How to Draw Lips: Simple 10-Step Drawing Guide

Ready to bring your character portraits to life? This tutorial is perfect for young artists and beginners looking to master facial features. Grab a pencil, an eraser, and a sheet of paper to practice these simple shapes that build a natural-looking mouth.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A collection of various lip shapes and styles drawn in a simple, clean art style.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Establishing the Baseline

A single horizontal pencil line on a white background used as a guide for drawing lips.

Draw a light, horizontal guide line across your paper. Tip: Keep this line very faint so it’s easy to erase later; it acts as the anchor for your entire drawing.

Step 2: Shaping the Upper Lip

A curved line forming the top half of the lips above the horizontal guide.

Draw a soft, curved line above your guide to create a semicircle. Tip: Think of this as the 'cupid's bow' area—keep the curve gentle and rounded.

Step 3: Defining the Lower Lip

A wider, rounded curve added below the guide line to form the bottom lip.

Draw a larger, fuller curve beneath the guide line. Tip: The bottom lip is usually slightly thicker than the top, so make this curve a bit deeper.

Step 4: Adding Contours

Two small curved lines added to the top of the upper lip outline.

Add two small curved lines on top of the upper lip shape. Tip: These small marks help define the natural dip in the center of the lip.

Step 5: Cleaning Up

The upper lip outline with the horizontal guide line erased.

Carefully erase the original guide lines inside the upper lip. Tip: Use a kneaded eraser if you have one—it’s gentler on the paper and won't smudge your work.

Step 6: Detailing the Lower Lip

A curved line added inside the bottom lip to show depth.

Draw a curved line through the bottom lip to add volume. Tip: This line shouldn't be perfectly straight; follow the natural roundness of the lip.

Step 7: Final Cleanup

The full lip outline with all guide lines removed.

Erase the remaining horizontal guide line from the bottom lip. Tip: Make sure your pencil lines are clean and crisp before moving to the final details.

Step 8: Defining the Mouth Line

A wavy line connecting the corners of the mouth to define the lip closure.

Add a small dot at each corner and connect them with a wavy line. Tip: The wave should dip slightly in the middle to mimic the natural shape of a mouth.

Step 9: Adding Texture

Small, subtle lines added to the surface of the lips for texture.

Add short, light curved lines across the lips. Tip: Don't overdo it! These small lines represent the natural texture of skin and make the lips look realistic.

Step 10: Adding Color

The finished lips drawing filled in with vibrant pink and red colors.

Bring your drawing to life with color! Tip: Use light pressure with your colored pencils to create gradients, making the center of the lips slightly lighter to show highlights.