How to Draw a 3/4 View Face: Easy Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to take your character drawing to the next level? This 3/4 view tutorial is perfect for artists ages 7+ looking to add depth and personality to their portraits. All you need is a pencil, an eraser, and a sheet of paper to start practicing this essential perspective.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A colorful, finished portrait of a face drawn from a 3/4 perspective.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Eye Shapes

Two eye outlines drawn in a 3/4 perspective with light pencil guidelines.

Draw two lemon-shaped outlines, making the one on the right slightly wider to suggest the angle of the head. Add a circle inside each for the iris and a small dash above for the eyelid. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil pressure light so you can easily adjust the symmetry later.

Step 2: Defining Brows and Nose

Close up of eyes with added eyelashes and a simple nose hook.

Add expressive, pointed eyebrows above the eyes. Sketch a small hook shape to represent the bridge of the nose, and add short, flicking dashes for the eyelashes. Teacher's Tip: Use quick, confident strokes for the lashes to give them a natural, fluttery look.

Step 3: Refining the Nose and Mouth

Detailed sketch of a nose and mouth showing the 3/4 angle.

Outline the nose with a soft loop. For the mouth, draw a gentle wavy line, then add two 'hill' shapes above it for the upper lip. Make the second hill wider to emphasize the 3/4 turn. Teacher's Tip: The mouth should follow the curve of the face, not a flat line.

Step 4: Shaping the Jawline

The jawline and neck being added to the facial features.

Draw a soft, wavy line on the left to define the cheek, then curve it down and around to form the jaw. Add a small dash under the nose and a loop for the lower lip. Draw a simple vertical line for the neck. Teacher's Tip: Keep the jawline rounded for a softer, more youthful appearance.

Step 5: Adding Hair and Ears

Adding the ear and initial hair lines to the portrait.

Frame the face with two sweeping lines for the hair. Add a loop on the right side for the ear, including small curves inside for detail. Teacher's Tip: Ears usually align with the space between the eyes and the nose—check your placement!

Step 6: Constructing the Hairline

Drawing the hair volume using large curved shapes.

Draw a large curve over the head to create a teardrop shape for the hair. Add rounded triangle shapes to create volume. Teacher's Tip: Don't draw the hair tight against the skull; leave a little space to make it look natural and bouncy.

Step 7: Detailing the Hair

Adding texture to the hair with wavy lines and triangles.

On the left side, draw a loop and a long vertical curve, finishing with wavy lines and triangles to suggest hair strands. Teacher's Tip: Vary the size of your triangles to make the hair look less uniform and more realistic.

Step 8: Finalizing Hair Shape

Connecting the hair sections to complete the silhouette.

Use expressive, wavy lines to outline the hair on the right, connecting it back to the main head shape. Teacher's Tip: Follow the flow of the hair—imagine how it would fall naturally over the shoulders.

Step 9: Adding Texture

Adding final texture lines to the hair for depth.

Add a few internal wavy lines within the hair to create depth and texture. Teacher's Tip: Don't overdo it! A few well-placed lines are better than too many, which can make the drawing look cluttered.

Step 10: Inking and Coloring

The completed, colored 3/4 view face drawing.

Trace your final lines with a black marker or pen. Fill in the pupils and eyebrows with black. Use your favorite colors for the hair, eyes, and skin. Teacher's Tip: Try using complementary colors like pink and green for a vibrant, artistic pop!