Artowz (Advanced art and design): How to Draw a Nose-Step-by-Step

How to Draw a Nose-Step-by-Step

Here's the process outlined in the above video, just broken down into a step by step approach...

Begin your drawing of a nose by drawing four lines. 2 lines for each nostril and then 2 lines for each edge of the nose.

Now you can begin to add darker values where the nose is shaded. Start with the areas that are the darkest and slowly get darker with your pencil.

Continue with adding shading to the nose to create the illusion of a light source. Be careful not add more lines. Instead just concentrate on light and dark areas.

The more value that you add, the more your nose will look realistic. Areas of the nose that are light will look like they protrude, while areas that are dark will look like they go back in space.

As long as you keep looking for the dark and light areas on the nose, and draw what you see, your nose will look realistic.

Once you have a basic idea of how to draw a nose from a frontal view, it's time to look at drawing a nose from the side.

Drawing a Nose from the Side View (Profile)

There's more than one way to draw a nose. In fact, since every nose is different, there are virtually unlimited ways to draw a nose. Unfortunately, this can lead to mistakes when it comes to drawing them.

Another characteristic of noses that gives some people problems is the lack of lines inherent in noses. A mouth, eyes and even ears all have clear linear qualities that are easy to pick out when you are drawing them. A nose, however, is another story. There are actually only a couple of lines that are easily seen on a nose. Instead, a nose consists of gradations of values. Every part of the nose that recedes will be darker in value, while the areas that protrude will be lighter. Getting this right will result in a realistic-looking eye.

Although there is no formula for drawing noses, there is an order that you can focus your observation when drawing noses.

The third video demonstrates how to draw a nose from the side view.

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Drawing a Nose From Observation - Finding Planes

Now that you've got the basic concept down, it's time to take your skills to a actual subject. This might be a nose that you draw from life, or one that you draw from a photo reference. Either way, the process of drawing will heavily depend on observation.

When you are observing a nose, it's helpful to know what you should be looking for. I like to look for "planes" - or simple geometric shapes that represent how the nose exists in space.

By drawing the planes, you can piece together the form.

Take the following drawing for example...

Now look at the planes that can be easily drawn to create the form of the nose...

Here's another look at the nose from the side view.

Here is the same drawing with the planes highlighted...

Certain angles of the nose can present challenges...

But here again, if you break the nose down into geometric planes, this angle is made easier to draw...

Challenging angle of the nose with labeled planes

Finding these planes and drawing them first will help you fill in the values that will lead to the realistic illusion of a nose.

Using Other Mediums

The concepts that have been explored so far all center on drawing with black and white media, such as charcoal or graphite (pencil). But what happens when another medium - or specifically a color medium, is used to draw a nose. Does anything change?

Well, actually the answer is "yes" and "no".

When color is introduced, it must be addressed, but the concepts of adding the value do not change. I have already explored how to approach drawing a nose with colored pencils in another video. Since it is a little bit more in depth, it has its own page. You can check it out below...