Drawing Tutorials

How to Draw Lips - Upper Lips In Focus

Learn how to draw lips using simple shapes and rhythm. Break down the mouth into three sections and build it naturally on the muzzle form.

Robert Joyner | Garage Studio Artist & Art Educator

30 Oct 2025 — 2 min read

In this lesson, we’ll focus on mouth drawing and how to break the lips into simple shapes. You’ll learn how to build them off the muzzle form, how to simplify the “M” shape of the upper lip, and how to give the mouth natural rhythm and structure.

This lesson is part of How to Draw the Head Course.

Start with the Muzzle

Everything begins with the muzzle — that soft, rounded cylinder that defines where the mouth sits.

Start by drawing a circle for the mouth area, then add the center line where the top and bottom lips meet. This will help you keep both lips balanced as the head turns.

Mouth drawing demo showing how to draw upper and lower lips using simple three-section structure and muzzle form.

Simplify the Upper Lip

Avoid drawing a sharp, stiff “M” for the upper lip. Instead, let it wander and sag slightly for a more natural look.

Each lip shape is different — some are thinner, others thicker — but they all wrap around the cylinder of the muzzle.

Above the top lip, add the philtrum, that small groove between the nose and upper lip. It connects to the “mustache line” and helps define how the lips curve upward.

Divide the Lips into Three Sections

Think of the upper lip as three sections — one center section shaped like a heart, and two smaller “horns” on each side.

This helps you control symmetry while keeping things soft and organic. When you move to the lower lip, imagine two pillowy forms that overlap slightly in the middle.