit halfway between the top of the skull and the chin.

The line where the lips meet is usually about one-third of the way down from the nose to the chin. 3. The "Block-In" Method Drawing Portraits for the Absolute Beginner : a...

If you are looking to start your journey into portraiture, "Drawing Portraits for the Absolute Beginner" (part of the popular "For the Absolute Beginner" series by Mark and Mary Willenbrink) is widely considered one of the best entry points. It breaks down the intimidating task of drawing faces into manageable, logical steps. A common mistake is placing eyes too high

Textured paper can make skin look "grainy," so a smooth Bristol or sketch pad is often preferred for portraits. Textured paper can make skin look "grainy," so

While every face is unique, beginners start with "ideal" proportions to understand placement:

The biggest hurdle for beginners is drawing what they think an eye or nose looks like rather than what they actually see .

Draw a vertical line down the center of the face and a horizontal line for the eyes to establish which way the head is tilting.