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This portrait drawing course will teach you how to draw beautiful, realistic portraits that capture the subject's likeness.

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This portrait drawing course will teach you how to draw beautiful, realistic portraits that capture the subject's likeness.

What makes this course unique from all the others out there, is how it breaks down the complex topic of portrait drawing into manageable concepts and step-by-step exercises.  

You'll begin by learning simple concepts and practicing basic drawing exercises. As your hand dexterity and understanding improve, the lessons will gradually increase in difficulty until, by the end of the course, you will have drawn your every one realistic portrait. Even if you are a beginner with no drawing experience, you'll find the lessons and exercises easy to understand and enjoyable, while still learning critical drawing skills.  

Key things you will learn:

  • How to simplify the head into basic shapes so you can draw it more easily

  • How to draw the head from different angles to create more dynamic portraits

  • How to draw the planes of the head in order to create a three-dimensional effect

  • Understanding the rules of lighting in order to make your drawing look realistic 

  • Understanding the basic anatomy of each of the facial features so you can draw them better

  • A simple step-by-step process for drawing a realistic portrait from start to finish

  • And a whole lot more.

COURSE BONUSES:

  • Reference photos and hi-resolution scans of all finished drawings

Course Overview

This course is divided into 5 sections. 

The first section is going to primarily focus on how to draw the head freehand. You'll learn about the very powerful Loomis Method and how to use to it draw a simplified head in the front, 3/4, and side view. 

Then we'll learn how to draw this same head and neck in more dynamic angles like the front view tilted down and up and 3/4 view tilted down and up. This will help you understand how the head is affected by perspective and allow you to tackle many different portrait positions. 

Next, you'll learn about the proportions of the head and features and how to place them on the face. This knowledge will become very useful in the next section where we'll build upon the Loomis Method to construct a more three-dimensional head. 

Again, we'll cover all the different angles like the front, 3/4, and side view. As well as the more dynamic positions. 

OK, by now, you should be pretty comfortable with the overall structure of the head and in the third section, we'll cover the fundamentals of realistic shading. You'll learn about the 5 Elements of Shading and how to combine them to create a three-dimensional look. And you'll also learn about the 4 Different Types of Edges and the Rules of Realism and how to use them to add interest to your drawings. Then we'll combine all these concepts and techniques in a drawing exercise. 

Now, all these shading skills you've just learned will become very useful in the fourth section where you'll learn to draw each of the facial features. 

First, you're going to learn about the anatomy of the feature and point out little tips and details that you need to pay attention to. Then we'll apply everything we've just learned in a step-by-step drawing exercise. You'll see how to take the drawing from a basic lay-in all the way to a complete realistic finish. 

And we're going to do this for all the features: eye, nose, lips, ear, and hair. 

Finally in the fifth section, once you're comfortable with drawing all the features, we'll combine everything together and draw a complete portrait from start to finish. Even at this stage, you'll be learning some new techniques like how to use Triangulation to keep your lay-in accurate, how to accentuate the shadow to make the portrait more dramatic, how to stylize your drawing to add more interest, and so on. 

Who Is This Course For?

As the name suggests, this course is very beginner-friendly. I designed it to help beginning artists learn portrait drawing as quickly and effectively as possible. 

We start out by developing the simplest skills first and then gradually add on to them so that you don't feel overwhelmed. All the concepts and techniques are throughout explained and I never just assume any knowledge on the part of the student. 

Also, I know that draw free-hand can be a bit challenging for some beginners so, in some of the drawing exercises, I offer additional approaches that you can use as a guide. 

So, yeah, if you're a beginning artist who wants to learn portraiture, then this course is definitely for you. On the other hand, if you're an intermediate to advanced portrait drawing artist, then this course is probably not for you. 

30-Day 100% Money-Back Guarantee

Remember, there is a 30-day 100% money-back guarantee. There is no reason to hesitate. Enroll now, see if you enjoy the course, and start drawing beautiful portraits today.

Enroll now

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Teaches the basics of portrait drawing, which is an essential skill for aspiring artists
Breaks down the complex topic of portrait drawing into manageable concepts, making it accessible to beginners
Provides clear and concise instructions throughout the course
Offers a structured approach to learning portrait drawing, starting with basic concepts and gradually progressing to more advanced techniques
Includes useful references and hi-resolution scans of finished drawings to aid students
Covers a comprehensive range of topics, including facial features, anatomy, and shading techniques, providing a well-rounded foundation in portrait drawing

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Head Drawing Fundamentals Made Simple with these activities:
Review Loomis Method
Refreshes a foundational skill in drawing heads to strengthen the student's ability to sketch more realistic portraits.
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Show steps
  • Read the chapter on the Loomis Method
  • Practice the technique on your own
Practice drawing facial features
Provides focused practice on an essential aspect of portrait drawing.
Show steps
  • Select a reference photo
  • Isolate the facial feature you want to practice
  • Draw the feature repeatedly, paying attention to detail
Attend a portrait drawing workshop
Offers in-person instruction and feedback from an experienced artist, accelerating skill development.
Show steps
  • Research and find a reputable portrait drawing workshop
  • Register for the workshop
  • Attend the workshop and participate actively
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Draw portraits together
Provides an opportunity to practice and receive feedback on portrait drawing skills.
Show steps
  • Meet up with a peer
  • Choose a photo of a person
  • Draw the portrait together
  • Critique each other's work
Design a series of portraits
Helps develop creativity and allows for the application of portrait drawing skills to a larger project.
Show steps
  • Come up with a concept for your series of portraits
  • Sketch out your ideas
  • Create the final portraits
Compose a portrait portfolio
Provides an opportunity to organize and present the student's best portrait drawings.
Show steps
  • Select your best portrait drawings
  • Arrange them in a logical sequence
  • Write a brief description of each drawing

