Drawing Heads: Practice + Tutorial (Printable PDF)

Learning the technical skills of drawing can feel tedious & complicated, these worksheets are made to make the process both easier and less time-consuming.

The 4 Steps of Drawing the Head

Step 1. Spheres

To start this method of drawing the head we will practice drawing spheres. Learning to draw spheres is an important step in learning to draw in dimension because it is one of the main forms used to simplify any complex object.

There will be a huge temptation to skip this step in the process because it is difficult and not very satisfying. The sphere might not seem that exciting to draw at first but once you start to see how powerful it is to understand these basic forms you will begin to appreciate a deeper study of it.

On page 1 we go over some spheres and cut divisions into it to help understand the 3 dimensions of it. Doing these studies regularly will be immensely helpful across any form-driven drawing.

Notice the light lines in the first 3 rows on spheres and how they describe the backside of the sphere, this is important to understand so when we don’t think of these as flat circles. Learning to create 3 dimensions of a flat piece of paper is the most difficult part of drawing but also the most satisfying. Take your time with this practice

Step 2. Shave the Sides

To bring the head shape out of the sphere we will cut the sides so it becomes flatter on the sides and round across the front. The head is flatter across the sides so using the full sphere won’t create the shape that we want.

First, draw the sphere and then decide the direction the head is facing, then draw a circle for the flat area on the sphere. To help decide where this circle goes, draw a line across the front side of the face where the eyebrows would go. The flat side should be on either side of this line.

Using the examples on the worksheets you can see how we are starting to get a sense of where the head is facing. Make sure to pay attention to where you place the centerline (on the front of the face) because we will be using this line for the next step.

Step 3. Add the Jaw & Neck

Now that we have gotten used to the sphere shape and shaving its sides, let's add a wedge for the jaw and a cylinder for the neck. To define the shape of the jaw, extend the centerline without following the roundness of the sphere.

This step might be a little confusing at first but once you copy the examples on the worksheet it will make a lot more sense. Start the process by repeating steps 1 & 2 first and then add the wedge for the jaw, followed by the neck.

The neck attaches towards the center/back of the head so make sure to leave space underneath the chin when adding the cylinder.

Step 4. Eye Sockets

Now the last step for the basic head shape is to add a space for where the eyes will go. Draw a parallel line slightly underneath the brow line and connect the two. This area is sunken in from the forehead so the region will cut into the shape of the sphere.

Step 5. Practice Regularly

Learning how to draw is a skill that needs to be continuously sharpened, think of it as a kitchen knife that gets dull over time if not taken care of. Keeping a daily practice will help you grow even if it is just a little bit of practice every day. Use references and also push yourself to draw from imagination, use a variety of angles to challenge your drawing ability.