Drawing Faces: Learn the Art of the Modern Portrait

Want to improve your portrait drawing skills? This course provides a solid foundation for artists of all levels, from complete beginners to seasoned illustrators. Learn the essential drawing techniques needed to create accurate and expressive face portraits.

This class, led by professional illustrator Ann Shen, breaks down the fundamentals of portrait drawing, emphasizing the importance of understanding the underlying principles before experimenting with your own style. Discover why "you've got to learn the rules to break the rules" applies to creating compelling face drawings.

You'll master:

• Facial Anatomy & Proportion: Understand the structure of the face and how to accurately represent proportions in your drawings.
• Drawing Eyes, Noses & Mouths: Learn specific techniques for capturing these key facial features.
• Hair Drawing Secrets: Unlock the secrets to realistically rendering different hair types.
• Portrait Perspectives: Practice drawing frontal, three-quarter, and side profile portraits.
• Perspective Drawing for Portraits: Learn how to approach different perspective views to create dynamic portraits.
• Drawing Portraits of Any Face: Develop the skills to confidently draw portraits of diverse individuals.

We'll use colored pencils to simplify the process and build a strong drawing foundation, but feel free to use your preferred medium. Through step-by-step demonstrations, you'll gain the confidence to draw faces with skill and precision.

Who is this course for?

• Beginner artists looking to start their portrait drawing journey.
• Illustrators seeking to refine their portrait skills.
• Hobbyists who enjoy drawing and want to create more realistic portraits.
• Anyone who wants to learn to draw faces and improve their artistic abilities!

What you'll need:

• Drawing utensils: colored pencils, pencil, or ballpoint pen.
• Sketchbook or paper.
• Pencil sharpener (if applicable).
• Eraser (if applicable).

Optional Resources:

• iPad Pro & Apple Pencil + Procreate: Explore digital portrait drawing with Procreate (downloadable here).
• Downloadable Class Resources: Access a Beginner's Guide to Drawing Portraits PDF, a proportions practice worksheet, and a bundle of reference photos to support your learning. (No resources are required to complete the class!)

By the end of this course, you'll have a beautiful Class Project to showcase your newfound skills!