How to draw a portrait: Step-by-Step guide for beginners

Wondering how to draw a portrait that truly comes to life? With the right materials and techniques, you can create an expressive portrait drawing that captures mood and character. Practice is key — as with any skill, the more you draw, the more confident you become. Our drawing classes are the perfect starting point for your first steps as a portrait artist.

What materials Do I need to draw a portrait?

• Paper: A basic sketchpad with a slightly textured surface is perfect for beginners. Coloured paper also works beautifully.
• Pencils in various grades of hardness
• Pastel crayons or pastel pencils
• Charcoal
• A kneaded eraser or a standard eraser
• A reference image for your portrait

Which pencils are best for portrait drawing?

For portrait drawing, pencils ranging from HB to 8B are recommended. The lower the number, the harder the pencil. I personally use HB for initial sketches and underdrawings when working on pencil portraits.

Good to know: Personally, I'm not a big fan of pure pencil portraits. You have to be careful not to smudge anything, large filled areas tend to look shiny, and corrections become increasingly difficult the further along you are. For me, portrait drawing is all about looseness — and leaving room for happy accidents. That matters more to me than photorealistic precision. That's why I prefer working with pastel crayons, watercolour pencils, and mixed media. This philosophy also shapes the way I run my drawing and painting classes we rarely use pencils and try to avoid erasers as much as possible. Does that sound exciting? Feel free to join one of my portrait drawing classes.

How Do You Learn to Draw a Portrait?

The following areas will help you develop your portrait drawing skills:

Correct Anatomy

When it comes to portrait drawing and figure drawing in general a basic understanding of anatomy and the proportions of the head and body is, in my view, essential. Don't worry, you don't need a medical degree. But it's helpful to know where, for example, the eye sockets, upper jaw, and lower jaw are located. There are also notable differences depending on whether you're drawing a female or a male face.

Drawing facial proportions correctly

Closely linked to anatomy is the topic of proportions. I use guide lines and axes as orientation points while drawing. This helps you understand where the eyes sit, how far apart they are, how large the mouth is, where the ears are placed, where the neck begins, and much more. Using axes also teaches you how to draw a portrait from different angles for example, with the head turned to the side or tilted forward.

Adding details: drawing eyes, nose, ears, mouth and hair

The next step is all about details drawing the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.

Adding shading: creating depth through light and shadow

Working with light and shadow and with gradations of colour or tone is also an important part of portrait drawing. Depending on the technique, this involves practising different hatching methods with a pencil, or applying chalk and charcoal.

Developing an eye for portrait drawing

The most important skill even before learning anatomy, axes, or drawing techniques is, for me, the ability to truly see. Only then can I take in all the details and the mood of a subject and later translate them onto the page.

This is how I approach my portrait reference:

• Where are the nose, eyes, and mouth positioned?
• Is the head tilted?
• Where is the subject looking?
• Where is the light coming from?
• What tonal or colour gradations can I see?
• What mood is the subject in — are they smiling, do they look sad?
• What makes this subject special to me?
• Is there something I want to emphasise in my drawing?

Note: Want to learn how to draw a portrait? Sign up now for a portrait drawing class I'll be right there to guide you every step of the way. After the class, drawing portraits will feel like second nature. :)

Step-by-Step Guide: How to draw a portrait in 4 Steps

Here are the four steps you should follow when drawing a portrait:

Step 1:Choose a reference for your portrait drawing

First, I choose a reference image. If you're just starting out with portrait drawing, I recommend using a printed photo (A4 size). This way, you can place it next to your drawing, copy it 1:1, and if needed, measure distances directly on the photo or add a grid as a guide for your drawing.

I also recommend starting with a reference where the subject is shown facing forward with their mouth closed. Three-quarter profiles are not ideal for beginners. If you'd like, you can also try drawing a self-portrait.

Example of a suitable portrait template for beginners:

Step 2: Begin your portrait drawing

I always start in the centre of the face. That means I draw the central axes (horizontal and vertical) and then work outward, beginning with the eyes. Where needed, add further guide lines and use circles and marks to map out the proportions of the head.

When working with pencil, I use an HB pencil for these initial steps and draw the first lines very lightly. Once I'm happy with the proportions, I switch to softer pencils for the next stages.

Step 3: Add depth to your portrait drawing

This is where I begin adding light and shadow and working out the details.

Realistic portrait drawings are built through layering. This means you rarely shade an area just once and move on, instead, you work gradually and build up slowly. It's always best to start lighter than you think you need.

Step 4: Work out the details with softer pencils

The softer the pencil, the darker the mark it makes. This is wonderful for building contrast and adding fine details. At the same time, it also means that corrections become increasingly difficult. That's why I leave details like eyelashes right until the end.

Remember: the head and face are three-dimensional forms, not flat surfaces. Curved and rounded hatching strokes help give the face volume and make it look more sculpted.

Tips for portrait drawing

• Practice, practice, practice:

Sketch on scrap paper even in the evenings in front of the TV. Try to capture a reference with just a few strokes. Drawing individual features in isolation (noses, mouths, etc.) is also a great exercise. You'll find that after a short time you become bolder and more confident in your portrait drawing.

• Sketch, don't erase:

I love expressive, lively portraits.That's why I prefer drawing with searching, sketchy lines and leaving them exactly as they are. The eraser usually stays in the drawer.

• Use charcoal and pastel crayons for lively portraits:

My favourite tools for portrait drawing are charcoal and pastel crayons. I find that portraits drawn with these materials feel more alive and free. They blend beautifully and softly, creating lovely transitions. And unlike graphite, the surface doesn't become shiny or "sealed". Give it a try you can also combine the two: for example, block in the main areas with charcoal first, then add the details with a pencil.

How long does it take to draw a portrait?

The time needed to draw a portrait varies widely from just a few seconds to several hours. Ultimately, what matters most in portrait drawing is the act of creating something. Time is no measure of quality and says nothing about the artwork itself.

What makes a good portrait?

For me, a portrait gains its soul the moment I draw the eyes. That's when life suddenly appears. Beyond that, it's more important to me to bring a sense of liveliness to the drawing than to achieve a perfect likeness. I prefer to emphasise certain details or sometimes I focus on just a section of the reference rather than the whole face.