Drawing: Faces & Features

Creating Facial Hair

Facial hair is another characteristic that distinguishes one individual from the next. Short, dark strokes are perfect for rendering a thick, coarse beard; whereas light, sweeping strokes are ideal for depicting a wispy mustache. Experiment with variations of light and dark lines when drawing a “salt-and-pepper” beard, and use a series of quick, short lines when indicating stubble.

DRAWING THROUGH When drawing a face that is partly hidden by facial hair, it is important to draw the entire head first (i.e., “draw through”) and then add the hair, beard, and accessories (such as the hat). Although the entire head isn’t visible, ...