Mastering Realistic Facial Features: A Graphite Pencil Tutorial

Welcome to this step-by-step guide to drawing facial features. This tutorial is designed for anyone looking to learn how to capture facial anatomy using graphite pencils, breaking down complex structures into manageable stages. Simplicity is key throughout this guide, and there is no expectation for you to produce an anatomically perfect drawing on your first attempt. Instead, the essential goal is to help you master the correct application of your pencils and blending tools, giving you a reliable process you can confidently apply to your own artwork.

This guide is split into three separate sections with eight stages in each, covering the nose first, then the lips, and finally the most technical feature, the eye. Every single step pairs a clear visual reference with a direct action to take, showing you exactly how to progress from the initial outline to the final highlights. The goal is to build your confidence with basic graphite techniques, focusing on essential skills like smooth blending, lifting light with erasers, and controlling your pencil pressure.

The original reference photograph is included below to help you closely follow along. Additionally, a downloadable outline template is available in the Step by Step Art Ko-fi shop, which you can easily print out to use as a guide for your own drawing.

Reference Image & Materials List

The artwork in this tutorial was created using Strathmore Bristol 500 Vellum. This paper features a slight tooth that grabs pigment easily to enhance saturation, which is the exact method taught here. However, because this texture can impede smooth blending and layering, beginners may find it challenging to control; therefore, a smooth paper, such as a hot pressed watercolour surface is highly recommended as an easier alternative starting paper. For the drawings, two pencils from the Derwent Onyx range were used, specifically the Medium and Dark grades. Because these are quite a niche product, you can easily substitute them with standard B and 5B pencils, which will do the exact same job. Use your B pencil for the initial sketching, and switch to the 5B grade for all subsequent steps, applying heavy pressure for dark values and a relaxed grip for lighter areas. A single eraser with clean, sharp corners is sufficient for lifting graphite, though specialised erasers like a pencil eraser and battery-powered eraser, can make the process much easier.

graphite pencil accessories; erasers, derwent onyx pencils, paper blenders, battery powered eraser and faber castell pencil eraser

White art paper (160gsm upwards)
Graphite pencil grades: Onyx Medium/B & Onyx Dark/5B
Blending stump (Used)
Pencil Sharpener
Clean Polymer Eraser
Soft Tissue (avoid kitchen towel)

Soft Brush
Sheet of Tracing Paper
Sheet of spare white paper for practice
Pencil Eraser (Optional)
Battery-powered Eraser (Optional)

Important Tips before you Begin

Protect the Surface: Rest your hand on a clean sheet of tracing paper while you work to prevent skin oils from marking your drawing surface. These unseen smudges can permanently bind the graphite to the paper, making it incredibly difficult to blend or erase later on.
Prepare the Graphite: Make sure both of your pencils are freshly sharpened to a fine point before you start sketching. Having a longer, exposed lead gives you a much better surface area when you lay the pencil flat against the paper.
Set Clear Proportions: Keep your initial layout lines distinct and well-defined so you can easily see them beneath your shading. However, be careful not to press down too hard, as deep pencil grooves will permanently dent the paper fibers.
Manage Hand Pressure: Use steady, controlled pressure to lay down solid values without scratching the paper. Shading with the side of the lead ensures a smooth, even layer that can be easily erased, whereas sharp, heavy pencil points will score the page.
Clear Eraser Debris Safely: Avoid blowing on your paper to clear away eraser shavings, as tiny drops of moisture or saliva can easily mark your work. Instead, gently brush the crumbs away using a soft brush to prevent permanent damage.
Keep Fingers Away from Shading: Only use tools like tissues, paper stumps, or tortillons to blend your graphite layers together. Using your bare fingertips will transfer natural skin oils directly onto the drawing, which can damage your work.

Pencil Grip and Protection

Whenever you are working with graphite pencils, always place a protective sheet like glassine or tracing paper beneath your hand. This simple habit prevents you from smudging your work and transfering oils from your skin onto the paper. It also doubles as a convenient protective cover to shield your drawing from dust and damage when you are not actively working on it.

This hand position demonstrates how holding the pencil horizontally allows you to use the length of the lead to apply smooth base layers. Shifting your grip further up the pencil gives you full control over your pressure. Holding it near the back reduces weight for a lighter touch, while gripping closer to the tip allows you to apply heavier pressure for darker shades.

Outlines of facial features for a graphite pencils tutorial at www.stepbystepart.co.uk

FIND THE OUTLINE TO THIS TUTORIAL ON OUR KOFI PAGE

Our Ko-fi page features a shop where you can download the outline and reference for this tutorial. These outlines are completely free for our Ko-fi followers. If you're not yet a member, consider joining to access all these resources at no cost or, if you prefer, you can simply screengrab the outline and print out.

