How to draw a face, step by step
- Easy
- 14 min
- 11 steps
- 4 materials
How to draw a face: this free lesson draws a smiling girl's face in 11 easy steps, with a picture for every step, and it suits beginners. You block in the head as an oval, add a center line and an eye line, and mark where the pigtails go. Then you draw the face with its pointed bangs, the hairline, the pigtails and their hair ties, the neck and shoulders. After going over the outline, you finish with closed, smiling eyes, a tiny nose and a wide smile. Draw it on paper, or trace each step in the Pencilbloom app.
Trace this lesson on your own paper
What you’ll need
- HB pencil
- 2B pencil
- Eraser
- Drawing paper
Draw it step by step
Step 1 of 11
new lines in red
- done
- this step
Step 1: Block in the head
Lightly draw a large rounded oval for the head, slightly wider at the top, in the middle of the page.
Step 2: Add the center and eye lines
Draw a vertical center line, then a horizontal line across the middle of the face for the eyes.
Step 3: Mark the pigtails
Sketch an oval on each side of the head for the pigtails, starting near the top corners of the head.
Step 4: Draw the face and bangs
Follow the round face shape, with the bangs dipping in a point at the top.
Step 5: Add the hairline
Draw the curved line across the top of the head, and the strand of hair in the bangs.
Step 6: Draw the pigtails
Add a pigtail on each side of the head, curving out and down.
Step 7: Add the hair ties
Draw the two small round hair ties where the pigtails start.
Step 8: Draw the neck and shoulders
Draw the short neck under the chin, then the shoulders sloping out.
Step 9: Go over the outline
Trace the outer line around the hair, face and shoulders, a pencil width outside the first lines.
Step 10: Draw the closed eyes
Add the two smiling eyes, curved like little arches.
Step 11: Add the nose and smile
Draw the tiny nose in the middle, then the wide smile under it.
swipe the drawing to change step
Done! Now on paper?
You’ve seen every step. Trace it on real paper with Pencilbloom; your phone shows each step right on the page.
Trace this lesson on your own paper
Pencilbloom shows each step through your camera, right on the page.
FAQ
What paper and pencil should I use for tracing?
With the camera, any plain paper works, from printer paper to a sketchbook. For Trace on screen, use thin paper so the picture shines through. An HB pencil is good for guide lines and a softer 2B for darker final lines. Tape the paper down so it doesn't move.
How do the step-by-step drawing lessons work?
Each lesson builds a drawing in small steps, big shapes first and details last, with a picture for every step. You can draw along on paper while looking at the steps, or trace each step in the app. Many lessons are free, and you'll find them all on our Learn page.