How to Draw a Realistic Nose!

I am going to show you my technique for drawing a nose! Noses are awkward but imagine a face without one... O.o

~Materials~
-Paper for Sketching
-Scrap paper (optional)
-Eraser 
-Straight Edge
-Kneaded Eraser (optional)

Step 1: Head

Draw a face if you want to practice placement, too, and not just proportioning. (Draw with a light hand)

Comments

[mg0930mg]

Glad that you made the instructable!

[star_above_the_clouds]

Good :D

[YellowZealot]

I realize that this is a nose instructable, and that you had the idea to do this from mine, but the mouth only goes to the inner whites on the eyes, and your irises are perfectly round. You should be able to see equal amounts of the whites on either side of it. I hope I could be of help to you, And I want you to know that no matter what anyone thinks of you, art is an expression of yourself, no matter how abstract. Also, it's probably a good thing you're not Picasso, Picasso couldn't draw faces to save his life.

[thelp]

http://www.abcgallery.com/P/picasso/picasso.html

[YellowZealot]

I admit defeat, Picasso could draw faces. However, as a cubist he didn't really pride himself on them.

[star_above_the_clouds]

Thank you for your help. :D And lol at the Picasso comment.

[ethoo]

being so technical doesnt work for some people. for example, me.

id love to post more loose ways, but i dont really have time, or a scanner.

im just saying. the technical, measured method doesnt work for some people.
or maybe thats just me.

[thelp]

The guidelines are pretty much just training wheels. It takes mastery or at least great confidence in using the "technical" aspects of drawing to be able to do it successfully without them. Chances are, your "loose" drawings aren't perfect and could benefit from a little attention paid to where things line up and how far things are from each other. I didn't like doing it when I was a kid because it took too long, but it's literally just a couple pencil strokes now before I move on. It's something I don't even think about.

If you're drawing cartoons it's definitely understandable if you don't use guidelines for realistic human proportions, but drawing realistically without guidelines (physical or made by your eyes) is something that takes years upon years of practice.

[ethoo]

i didnt mean like no guidelines at all, i meant like maybe you would put a cross through the face and maybe a few lines to show where the features are, but not a grid that you have to measure out and stuff.

it just doesnt work for me. it might for other people, but i think just looking at a reference is helpful enough. i do pay alot of attention to how far things are from eachother, i just dont use so many lines.

im an artist, not an architect.

im not saying that measuring things out the way you do isnt a good way, i just think it doesnt work for some people.

[thelp]

I don't know how many people actually draw out the entire grid. lol Drawing a couple lines and using your eyes to make sure some things are in the right place is what most people do. I thought you were talking about not using any guidelines at all.

[ethoo]

yeah ive tried that before. its possible but it takes way longer.

[star_above_the_clouds]

Thank you, that was really helpful! Those little tips can really make a difference. I will definitely work harder. And thanks for taking the time to try and help me improve and not being insulting. :)

[ethoo]

you are pretty amazing for a twelve year old. and by that i mean the way you go about learning to draw. you've got the thinking part down, now you could be great if you just practiced.

way to go :]

[star_above_the_clouds]

Thank you! :D

[thelp]

You're welcome! I can be a little mean when someone thinks way too highly of themselves, but you seem pretty level-headed.

Also I admit I was kind of shocked that you responded well. lol Any kid I've ever known seems to think that they're the best artist ever and that anyone who gives them a nice critique is being mean or is just jealous. But if you're only 12 and you're already serious about improving, you've got a head start. I didn't go looking for critique until I was 16 or 17, but I wish I would have. I would probably be a lot better at drawing now if I did.

[star_above_the_clouds]

Well thank you for the compliment. I guess I'm just really determind to get better, haha. I mean, I don't expect anyone to be really nice and astounded by any of my work. And I don't want anything sugar-coated because I'm practically a little kid.

You draw? I would love to see some of your work! I imagine it would look great, considering you know a lot about portraits. As far as you being better, practice can be more useful than knowledge in some situations.

[thelp]

You can follow my DeviantART here: http://arrowhead909.deviantart.com/

Most of the stuff is really old because I haven't been posting much, but I do try to keep up with journals.

[star_above_the_clouds]

Oooo, your style is really cool! And your art is amazing. :)

[thelp]

Thanks!

[star_above_the_clouds]

No problem!

[TheArtiste]

is this some sort of a joke? there are no solid lines on a nose, only gradient shades. please get some practice.

[YellowZealot]

Flagged. Also, hes rather good for a twelve year old. And for someone who joined, just to leave this rude comment sure as hell doesn't need to be here.

[star_above_the_clouds]

Thanks for being so positive and constructive haha. And I thought I stated that there were no solid lines? And you're right, I do need practice. Then again, I'm a 12 year old girl. Not Picasso. ;)

[The Nomlack]

Thanks! My noses before was SO ugly!

[star_above_the_clouds]

You're welcome! Glad I have helped you :)