How to Invent a Face: Drawing a Head From Imagination
- James Otto Allen
- 6 days ago
- 1 min read
Drawing a Face From Imagination
Drawing a face from imagination can feel much harder than drawing one from reference. Instead of trying to invent each feature separately, I find it helpful to first think about the head as a simple three-dimensional form.
Start with the overall shape and direction of the head, then use simple guidelines to place the features around it. Think of the eyes, nose and lips as forms that sit on and project from the head rather than flat shapes drawn onto the surface.
Once the basic structure is working, you can start designing the individual features and hair. I like to keep these fairly simple at first and gradually refine the shapes until the character begins to emerge.
Quick takeaway
Before getting caught up in the details, ask yourself:
Does the head feel three-dimensional?
Do the features wrap around the form of the head?
Am I thinking about large shapes before small details?
Build the head first, then design the face on top of it.
Comments