Drawing a child's face proportion involves emphasizing features that reflect their younger age, primarily by adjusting the placement of the eyes, which are positioned lower than on an adult.
Understanding Child Face Proportions
Unlike adults, whose eyes are typically placed halfway down the head, a child's eyes are positioned lower to convey their youthfulness. This fundamental difference influences the placement of other facial features, contributing to the distinct, often rounder and softer, appearance of a child's face.
Step-by-Step Guide to Drawing a Child's Face
Follow these foundational steps to accurately capture the proportions of a child's face, based on established drawing principles:
Step 1: Establishing the Basic Head Shape
Begin your drawing by sketching the general outline of the head.
- Start with a smaller circle and add the chin. This initial circle will form the cranium, which is relatively larger in proportion to the rest of the face in children compared to adults.
- Beneath the circle, gently add the jawline and chin, making it softer and less defined than an adult's. A child's face tends to be rounder, with less angularity.
Step 2: Placing Key Facial Features
This is where the most significant proportional difference for children comes into play.
- Draw the eyes, nose, and mouth. Critically, on the child, the eye line will be lower than on the adult. While an adult's eyes are roughly halfway down the head, a child's eyes are positioned below this midpoint, often around one-third of the way up from the chin to the top of the head. This lower placement makes the forehead appear larger, a hallmark of youth.
- Once the eye line is established, draw the nose and mouth proportionately below it. The nose will be shorter and less defined, and the mouth will typically be smaller and often higher relative to the chin than an adult's.
Step 3: Adding the Ears
The placement of the ears follows a similar rule to adult proportions, but within the context of the child's head.
- Draw the ears. Using the same method as the adult, add in your ears. Generally, ears are placed between the eye line and the nose line. However, because a child's features are lower, the ears will also follow this adjusted vertical placement, fitting proportionally alongside the lower-set eyes and nose. Ensure they are sized appropriately for the child's smaller head.
Key Proportional Differences: Child vs. Adult
Understanding these contrasts is crucial for depicting age accurately:
| Feature | Child Proportions | Adult Proportions |
|---|---|---|
| Eye Line | Significantly lower on the face (below halfway point) | Roughly halfway down the head |
| Forehead | Appears larger due to lower eye placement | Proportionately smaller relative to facial features |
| Cranium | Larger in proportion to the face | More balanced with the face's lower half |
| Chin/Jaw | Softer, rounder, less defined | More defined, often angular, with clearer bone structure |
| Features | Overall softer, smaller, and often closer together | More developed, defined, and spread out |
By focusing on these core proportional adjustments, especially the lower eye line and the relatively larger cranium, artists can effectively capture the endearing qualities unique to a child's face.
