KEY CONCEPTS
- Nose = 5 sides: bridge, two side walls, tip, two nostrils
- Nose position = halfway between eye line and chin
- Upper lip = M-shape (Cupid's bow) with central dip
- 9 strokes complete the full lip drawing
- Mouth corner falls directly below the center of each eye
- The philtrum (groove from nose to upper lip) is a defining character detail
The nose is easiest to approach as a simplified wedge from the front. The bridge narrows from the brow down to the tip. The nostrils flare out to either side at the base. From the side, the nose is an angled triangle protruding from the face. The tip is the most forward-projecting point and catches the most light from above.
The upper lip is an M with a central dip (the Cupid's bow). The lower lip is a fuller arc below it. The mouth corners drop at the same vertical as the center of each eye — this proportion never changes regardless of face width or type. It is one of the most reliable proportional checks in face drawing.
The chin completes the 2 at the bottom of the face sequence. It extends forward from below the lower lip and gives the jaw its characteristic shape. A strong chin reads as confidence and strength. A receding chin reads as uncertainty. Character designers use chin prominence intentionally for this reason.
REFERENCE GALLERY
