Drawing Noses from Front, Profile, and Three-Quarter Views

Object Drawing Lessons

Noses change shape dramatically with viewpoint, yet the underlying structure stays consistent: a bridge that rises from the brow, a tip that projects forward, and nostril wings that wrap around the base. This lesson teaches a construction method for front, profile, and three-quarter views, then adds a shading step for nostril and plane shadows. You will use a simple alignment convention: the bridge line runs from between the brows to the tip, and the tip sits at a measurable distance from the bridge base. All measurements are checkable with a ruler or by eye against your own drawing. The goal is not a single correct nose but a structurally believable one whose parts align across angles.

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.

Front View: Symmetry and the Bridge-Tip Axis

In front view, the nose is roughly symmetrical around a vertical axis. Begin with a light vertical line for the bridge, running from between the brows down to the tip. Mark the tip as a small horizontal dash crossing that axis. The nostril wings sit on either side of the tip, lower than the bridge base but not below the tip line by more than a small fraction of the nose length.

Use a convention for proportion: divide the nose length (brow to tip) into thirds. The upper third is the bridge, the middle third is the lower bridge, and the lower third contains the tip and wings. These are hypothetical example divisions, not universal rules; adjust to your subject after measuring.

1. Draw a light vertical axis and mark brow point and tip point.
2. Divide the axis into three equal parts as a starting proportion.
3. Place the tip dash at the lower mark and add two wing marks at equal distances from the axis.
4. Check symmetry by measuring left and right wing distances from the axis; they should match within a small tolerance you choose.
5. Add a soft shadow under the tip and beside each wing to suggest the nostril plane.

Profile View: Projection and the Bridge Curve

In profile, the nose projects forward from the face. Draw a vertical reference line at the brow, then a horizontal line at the tip to measure projection. The bridge curve runs from the brow down and forward to the tip, then turns under to the base. The nostril appears as a small curved shape under the tip, and the wing sits behind the tip line.

A useful check is the tip-to-brow horizontal distance. Measure it on your drawing and compare with the nose length. If the tip projects too far, the profile looks exaggerated; if too little, the nose looks flat. Choose a ratio that matches your subject and label it as a working example.

1. Draw a vertical brow line and a horizontal tip line.
2. Sketch the bridge curve from brow to tip, keeping the curve smooth.
3. Turn the line under the tip to form the base and add the nostril curve.
4. Place the wing behind the tip line and check its height against the tip.
5. Shade the underside of the tip and the nostril opening to show depth.

Three-Quarter View: Foreshortening and Wing Placement

In three-quarter view, one side of the nose is foreshortened. The bridge axis tilts slightly, and the far wing appears closer to the tip than the near wing. Begin with the tilted bridge line, then place the tip. The near wing sits farther from the axis than the far wing, and the far nostril is partially hidden.

Check foreshortening by comparing the two wing distances from the bridge axis. The near wing distance should be larger than the far wing distance. If they are equal, the view reads as front; if the far wing disappears entirely, the view reads as profile. Adjust until the ratio matches your chosen angle.

1. Draw a tilted bridge axis from brow to tip.
2. Mark the tip and add the near wing at a larger distance from the axis.
3. Add the far wing closer to the axis and partially overlap the nostril.
4. Check the wing-distance ratio and adjust to match the intended angle.
5. Shade the far side of the bridge and the near nostril plane to reinforce the turn.

Shading the Nostril and Plane Shadows

Shading should describe planes, not just darken holes. The nostril opening is a small dark shape, but the shadow around it follows the curve of the wing and the underside of the tip. Use a soft shadow under the tip and a darker accent inside the nostril. On the bridge, a subtle shadow on the side away from the light helps the nose read as a raised form.

Keep shading consistent across views: the light direction should be the same in all three drawings. If the light comes from the upper left, the right side of the bridge and the underside of the tip receive shadow in every view. This consistency is a checkable feature of your set.

1. Choose one light direction and state it before shading.
2. Add a soft shadow under the tip in all three views.
3. Darken the nostril opening and the wing shadow on the shaded side.
4. Add a narrow bridge shadow on the side away from the light.
5. Check that shadow placement matches the chosen light direction in each view.

Worked example

A front-view nose has a brow-to-tip length of 6 cm. Using the one-third convention, where do you place the tip and wing marks, and how do you check symmetry?

Four practice exercises

Common mistakes

• Making the nose too symmetrical in three-quarter view. Offset the far wing toward the bridge axis and allow the far nostril to be partially hidden.
• Drawing the profile bridge as a straight line. Curve the bridge from brow to tip, then turn under at the base to show projection.
• Shading the nostril as a flat black hole. Use a dark accent inside the nostril and a soft shadow around the wing and under the tip.
• Ignoring the bridge-tip alignment across views. Mark brow and tip points first in every view, then build the bridge and wings around them.

Self-check rubric

• Bridge and tip align on a single axis in front and three-quarter views.
• Profile shows a curved bridge and measurable forward projection.
• Wing placement reflects foreshortening in three-quarter view.
• Nostril and plane shadows follow a stated light direction.
• Proportions are checked with simple measurements and consistent units.
• Valid alternative styles (smooth shading or cross-hatching) are accepted if plane placement is correct.

Questions and answers