How to Draw a Side Face portrait

 

👤 How to Draw a Side Face (Profile) Step by Step for Beginners

Learn how to draw a realistic side face (profile) in pencil. This step-by-step tutorial teaches beginners about facial proportions, features, and shading for lifelike portraits.

🌟 Introduction:

Drawing a side face is different from a front view — the proportions and angles change completely.

This tutorial will guide you to place the eye, nose, lips, and chin correctly, so your profile looks balanced and realistic.

✏️ Step 1: Draw the Head Outline

Start with a vertical oval or circle for the skull.

Add a horizontal line for the eye position.

> 💡 Tip: Tilt the oval slightly forward or backward depending on the pose.

✏️ Step 2: Draw the Nose and Brow

From the eye line, draw a soft curve for the nose bridge.

Add a small triangular shape for the nose tip.

Draw a gentle brow above the eye line — it will help place the eye correctly.

✏️ Step 3: Place the Eye

Draw a small almond shape for the eye on the side view.

Only part of the iris will be visible.

Add eyelid lines above and below.

✏️ Step 4: Draw the Lips and Chin

From the nose, measure a small distance for the lips.

Draw the upper lip curve slightly forward, lower lip slightly back.

Add the chin as a soft curve below the lips — don’t make it too sharp.

✏️ Step 5: Draw the Ear and Neck

Place the ear between the eye line and nose bottom.

Draw the neck flowing downward from behind the jawline.

Add collarbone lightly for realistic posture.

✏️ Step 6: Add Hair and Final Shading

Sketch the hair in the chosen style (straight, wavy, or curly).

Shade the face gently — focus on the nose shadow, under lips, and neck.

Use light and dark contrast for depth.

🎨 Materials Used:

HB pencil (outline)

2B–6B pencils (shading)

Blending stump / tissue

Eraser (for highlights)

🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Eye too far back → looks off balance

Nose too long → unnatural profile

Lips too flat → loses depth

Forgetting neck and ear alignment

💡 Creative Practice Idea:

Practice side faces from photos or mirrors.

Try exaggerating expressions — smiling, frowning, or surprised — to make the profile more dynamic.