Don't Draw HEADS Like This!

Head angles are one of the most difficult things to draw, and when things don't look right, it can be immensely frustrating for an artist! Learn our top tips for drawing realistic heads in different angles, and some of the common mistakes to avoid. Winged Canvas art instructor Jessie Chang teaches us the How-tos, DOs and DON'Ts of drawing realistic heads in this short tutorial!

🕓 Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction
0:10 - Don't draw facial features on a flat plane!
0:48 - How to curve your facial features
1:37 - Don't draw heads as shapes alone!
2:04 - Draw faces like a bent sheet of paper
2:39 - The Loomis Method for drawing heads
3:20 - Don't flatten facial features!
3:58 - How to draw faces from the side profile

This clip is a highlight from our "How to Draw People - Open Q&A" Human Anatomy Livestream.

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Winged Canvas is an online art school based in Canada specializing in virtual art programs. We are known for our Art Mentorship program and quirky art nerd culture. Our instructors are professional artists and designers with a passion for teaching and nurturing creativity, sharing our artistic skill sets and industry experience with others.

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[subcountzero]

That advice about the face being a circle with bent paper is literally genius

[CharlieNoodles]

The anime mouth thing is a perfect example of the problem of people copying style over substance. Anime mouths are drawn that way intentionally to save time because they can keep the head as a single drawn frame and then only have to animate the mouth, not the jaw line as well. It saves on the amount of drawing they have to do which is essential for what they’re doing but not super useful for people wanting to copy the anime style who don’t know the intention behind what they’re seeing.

[ryantheghost]

i really love how you don't even have an intro, you go straight to the point

[watuh]

I’m so glad to see the “sheet of paper” method!!! I remember learning about that technique in a Sinix video ago and it was such a game-changer!!

[kesoden]

it was nicely quick and straight forward and super helpful !!

[LemonThrust]

you know shes a good artist when she can make her donts look good for some reason

[plutogrl]

okay but the bent piece of paper advice is golden. i've never had something explained so simply yet thoroughly and easy to comprehend. definitely subscribing! this tutorial is great!

[ndut_craft]

The bend paper for face angle is very useful! Thank you🤍

[StarPlatinum]

I genuinely never learn anything from art tutorials, but winged cavas… you guys are just like- the way I learned how to draw people. Thank you guys so much!!

[HolyCrapSpace]

I have been struggling with head angles for YEARS using the ball and shield method. You just completely blew my mind with the paper method.

[JennaCydeEdits]

FOR YEARS when I was younger, the techniques I was taught to draw heads (many shapes, cylinders, lines, etc.) just never made sense to me, and it's why I went for a more "cartoonish" style.
The shield/bent paper and dotted line down down the side to bring the forehead, nose, mouth and chin out are SO SIMPLE AND EASY!!
Thank you so much. You've earned a new sub from me! ♥♥♥

[AngelofDM]

This video sold me on subscribing to you. You go in depth of the rights and wrongs of drawings, and I think its important for everyone to know that. Thank you for actually teaching in depth.

[theoraclehostvessel]

This is my favorite art channel to date. All of the information you give is extremely helpful. I've been drawing since I was 11 and even now I still have trouble with some of the basics. Thank you for all you do 💜

[spookysciartist]

I have never heard of the bent sheet of paper thing. That’s so smart! Definitely trying that my next drawing I do

[junomoon]

I just found your channel and I wish I could like… hug your face bc u have SAVED my art I never understood the lines and circles when building a sketch, but you broke it down so simply and made it easy to apply to any art style, not just realism/semi-realism. And for FREE? You absolute saint.

[lynneaeskedal]

I love your videos so much because they teach you without being intimidating. Like, it breaks things down so wonderfully that it’s so simple to follow. Please keep doing what you’re doing, because you do it amazingly!!

[that_one_weird_emo_alex]

DUDE-
This was all I needed to subscribe-
Like, I struggle with head angles so much and this seems so simple and elegant!! I absolutely love it! Thank you so much for posting this, I'm beyond thrilled to try this out when I draw some more this summer!!

[kirlian]

I hate watching tutorials videos because I usually get bored but you went straight to the point and actually gave some solid advice. Thanks! 😁

[tsurifisher]

I've been crashing and burning with drawing faces recently, and I feel like I used to draw them better. I hope this will help me out.

[classified]

Squeeling with joy when i tried the paper method. Definitely gonna be a gamechanger