A Simple Guide to Drawing Noses

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Anatomy of the Nose

Cartilages of the Nose
Cartilages of the Nose.

When you're drawing people, it helps to know what is going on under the skin. You don't need to remember the latin names, just so long as you remember roughly what goes where - what it looks like.

The shape of the nose varies enormously from person to person, because of their bone and cartilage structure, as well as the musculature of their face and the amount of fat under their skin. It's important to observe each individual carefully and study the shape of their nose and its position in relation to their other features.

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Drawing Simplified Nose Structure

Drawing Simplified Nose Structure

The nose can be simplified into a basic prism shape. This will be formed with its apex at the bridge of the nose, and its base across the widest part of the nostrils, tapering up to the tip. Try drawing this simple shape with the face at different angles. Note that in this example, the right side of the nose is longer than the left because of perspective. Drawing this simple prism first helps you to master the perspective element.

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Placing the Nose on the Face

Placing the Nose on the Face

To place the nose on the face, start by sketching the structure of the head. Observe the shape of the face, with its curved plane, which the nose sits into. Draw a line through the forehead and mouth to indicate the midpoint on the face. This will help you ensure that the features are aligned correctly.

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Shading the Form

Drawing the Nose - Shading the Form

Avoid outlining and use areas of light and shadow helps to create a three-dimensional effect. The use of directional shading - where your pencil marks follow the form - can accentuate this. Look for highlights and shadows. Note how in this drawing, the nose is quite rounded, so that there isn't a hard line along the nose - its shape is suggested by highlights, but it blends into the cheeks on each side.

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Line Drawing

Drawing the Nose - Line Drawing

In this line drawing, you can see how the rounded shape mentioned in the previous step is suggested by the use of implied line. The line from the tip of the nose lifts off gradually then re-starts at the bridge of the nose, suggesting a soft edge but not outlining it. Draw sketchy cross-contour lines to suggest the shape.

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Drawing the Nose in Profile

Drawing the Nose in Profile

When drawing the nose in profile, observe carefully and draw what you see, using other landmarks on the face as reference-points. For example, the nostril may line up with a corner of the nose, or the bump on the bridge will be level with the lower lid - depending on the angle of the face and the anatomy of your sitter. Try holding a pencil out between you and the subject - line it up vertically with a point on the face, and see what other points are perfectly above and below it. Be aware of depth - draw parts of the face that are closer more firmly, and allow the more distant parts to blend in behind them.