Draw a Profile Mouth with Protruding Tongue: Four-Step Construction

Object Drawing Lessons

This lesson teaches a repeatable four-step method for drawing a mouth in profile with the tongue sticking out. You will build the shape from simple guide lines rather than copying a finished picture. The method separates the lip contour, the jaw line, and the visible tongue form so each part can be checked before adding detail. All measurements are hypothetical examples; measure your own paper and tools. The convention for judging proportions is stated in the rubric, and valid stylistic alternatives are allowed.

Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.

Reference illustration

Use the stated measurements and conventions for each exercise.

Step 1: Set the profile guide and lip contour

Begin with a light horizontal line for the mouth opening and a short vertical line marking the front of the face. These are guides, not final edges. Place the upper lip line so it curves gently forward, then bring the lower lip line back toward the jaw. Keep the gap between the lips narrow at the corners and wider at the front.

Use a soft pencil and keep pressure light. The lip contour should read as two separate curves that meet at the corners. Check that the upper lip sits slightly ahead of the lower lip in profile, which is common in a relaxed mouth.

1. Draw a horizontal guide about 6 cm long (hypothetical example).
2. Mark the front of the face with a short vertical guide crossing the horizontal line.
3. Sketch the upper lip curve from the front mark back toward the corner.
4. Sketch the lower lip curve below it, leaving a narrow opening.
5. Check that both curves meet cleanly at the corner without crossing.

Step 2: Add the jaw line and mouth opening

The jaw line gives the mouth a place to sit. Draw a shallow curve from below the ear area toward the chin, passing under the lower lip. This line should not touch the lip contour; it sits behind and below it. Next, open the mouth by widening the gap between the lip curves at the front while keeping the corners closed.

The opening should be widest near the front and taper toward the corners. This taper is what makes the mouth read as a mouth rather than a slot. Keep the jaw line simple and continuous.

1. Draw a shallow jaw curve from the back of the mouth area toward the chin.
2. Widen the lip gap at the front by about 4 mm (hypothetical example).
3. Keep the corners closed so the opening tapers.
4. Check that the jaw line stays below the lower lip curve.
5. Erase any guide lines that cross the final lip edges.

Step 3: Construct the protruding tongue shape

The tongue is drawn as a rounded form that emerges from the mouth opening and extends forward and slightly down. Start with a curved center line from inside the mouth to the tip. Then build the tongue's width by drawing two side curves that follow the center line and meet at a rounded tip. The tongue should overlap the lower lip slightly, because it protrudes.

Keep the tongue narrower than the mouth opening at its base and wider near the middle. The tip should be rounded, not pointed. A small shadow line under the tongue helps separate it from the lower lip.

1. Draw a curved center line from inside the mouth to the tongue tip.
2. Add a left side curve and a right side curve following the center line.
3. Round the tip where the side curves meet.
4. Let the tongue overlap the lower lip by about 2 mm (hypothetical example).
5. Add a short shadow line under the tongue to show separation.

Step 4: Refine edges and check proportions

Refine the lip edges so they are smooth and continuous. Darken the final contour lines and erase the construction guides. Check the tongue's length against the mouth width: in this method the tongue extends forward by roughly half the mouth width, but that is a stylistic choice, not a rule. Valid alternatives include a shorter or wider tongue as long as the overlap and taper remain readable.

Use the rubric to judge your drawing. The rubric allows different letter styles and line weights; it checks structure, not a single correct appearance.

1. Smooth the upper and lower lip edges.
2. Darken the final tongue outline and the jaw line.
3. Erase construction guides.
4. Compare tongue length to mouth width and adjust if needed.
5. Apply the rubric checks before calling the drawing finished.

Worked example

A learner draws a profile mouth on a 10 cm wide area. The mouth opening is 5 cm wide at the front and closes at the corners. The tongue extends 2.5 cm forward from the lip line and overlaps the lower lip by 2 mm. The jaw line sits 1 cm below the lower lip. Check the proportions using the stated convention.

Four practice exercises

Common mistakes

• Drawing the tongue as a flat rectangle. Use a curved center line and two side curves that meet at a rounded tip.
• Letting the jaw line touch the lower lip. Keep the jaw curve below and behind the lip contour.
• Making the mouth opening the same width at the corners and front. Taper the opening so it is widest at the front and closed at the corners.
• Skipping the overlap between tongue and lower lip. Let the tongue cross slightly over the lower lip to show protrusion.

Self-check rubric

• Lip contour: upper and lower lip curves meet at the corners without crossing.
• Mouth opening: widest at the front and tapering to closed corners.
• Jaw line: continuous, below the lower lip, and not touching the lip contour.
• Tongue shape: curved center line, two side curves, rounded tip.
• Protrusion: tongue overlaps the lower lip slightly and reads as emerging from the mouth.
• Proportion check: tongue length compared to mouth width using a stated convention; alternative lengths allowed if structure remains readable.
• Line quality: final contour lines are clear; construction guides are removed or faint.
• Valid alternatives: different letter styles, line weights, and tongue lengths are accepted if the structural checks pass.

Questions and answers