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People are arguably the most difficult subject to draw realistically. Read on to discover the rules of drawing a realistic face as well as a realistic figure.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Semi Realistic People

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Make sure you draw lightly so it's more of a sketch than the final project. When you are finished with the sketches, erase them. They are easier to erase now that your lines are lighter.

  1. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
    Add connecting lines to form the guides to jaws and the chin of the human head.
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  2. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
    Draw the realistic lips of the human at the bottom of the nose symmetrical of shape on either side of the vertical dividing line.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
  10. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
  11. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Realistic People

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
    • Make your drawing seem more realistic by adjusting the perspective slightly. A lot of people draw at eye level, rather than adjusting the subject a little bit.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
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  6. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
    Add a small detail to the chin as well.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Draw Realistic People
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    When I draw a person I always draw the body too small for the head. How do I fix this?
    Community Answer
    Pan out the body first, in pencil very lightly, so that you can rub anything out and resize it as needed.
  • Question
    How can I erase the guide lines without erasing the face?
    Community Answer
    Erase slowly and lightly. If you accidentally erase the face, you'll still be able to see it, it will just be faded. You can easily redraw it.
  • Question
    Once I learn how to draw, can I sell my drawings, or would they be just for fun?
    Community Answer
    You can always sell your artwork. Consider learning how to draw portraits or caricatures of people, and then sketching people at craft fairs, etc. You can sell your sketches and drawings there as well.
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      Things You'll Need

      • A sketch book or piece of sketch paper
      • A pencil
      • An Eraser

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      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To draw realistic people, start by making a circle and bisecting it with a vertical line. Next, add horizontal guides for the eyes, nose, mouth, and the outline of the jaw and chin. Then, make neat shapes for the eyes on the horizontal line and a realistic nose on the vertical line, below which you can add a pair of lips. Once the face is sketched in, add hair to the skull. Finally, form the shoulders and upper arms together to complete the guide, and erase any unnecessary lines before coloring in your person. To learn how to draw a semi-realistic person, keep reading!

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      • Anonymous

        Feb 17, 2018

        "I was completely useless at drawing people before. Now I can at least draw a normal-looking person who doesn't ..." more
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