What is kofi?

The nose is the best feature to start with because it acts as the central anchor for all facial proportions, making it much easier to position the eyes and mouth later on. Before beginning, it is vital to remember that the nose is not defined by hard, outlines down the sides, but rather by how light hits its different surfaces. You will be looking at the nose as a collection of simple, three-dimensional structures, specifically the bridge, the tip, and the wings, which are revealed through soft shifts in light and shadow rather than sharp lines. Keeping this focus on overall volume rather than small details will prevent the drawing from looking flat and ensure a realistic result.

Stage 1 - Outline

Pencil Grade Used: B & 5B

Start by sketching the basic outline using a B pencil, aiming for a close match to the reference photo. Because you are drawing the nose in isolation rather than a full portrait, absolute precision is not critical at this stage. Once you are happy with the shape, clean up any stray guidelines with an eraser. Finish the step by tracing over your final lines with a 5B pencil to create a deeper boundary.

Stage 2 - Foundational Base

Pencil grade Used: 5B

Hold your 5B pencil horizontally and use the flat (lateral) side of the lead, applying a deep, heavy base tone right across the shape. Do your best to stay within your outlined borders as you shade. This base layer needs to be dark enough that your initial outline almost completely blends in and disappears. This method allows you to establish a solid dark midtone before refining the subtle shapes and shadows of the features later on.

The base tones of a watermelon in coloured pencils

Stage 3 - Blending

Product Used: Blending stump/Soft tissue

Stage 4 - Contrasts

Pencil Grade Used: 5B

Blend the graphite using small circular motions with a blending stump or a clean tissue wrapped around your finger for maximum control. This process softens any harsh pencil marks, ready for lifting out all your highlights in the next stages. Finally, use a clean eraser to wipe away any excess pencil smudges from the outer edges, ensuring that the surrounding paper stays completely pristine and the shape remains crisp.

To help build a realistic sense of three-dimensional form, deepen areas on the nose using your 5B pencil. Focus your attention on the darker recesses and under-surfaces where natural light cannot reach, such as the bottom of the tip and inside the nostrils. Adding this extra layer of graphite creates the rich contrast necessary to make the nose appear to lift off the flat surface of the drawing paper.

Stage 5 - Blending

Tool Used: Blending Stump

Blend these newly shaded areas using small, controlled movements to soften any harsh edges and integrate them seamlessly into the surrounding tones. This step transforms your dark values into smooth, natural gradients. Ensure the transition between the darkest shadows and the base layer looks gradual and subtle, maintaining a realistic, three-dimensional form across the entire feature.

Stage 6 - Lifting Highlights

Tool Used: Eraser/Pencil Eraser

Use the pointed edge of your eraser, or a precision pencil eraser for much tighter control, to lift away graphite from the areas where the brightest highlights should sit. This process exposes the clean paper underneath, instantly defining the shape of the nose. Focus on the tip and the bridge where light hits directly, as these bright points create the contrast needed to make your drawing look truly three-dimensional.

Stage 7 - Softening Transitions

Tool Used: Blending Stump

Use your 5B pencil to deepen the inside of the nostrils, ensuring these areas represent the darkest points of your entire drawing. Next, take your blending tool to gently smooth out the edges immediately below the nose, softening any harsh transitions. This final injection of rich contrast and soft shadow grounds the feature perfectly, completing your realistic nose study and preparing you to tackle the next facial feature.

Stage 8 - Drawing Complete

Tool Used: N/A

Completing the nose demonstrates how soft, gradual value transitions build convincing structure without relying on hard edges. The success of this feature depends on your ability to seamlessly blend newly erased highlights into the surrounding dark tones, ensuring the skin appears to curve naturally over bone. Because a realistic nose contains no harsh lines, every adjustment works toward creating smooth gradients that suggest soft, living tissue.

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The mouth is a vital feature for capturing character and expression, sitting directly below the nasal anchor to lock in the lower third of facial proportions. When drawing a male portrait, it is important to remember that male lips generally differ from female lips by being thinner, flatter, and less defined along the outer edges, requiring a much subtler touch to avoid looking overly cosmetic. Before beginning, it is vital to remember that the mouth is not defined by a hard, solid outline around the borders, but rather by how light wraps around its fleshy volumes. You will be looking at the mouth as a collection of simple, three-dimensional structures, specifically the upper lip, the lower lip, and the central parting line, which are revealed through soft shifts in light and shadow rather than sharp lines. Keeping this focus on overall volume and the soft texture of the skin will prevent the drawing from looking flat and ensure a realistic, masculine result.