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Face Shape Drawing: Compare Oval, Square and Heart Outlines
Learn to draw and compare oval, square and heart face outlines using proportion guides, feature marks and a simple self-check rubric.
Free lesson
Four exercises
Worked answers
Object Drawing Lessons
This lesson teaches face shape drawing by comparing three outline types: oval, square and heart. You will use a shared proportion guide, draw each outline on a practice panel, and mark feature positions so the shapes can be compared fairly. The goal is outline control and comparison, not full portrait rendering or feature placement detail. All measurements are simple and checkable; any numerical values are hypothetical examples you can adjust to your paper size.
Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.
Set up a shared proportion guide
Begin with a rectangle of paper. Mark a vertical midline and a horizontal midline. Divide the vertical midline into thirds with two light marks: upper third line and lower third line. These lines are your proportion guide for all three shapes, so comparisons stay fair.
Define a convention for height: the face outline spans from the top mark to the bottom mark. X-height is not used here; instead, use the full outline height. Keep your pencil light so guide lines can be erased or left faint.
- Draw a rectangle about 12 cm wide and 16 cm tall (hypothetical example; measure your own paper).
- Mark the vertical and horizontal midlines.
- Mark the upper and lower third lines on the vertical midline.
- Label the top, middle and bottom zones lightly.
Draw the oval outline
The oval is a smooth, continuous curve that is wider at the middle and narrower at the top and bottom. It should touch the top and bottom marks and stay within the rectangle width. Keep the curve symmetrical about the vertical midline.
Check symmetry by folding the paper lightly along the vertical midline or by measuring equal distances from the midline at three heights: upper third, middle, lower third.
- Place a light dot at the top and bottom marks on the vertical midline.
- Draw a smooth curve from top to bottom on the left side, then mirror it on the right.
- Adjust so the widest point is near the horizontal midline.
- Mark feature positions: eye line at the horizontal midline, nose base at the lower third line, mouth line halfway between nose base and bottom.
Draw the square outline
The square outline uses straighter sides and a flatter top and bottom. Corners may be slightly rounded, but the overall impression is boxier than the oval. Keep the same height and width limits as the oval so the comparison is about shape, not size.
Use the same feature marks as the oval. The difference is the outline contour, not the feature lines.
- Draw a light rectangle using the same top, bottom and side limits.
- Round the corners slightly with short curves.
- Straighten the sides between the upper third and lower third lines.
- Re-mark the eye line, nose base and mouth line at the same positions as the oval.
Draw the heart outline
The heart outline is wider at the top with a gentle dip at the top center, then tapers toward a narrower bottom. The top dip should sit on the vertical midline. The sides curve inward below the horizontal midline.
Keep the same height and width limits. The heart shape changes the top contour and the lower taper, but the feature marks stay on the same guide lines for fair comparison.
- Mark a shallow dip at the top center on the vertical midline.
- Draw two rounded lobes from the dip outward to the upper sides.
- Curve inward from the widest point toward the bottom mark.
- Re-mark the eye line, nose base and mouth line at the same positions.
Worked example
On a 12 cm by 16 cm rectangle with midlines and third lines, draw an oval outline and mark the eye line, nose base and mouth line. Then state one check for symmetry.
Worked answer
The oval touches the top and bottom marks, stays within the 12 cm width, and is widest near the horizontal midline. Eye line is at the horizontal midline, nose base at the lower third line, mouth line halfway between nose base and bottom. Symmetry check: at the middle height, the left and right distances from the vertical midline are equal (for example, 4 cm each, hypothetical).
Four practice exercises
Exercise 1
Using a 10 cm by 14 cm rectangle with midlines and third lines, describe where to place the eye line, nose base and mouth line for an oval outline.
Show answer and check
Eye line at the horizontal midline; nose base at the lower third line; mouth line halfway between the nose base and the bottom mark.
Why: The shared guide keeps feature marks consistent across shapes, so comparisons focus on outline contour.
Check: Measure from the bottom mark: nose base should be one third of the height above the bottom; mouth line should be one sixth above the bottom.
Exercise 2
A square outline on a 12 cm by 16 cm guide has sides that bow outward like an oval. State one adjustment and one check.
Show answer and check
Straighten the sides between the upper and lower third lines and round only the corners slightly. Check by placing a light ruler edge along each side between the third lines; the gap should be small and even.
Why: The square impression comes from straighter sides, not from a different height or width.
Check: Compare the side contour at the middle height: the distance from the midline should be close to the rectangle side limit, with little curvature.
Exercise 3
Draw a heart outline on a 12 cm by 16 cm guide. Describe the top dip and the lower taper, then give one symmetry check.
Show answer and check
Top dip is shallow and centered on the vertical midline; lobes round outward to the upper sides; sides curve inward below the horizontal midline toward a narrower bottom. Symmetry check: at the upper third line, left and right distances from the midline are equal.
Why: The heart shape is defined by a centered top dip and a lower taper while keeping the shared height and width limits.
Check: Measure equal distances from the vertical midline at the upper third and lower third lines.
Exercise 4
Compare your oval, square and heart outlines. List two things that must stay the same and one thing that should change.
Show answer and check
Same: height and width limits; feature mark positions (eye line, nose base, mouth line). Change: outline contour (smooth oval, straighter square, heart with top dip and lower taper).
Why: Fair comparison requires constant size and feature guides while varying only the outline shape.
Check: Place the three drawings side by side; confirm the top, bottom and side limits align, and confirm the feature marks sit on the same guide lines.
Common mistakes
- Changing the height or width between shapes. Use the same rectangle and guide lines for all three outlines.
- Placing feature marks at different heights on each shape. Mark eye line, nose base and mouth line on the shared guide before drawing each outline.
- Making the heart top dip too deep or off-center. Keep the dip shallow and centered on the vertical midline.
- Rounding the square so much that it looks oval. Keep the sides straighter between the upper and lower third lines; round only the corners slightly.
Self-check rubric
- All three outlines use the same height and width limits.
- Oval is smooth and symmetrical about the vertical midline.
- Square has straighter sides and only slightly rounded corners.
- Heart has a shallow centered top dip and a narrower bottom.
- Feature marks are at the same guide positions on all three shapes.
- Symmetry check is stated with equal distances from the midline.
Questions and answers
Do I need to draw facial features in detail?
No. This lesson compares outlines only. Feature marks are simple position dots or short lines, not full features.
Can I use different paper sizes?
Yes. Measure your own paper and keep the same guide proportions for all three shapes.
Is there one correct heart shape?
No. Valid heart outlines vary. Use the convention: shallow centered top dip, wider upper half, narrower bottom, and keep the shared height and width limits.
How do I check symmetry without folding?
Measure equal distances from the vertical midline at the upper third, middle and lower third lines.