How to draw pencil portraits

2. Drawing a pencil portrait is a great way to capture
the image of a loved one. The main advantage of
these portraits is you can add complex shading and
hard and soft lines with pencil that you cannot
achieve with a pen. The key part of drawing a
portrait is to map out the basic frame of the face in
simple shapes. This will ensure that the face retains
the correct proportions. For the example, here you
will be learning how to draw a pencil portrait of
woman with long hair.

3. Sketch an oval for the
head. Add the neck with
diagonal lines coming out
of the base of the head.
Draw a cross shape inside
the head. The horizontal
line will be the guideline
for the eyes. Next, create a
small horizontal line for
the nose and another
underneath for the mouth.

4. Add a curved line all the way
around the head and down to
the neck for the hair. Pencil in
a curved line across the
forehead for the bangs. Create
the eyes with two ovals on the
eye guideline. Add eyebrows
with small curved lines above
the eyes. Draw the lips with a
wide "M" shape for the upper
lip and a curved line below the
mouth guideline for the
bottom lip.

5. Draw the irises with two
circles inside the eyes.
Sketch the sides of the nose
with vertical lines on the side
of the nose guidelines. Add
small vertical dashes one the
side of the mouth for
dimples.

6. Thicken the eyebrows with parallel lines around
the eyebrow lines. Add small curved lines inside
of these to create the eyebrow hairs. Then add
curved lines inside the hair to create locks of
individual hair. Draw defined cheek bones with a
curved line.

7. Erase the guidelines. Add
shadows with heavy pencil
strokes under the chin.
Sketch in light shadows
under the eyebrows. Draw
the shadows under the
cheek bones with light
diagonal pencil strokes.
Darken in the pupils, under
the nose and add light
shading to the lips.

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