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Are they the easiest to draw or the hardest?

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Do you know?

The nose can be the most distinctive feature on the face, but it can also be one of the most difficult features to get right. Why do you think that is? What makes the nose different from the other features of the face?

Answer the question below.Then compare your answer to ours.

Nose of an elderly Asian male
Your Responses Sample Answers

The nose is difficult to draw because of the way it protrudes away from the face. Unless you are viewing the face from a profile perspective, the nose has very few real lines. It can only really be defined through shading.

When drawing the nose, avoid using too many lines and over-exaggerating the nostrils. Look at the following noses and try drawing them in your sketchbook. Click on each image to enlarge it and study the caption for hints and tricks.

With this perspective, the nostril is very defined. That is a good place to start when you draw. Then add in the line for the tip of the nose and for each nostril. Notice that the nostril that is facing away from your view is much smaller than the other one.

When drawing a nose straight on, start with the line that connects the two nostrils (this also creates the tip of the nose). Then, move on to adding the nostrils on each side. Next, use lines to create the outside portion of the nostril on each side. The rest of the nose should be defined by shading.

A profile nose has a line that defines the bridge of the nose and the nostril on the side that is facing the viewer. The rest of the nose is defined by shading, even the skin surrounding the nostril. If you use a hard, connected line to define the outside of the nostril, it will flatten your drawing, and it won't look realistic.

Here are a few things to remember when drawing the nose:

  • There are usually highlights on the bridge and tip of the nose because they protrude out the furthest.
  • All shading should be gently blended because the nose slopes gently to the sides. Harsh shadows make the nose appear disconnected from the face.
  • All noses are shaped slightly differently, so pay close attention to where the shadows fall on your model's face.

Take some time today and draw three more noses from live models. If you have only one model, draw their nose from three different perspectives.