5 Proportions of the Face
to Improve Your Next Portrait Drawing

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Here are five proportions of the face that can be easily memorized and used as reference points during the block-in of your next portrait drawing. Plus, you'll learn how to use them effectively, because relying on them too much can actually make your portraits look less like your model.

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5 Proportions of the Face to Know

Proportion #1: The eyes are halfway down the head.

Surprised? I still remember being surprised the first time this was pointed out to me! Once I became aware of this proportion, it seemed like such an obvious measurement to notice.

This is a perfect example of how easy it is for these so-called "more obvious" elements to become lost in the complexities of the face. The good news is that once you see them, it's difficult to remember a time when you couldn't!

Every time you learn an element of head construction, it will be that much easier to notice it the next time you observe your subject. 

Proportion #2: The edges of the nostrils line up with the tear ducts or inner corners of the eyes.

Proportion #3: The space between the eyes is approximately the width of an eye.

Speaking of eyes, you can find all my free eye drawing tutorials on this Eye Drawing Learning Path here. Or, if you’re ready to be guided through a complete course on drawing realistic eyes, take a look at the Eye Drawing Intensive:

Proportion #4: The head is about five eyes wide.

This one can be tricky because the shape of the head is often obscured by hair. Visualizing a "headband" similar to the one drawn in the above image can be helpful in finding the shape of the head.

Proportion #5: The corners of the mouth line up with the pupils of the eyes.

Related tutorial: How to Draw Lips Step by Step

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How to Use These Proportions of the Face
to Improve Your Portrait Drawings

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So, how do we use these 5 proportions of the face?

These proportions are best used as points of reference to compare to your model. For example, if you know that the space between the eyes is usually around one eye-width, ask yourself: "Is this true on my model?" instead of assuming that it is.

Checking matters, because even small differences in proportions can make or break the likeness of a portrait. If you’ve ever finished a portrait that looked like someone - but not the person you were trying to draw - inaccurate proportions and shapes are the problem.

Notice that, at the simple shape stage of the portrait below, we can already recognize the model:

It's worth repeating: Accurate proportions and shapes create likeness in a drawing.

Drawing proportions and shapes accurately is the first of six Foundational Skills needed for every successful drawing - especially the portrait, which is notoriously unforgiving in this area.

That’s why I recommend building your foundational skills before taking on the full portrait. I explain why, and where to start, in this Guide to Learning Portrait Drawing.

When we draw an easier subject like a flower, we can get away with having some inaccurate proportions. The flower below doesn't exactly resemble the one in the reference, but it's still convincing and realistic:

But what if our proportions are slightly off in a portrait drawing?

Yikes. Suddenly we have a caricature of our model.

So, how do you check your proportions, exactly? This is where measuring comes in.

There are several ways to check and cross-check proportions, to make sure that they're correct.

In my Intro to Accuracy and Measurement video course, you can learn 10 ways to measure and check the accuracy of your proportions and shapes: the first essential step to achieving a true likeness in a portrait drawing.

Through clear, step-by-step drawing demonstrations, diagrams and animations, you'll see exactly what I'm paying attention to, and learn how to measure precisely.

Because portrait drawing is an advanced subject, you’ll practice measuring and drawing simplified faces and features, to reduce overwhelm while learning these technical skills. Additionally, you'll start learning some portrait anatomy to prepare you for more advanced portrait drawing.

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Next Steps to Draw More Accurate Proportions of the Face

Missed the free infographic on 5 Proportions of the Face to know? You can download it below:

For a guided path to drawing more accurate proportions, don't miss the Intro to Accuracy and Measurement course in the Atelier membership.

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