For a video version of this tutorial visit www.proko.com/how-to-draw-lips-anatomy-and-structure
This tutorial is a continuation of How to Draw the Head from Any Angle. I will cover the basic forms of the mouth, some anatomical information, and the key information about the minor planes. At the end, I will show a step by step drawing of the lips.
Basic Forms
One of the most overlooked ideas of the mouth is the cylindrical tooth cylinder underneath. The lips are not flat on the face, but rather get pushed outward by the teeth. The tooth cylinder can be simplified to an inflated tuna can.
You can see here how this inflated cylinder affects the surface forms of the lips:
Major Planes
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Anatomical Information
I won’t go into too much detail about all the muscles of the lips and their functions because that’s not the intention of this tutorial. That information is important when studying facial expressions and Human Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form is a great resource for anatomy. I will briefly touch on it though, since being familiar with at least the basic mechanics is useful.
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A. Levator Labii Superioris Alaeque Nasi B. Levator Labii Superioris C. Zygomaticus Minor D. Zygomaticus Major E. Levator Anguli Oris F. Orbicularis Oris G. Node H. Risorius I. Platysma J. Depressor Anguli Oris K. Depressor Labii Inferioris L. Mentalis |
The red portion of the lips and the part directly above and below is called the orbicularis oris. It originates at the corners of the lips called the nodes. These nodes are visible as ‘bumps’ since so many muscles meet and overlap here. All the other muscles of the lips pull at either the orbicularis oris or the nodes to form various expressions.
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Minor Planes
The Red Portion of the Lips
The top lip has three forms and the bottom lip has two. These forms are like ‘pads’ covered by the skin. The rounded form in the middle of the top lip (called the tubercle) wedges between the two forms of the bottom lip. When looking at the lips from an angle, these forms overlap each other adding depth. When drawing a foreshortened object, I always look for overlapping lines to show a form is in front of another. This overlap gives the illusion of depth on a flat piece of paper.
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The forms of the lower lip are usually fuller then the upper lip. Sometimes, the red portion of the upper lip is completely hidden and nonexistent.
The Upper Lip Region
![]() The philtrum is a concave depression in the upper lip. The inside is composed of two planes which soften towards the top and bottom. Try to look for the value difference between the two planes. |
The Lower Lip Region
The ridge that borders the bottom of the red portion is steep towards the center and softer towards the edges. The center of this lower lip region is called the pillar of the mouth, since is has two pillars that angle inward at the top. The pillar is usually in shadow (since light is commonly placed above the head) because it faces downward. This shadow shape softens left and right.
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The Node
The nodes in the corners of the lips are very important players. You can see in the anatomical information section above, that many of the muscles attach at the node. These muscles pull on the node to form expressions. Look in the mirror and smile slightly. Then frown. Most of the change occurs in the nodes. Pay close attention to this shape when trying to capture a particular expression.
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Drawing the Lips
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5. I finish off the rendering with subtle halftone shifts in the light areas and reflected lights in the shadows. I look for areas around the lips where i can soften or even lose some edges. A hard outline around the lips makes it look as if they were glued on to the face. Softening edges will connect the lips to the face. I also make sure to keep some hard edges, usually in the corners and center of the lips. The highlight on the bottom lip gives it some shine. The harder the edge around the highlight, the wetter the lips will appear. Lipstick exaggerates this effect.
UPDATE – 10-10-2012
Made a video version of this tutorial. Visit Proko.com for more videos.
Related tutorials: How to Draw the Nose, How to Draw Eyes and How to Draw Ears
Fantastic tutorial. A really talented person to learn from, thank you.
Thanks Llewellyn! I’ll keep the tutorials coming.
Such great works.
Do you have tutorials on eyes?
I am having quite a bit of trouble with sad and crying eyes,
you are truly the best artist i have ever seen.
Dymitri – Dang! Thanks. I do have a tutorial on eyes here.
But, I don’t have a tutorial specifically on expressions of the eyes…yet.
yeh right.. great post, Thank You
This site is definately on my keeper list!
I’m young student of artistic school in Poland and your tutorials teaches very well how I must draw in future. Damn, really, really good job. Greetings from western neighbour.
I happened to find your site in an article about singing and vowel formation. I have a kids choir. I also teach some art to them. I love your lesson on drawing lips. Do you have suggestions for lessons for children learning to draw in school. They range in age from 8 to 12 and have about 50 minutes a week to devote to art. They have no prior knowledge of the rudiments and most of them say they can’t draw by the time they reach grade 5.
Teresa,
I feel that at such a young age the best thing you can give them is encouragement. Boost their confidence in their drawing abilities with compliments. This will inspire them to draw more at home and that is all they need right now – just to move their hand and get comfortable with drawing. Keep it exciting.
it sooo nice..i cant belive it.. its look like soo naturall..actualy i also wanna be a artist..
Thanks for these tutorials! Great work. Helped me out a ton on lips (my current area of struggle).
I LOVE IT!! I AM LEARNING HOW TO DRAW BY MYSELF AND YOUR TIPS ARE HELPING ME A LOT I AM TRYING TO DO A POTRAIT AND IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW A LOT OF STUFF BUT YOUR HELPING ME THANX!!LOL
I like to draw faces. I have searched and didn’t have any luck in finding what I was needing. This IS the best website I have found. I intend to use this site a lot.
warmly,
Lori
Thank you.