Career center

Learners who complete Head Drawing Fundamentals Made Simple will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Portrait Artist
Portrait Artists create realistic and expressive representations of people. They use their knowledge of human anatomy and facial structure to capture the unique features of their subjects. This course provides a strong foundation in portrait drawing, teaching students the techniques and concepts needed to create beautiful and lifelike portraits. With practice, students can develop the skills necessary to become successful Portrait Artists.
Art Director
Art Directors oversee the visual aspects of a wide range of projects, from advertising campaigns to magazine layouts. They work with clients to develop creative concepts and ensure that the final product meets their vision. This course provides Art Directors with a strong understanding of portrait drawing, which is an essential skill for creating visually appealing and effective designs. By learning how to draw portraits, Art Directors can better communicate their ideas to clients and ensure that their projects are successful.
Illustrator
Illustrators create visual content for a variety of purposes, including books, magazines, websites, and advertising. They use their drawing skills to bring stories and ideas to life. This course provides Illustrators with a strong foundation in portrait drawing, which is an essential skill for creating realistic and engaging illustrations. By learning how to draw portraits, Illustrators can develop the skills necessary to create memorable and effective illustrations.
Graphic designer
Graphic Designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. They develop the overall layout and production design for various applications such as brochures, magazines, and corporate reports. This course provides Graphic Designers with a strong foundation in portrait drawing, which is an essential skill for creating visually appealing and effective designs. By learning how to draw portraits, Graphic Designers can develop the skills necessary to create memorable and effective designs.
Fine Artist
Fine Artists create original works of art for exhibition and sale. They use a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, drawing, and photography. This course provides Fine Artists with a strong foundation in portrait drawing, which is an essential skill for creating realistic and expressive works of art. By learning how to draw portraits, Fine Artists can develop the skills necessary to create memorable and effective works of art.
Art teacher
Art Teachers instruct students in the principles and techniques of art. They develop lesson plans and teach students how to use a variety of art materials and techniques. This course provides Art Teachers with a strong foundation in portrait drawing, which is an essential skill for teaching students how to draw. By learning how to draw portraits, Art Teachers can develop the skills necessary to effectively teach their students.
Animator
Animators create moving images for film, television, video games, and other media. They use a variety of techniques to bring characters and stories to life. This course provides Animators with a strong foundation in portrait drawing, which is an essential skill for creating realistic and expressive characters. By learning how to draw portraits, Animators can develop the skills necessary to create memorable and effective animations.
Concept Artist
Concept Artists create visual concepts for a variety of purposes, including film, television, video games, and advertising. They use their drawing skills to bring ideas to life and create a visual roadmap for the project. This course provides Concept Artists with a strong foundation in portrait drawing, which is an essential skill for creating realistic and engaging concept art. By learning how to draw portraits, Concept Artists can develop the skills necessary to create memorable and effective concept art.
Character Designer
Character Designers create the visual appearance of characters for film, television, video games, and other media. They use their drawing skills to bring characters to life and create a unique visual identity for each one. This course provides Character Designers with a strong foundation in portrait drawing, which is an essential skill for creating realistic and expressive characters. By learning how to draw portraits, Character Designers can develop the skills necessary to create memorable and effective character designs.
Storyboard Artist
Storyboard Artists create visual representations of a script, helping to plan and visualize the shots for a film or television production. They use their drawing skills to bring the story to life and create a visual roadmap for the project. This course provides Storyboard Artists with a strong foundation in portrait drawing, which is an essential skill for creating realistic and engaging storyboards. By learning how to draw portraits, Storyboard Artists can develop the skills necessary to create memorable and effective storyboards.
Tattoo Artist
Tattoo Artists create permanent designs on the skin using needles and ink. They use their drawing skills to create custom designs that are unique to each client. This course provides Tattoo Artists with a strong foundation in portrait drawing, which is an essential skill for creating realistic and expressive tattoos. By learning how to draw portraits, Tattoo Artists can develop the skills necessary to create memorable and effective tattoos.

Reading list

We've selected nine books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Head Drawing Fundamentals Made Simple.
Offers a comprehensive approach to drawing, covering everything from basic techniques to advanced concepts. It valuable resource for both beginners and experienced artists who want to improve their skills.
Comprehensive guide to color and light in painting. It covers a wide range of topics, including color theory, lighting effects, and how to use color to create depth and atmosphere. It valuable resource for artists who want to improve their understanding of color and light.
Collection of essays by the artist Henri Matisse on the art of drawing. It covers a wide range of topics, including line, form, and composition. It valuable resource for artists who want to learn how to draw from one of the masters of the art.
Comprehensive guide to the art of drawing. It covers a wide range of topics, including materials, techniques, and composition. It valuable resource for artists of all levels who want to learn how to draw.
Guide to using oils for painting. It covers a wide range of topics, including materials, techniques, and composition. It valuable resource for artists who want to learn how to use oils effectively.
Great resource for learning about the alla prima painting technique, which method of painting that involves working directly on the canvas without making preliminary sketches or underdrawings. It good option for artists who want to learn how to capture the spontaneity and freshness of a scene.
Classic guide to perspective drawing. It covers a wide range of topics, including one-point perspective, two-point perspective, and three-point perspective. It valuable resource for artists who want to learn how to create realistic and convincing spatial illusions in their work.
Comprehensive guide to human anatomy for artists. It covers a wide range of topics, including the skeletal system, muscular system, and nervous system. It valuable resource for artists who want to learn how to draw the human body accurately and convincingly.

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