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Drawing Tutorials

How to Draw the Back of a Head: Step-by-Step Demo

Most artists skip practicing the back view - then panic when they need it. Learn the simple circle method for drawing heads from behind, plus how to show different body types using trapezius muscles and neck proportions.

Robert Joyner | Garage Studio Artist & Art Educator

Robert Joyner | Garage Studio Artist & Art Educator

— 2 min read
How to Draw the Back of a Head - hero image with studio background image and skull symbol

Here's the thing about drawing heads from the back view - most people never practice it. Then when they need to draw someone from behind, they freeze up.

Let's fix that.

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Watch video: hit play and learn how to draw back of the head.

The Simple Setup

Start with a circle. That's it.

Now divide it in half vertically, draw a line at the bottom of the circle, then add another third below that. This gives you the length of the neck. See? Not complicated.

What You're Actually Drawing

From the back, you're looking at:

  • The skull (obviously)
  • A hint of the face mask visible on the sides
  • The ears
  • The neck
  • Those trapezius muscles connecting to the shoulders

The trapezius is your secret weapon here. It's what makes the back of the head connect convincingly to the body.

Multiple sketches showing back of head from different angles and sizes, including feminine and bull-neck male variations with trapezius muscles

Mix Up Your Sizes

Don't just draw one size and call it done. Go big, go medium, go small.

Why? Because if you only practice at one scale, that's the only scale you'll be comfortable with. And trust me, you'll need to draw heads at all different sizes.

Body Types Change Everything

This is where it gets fun.

Bull-neck male: Thick trapezius muscles, shorter neck, powerful connection to the shoulders. Instantly reads as athletic and masculine.

Delicate female: Thinner neck, longer proportions, more curved trapezius muscles. Completely different feeling.

Same basic structure. Totally different vibe.

Keep It Loose

These are study drawings, not museum pieces. Keep your construction lines light. Indicate the ears with just two lines. You're learning the structure, not rendering a masterpiece.

The mask of the face? Just hint at it on the sides where it wraps around. You're not drawing the front view here.

Your Practice Assignment

Draw the back of the head at three different sizes:

  • Large
  • Medium
  • Small

For each one:

  1. Start with your circle
  2. Divide it (½, then add another ⅓)
  3. Add the neck
  4. Indicate ears
  5. Draw the trapezius muscles
  6. Hint at the face mask on the sides

Then try two variations:

  • Athletic/masculine (thick trapezius, shorter neck)
  • Delicate/feminine (thin neck, curved trapezius)

Label them. It helps you remember what you learned.

Why This Matters

Understanding how the head connects to the neck and shoulders from the back view makes EVERY head drawing better. Even when you're drawing front views, you understand the full 3D structure.

Plus, it's a super common view in figure drawing, comics, storyboarding - basically anything where you're drawing people doing stuff instead of just posing for portraits.

Now grab your pencil and give it a shot. Circle first, always. 🎯

Continue Learning

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