Merci pour vos tutoriaux très intéressant, une approche différente de ce que l’on voit habituellement sur le net.
http://blog.art-dessins.fr/
amazing work and tutorial
Everybody who is trying to learn how to draw should come here to your blog because it definitely has the best tutorials on drawing. You’re an amazing artist and a great person for sharing your knowledge!
Thank you very much for giving this tutorials to us. “Happiness is real when it shared” . Thank you one more time!
P.S Nose which you drew here for tutorial, is awesome!
well done, great tutorial. thank you for sharing this great information.
Thank you. I like everything about this: I like the way you explain things from what is going on anatomically to exactly how to achieve an effect and why.
I love drawing pencil portraits – or at least attempting to do so – because it is such a challenge to capture the essence of a person. I have no formal training so I was thinking how much I should love to meet a real artist who could give me a master class and I think I have found you!
Super. Once again, thanks.
GREAT tutorials! Do you have one for the whole face?
Gail, I got your email and tried to reply but delivery failed. I think you misspelled your address. so here’s my reply here:
Thanks! I always love hearing how people are using the tutorials. Glad it’s helping your high school students. I have a head tutorial here:
http://www.stanprokopenko.com/blog/2009/05/draw-head-any-angle/
and I have a small step by step of a landscape painting I did. Not a lengthy tutorial though.
http://www.stanprokopenko.com/blog/2009/12/plein-air-tutorial-design/
hope these help.
Awesome!
Nice job, very informative you are very talented.
Saved your page to my favorites. The anatomical info is good for gruesome face-painting!
magnifico!!!!!!
good work!!
wow, you are so talented! stunning tutorial <3
great blog post.
Never came across anything like this but it was absolutely interesting to read.
Now all I’m going to do in class is draw lips.
Hello,
I think this is one of the best tutorials I’ve seen so far. I am an ambitious beginner, and I got few books, but still, no one has made it so clear yet so precise! The explanation goes into such detail, yet never unclear or convoluted, just simply logical.
Not to mention that I think the artistry is superb and I would give anything to have that talent!!!!
Thank you so much!
trully amazing
Very useful tutorial. Thanks for sharing. Excellent work. Great
Очень полезный урок! Спасибо.
That was a wonderful, and informational tutorial! i have finally learned how to draw ‘perfect’ lips. Thank you for this.
Thank you for this tutorial!
I have been struggling with mouths for a while.
I really like how you have incorporated anatomy into this tutorial.
Thankyou so much. These are by far the best tutorials I have come across. You’ve helped me so much!
the last photo looks like a fat guy but still ur very talented
I’m extremely impressed along with your writing talents as smartly as with the layout in your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Either way stay up the nice quality writing, it’s uncommon to peer a nice weblog like this one nowadays..
FC – thank you! Yes, this is a modified theme. I actually started with a custom html/php website and later on added this wordpress blog to it. So, I created a wordpress theme to match the existing website.
I just like the valuable information you supply for your articles. I will bookmark your blog and test once more here frequently. I’m moderately certain I’ll be informed many new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!
I love these tutorials. I am a retired music professor and love to draw. However, as anything one would like to master, the more I learn, I realize how little I know. I love your style.
I need to learn more on how to draw full face of human being and animals.
AMAZEBALLS I LOVE YOUR SHAPES AND LINES, AND THE PRESSURE YOU APPLY SEEMS SO CONSISTENT I LOVE YOUR WORK SIR
Врло корисна помоћ.Хвала.
this website is great!
explains well in both text and images and answered my problem. bookmarked this page for future help and guidance.
Thanky0ou
I’m really grateful you have done such wonderful tutorials that help us improve in our drawings. Tell me, how did you learn to draw so perfectly? Do you have any tip you could give me? Thank you!
This is…brilliant.
It’s my dream to draw, and you are my new role model. I came here looking simply for how to get the shape of lips right, and found…..this.
Thank you.
Hehe, well thank you coconut. Although it’s definitely not perfect, I got better through practice of course. What kind of tips are you looking for. My tutorials are full of tips.
I’m very excited and can’t wait to start learning. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this tutorial. It was extremely helpful as I am just starting a portrait, something I have always been afraid to do.
Very nice tutorial….am looking forward to putting this into practice!
it was nice
what is the difference between male and femail lips ?
Typically you would design the lips to be fuller on a female, but the variation is much greater with race than gender.
would love a class!!
me encanta y es satisfatorio
VERY helpful! Especially since I can’t draw lips so well.
nice post ++++++ thanks thumbs up
thank you.ممنون عالی بود
ممنون عالی بود واقا استفاده کردیم
hay i want learn how to draw look at some picture.what’s theory
Wow! Your works are so inspiring!You’re great!:D I really enjoy it
This was so helpful I’m so glad I tumbled onto this site.
wow–!!
I’m watching your videos on youtube, and I really think you are a genius in drawing.
Thanks for telling me things^^
Lastly, you are just perfect!!
Then. bye bye^^
This appears to be scientific approach for drawing. Following it, may be anybody can draw pictures.
Informative.
Gracias por su buen tutorial, que pena que no este traducido al Español.
hi.. thanks. very nice