How to Draw a Head: Complete Free Course for Beginners to Advanced

Welcome to the Head Drawing Hub! Your one-stop shop for learning to draw the skull, human head drawing lessons that start at the beginning and work into more advanced ideas.

Learning how to draw a head is one of those skills that looks way easier than it actually is. You see artists knock out amazing portraits and think, "Yeah, I can do that." Then you try and realize… nope, not even close.

I get it. I've been teaching head drawing for years, and I've seen every mistake in the book—including all the ones I made myself.

So let me tell you this story. I finally create a lead magnet because my website is getting some decent traction—like 180 visitors a day. Not huge numbers, but way better than the sad traffic I had a few months ago. I was getting two or three email signups a day, which felt pretty good.

Then I got cocky. I was like, "Oh yeah, a lead magnet will definitely double that." So I spent a whole day recording a lesson, setting up a landing page, getting everything posted and looking all professional.

Result? Zero signups. Three days straight. Nothing.

I'm sitting there like, "Wait, that's not how this is supposed to work!" I expected six signups a day minimum. But then I remembered—life humbles you. You build these expectations, do the work, and the results don't show up. At least not right away. That's how everything is.

Why I'm Telling You This

Because learning to draw realistic heads is the exact same game. Results don't happen right away. The work you do today will pay off later on, just be consistent and determined to make it happen, and it will!

So, this is where you’ll start learning how to draw the head — from the skull and basic construction to more advanced ideas like anatomy, proportions, and facial structure. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your skills, this is the place to build a strong foundation.

I created this hub because I know how important drawing is for every artist. Some of you might want to paint or draw portraits, others may want to move into character design, or maybe you just want to understand structure so you can create more confidently.

For me, learning to draw the head wasn’t about portraits — it was about building a foundation that unlocked every other creative path I’ve taken. These lessons helped me grow, and I hope they do the same for you.

Enjoy the lessons below, and most of all — have fun with it.

What You'll Learn in This Free Head Drawing Course

This isn’t just another tutorial — it’s a complete head drawing roadmap. Step by step, you’ll learn to build the head from the inside out, starting with skull construction and gradually moving into proportions, features, and expression.

You’ll learn:

• Complete skull anatomy from multiple angles
• Head proportions (male, female, children)
• Side profile and back-of-head construction
• The box construction method
• How the head connects to the neck
• Starting methods for different situations
• Common mistakes and how to fix them
• Real student assignments with critiques
• Masters analysis

This course is for:

• Beginners ready to draw their first structured portraits
• Artists frustrated with stiff, awkward heads
• Students studying figure drawing fundamentals
• Anyone who wants structured assignments, not just demos

Module 1: Skull Foundation (Lessons 1-6)

Understanding the skull is the key to believable heads. Here's where to start:

1. Skull profile proportions - Learn the two-shape method (egg + square) and the critical gesture that makes heads look human, not alien.
2. Skull profile drawing demonstration - Apply the proportions with step-by-step demos at multiple scales and directions.
3. Skull front proportions - Understand the 2:3 ratio and two methods (thirds and halves) for placing facial features accurately.
4. Skull front view drawing demonstration - Practice both thirds and halves methods with six examples at different scales.
5. Neck anatomy and construction - Learn the hourglass shape from profile, cylinder from front, and where the neck connects to the skull.
6. Neck drawing demonstration - Apply neck anatomy

(More lessons in this module coming soon — including masters analysis, back view, and my full skull demo.)