How to Draw Head Proportions: Front and Side View Sketching Guide for Beginners

Hello Sumine here This post is part of my practice in learning head proportions 🎨.

I focus on proportions because I don’t want to rely too much on 3D models—I want to keep my creativity free while drawing ✨.

Head Proportions – Front View

1. Start with a circle, since the head looks round from the front.
2. Divide it into 3 equal parts (purple lines in the sketch).
3. The first line marks the hairline.
4. The second line marks the eye level.
5. Eyebrows can be placed by dividing the space above the eyes into three.
6. The nose sits at the bottom of the circle (mark with a small dot).
7. The chin is found by dropping a line down from the eyes equal to the eye–crown distance, then shaping the jaw.
8. The mouth is placed by dividing the nose–chin distance into three equal parts.

Head Proportions – Side View

For the side view, I use an oval as the base shape.

1. Just like the front view, divide the oval into 3 equal parts and add a vertical center line.
2. The jawline is drawn down from the eye line with the same length as from eye to crown.
3. For the eyes, divide the horizontal oval into three from the center line backward, since eyes appear deeper in side view.
4. Eyebrows are placed by dividing the space between eyes and hairline into three parts.
5. The mouth is placed by dividing the nose–chin distance into three. In side view, the lips protrude slightly forward.