The Top 10 Mistakes People Often Make in Portraits (And How to Avoid Them)

Portraits can be challenging but can also be a source of great inspiration and joy. There is a magical feeling when you capture a likeness, and it can be even more powerful when you're inspired to draw someone close to you.

Yet, there are quite a few pitfalls that drawing students sometimes encounter! Drawing portraits is not always smooth sailing and can lead to frustration, at times.

In this post, I'll break down the top 10 mistakes people often make in portraiture and how you can avoid them to create more accurate, realistic, and expressive portraits.

1. Incorrect Proportions

• Mistake: One of the most common issues in portrait drawing is incorrect proportions. This usually happens when artists try to draw faces without following basic guidelines for where the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears should be placed.

• How to Avoid It: Always start with simple guidelines and proportions. Use the rule of thirds (see my recent video on this!) and remember that one eye fits between the eyes! The eyes also are usually about halfway between the top of the head and the bottom on the chin.

2. Lack of Contrast in Shading

• Mistake: Portraits often lack depth and realism because of insufficient contrast in shading. Without a good balance of light and dark, your portrait can look flat.

• How to Avoid It: Pay attention to the light source and make sure to create deep shadows in areas like under the chin, around the nose, and in the eye sockets. Use a variety of values (dark, medium, light) to give your portrait dimension.

3. Overly Symmetrical Features

• Mistake: Many artists unknowingly make facial features too symmetrical, which can make the portrait appear unnatural. Real faces are asymmetrical, and this should be reflected in your artwork.

• How to Avoid It: Observe your reference closely and note the subtle differences between the left and right sides of the face. The more imperfections you include, can actually make the portrait more realistic.

4. Ignoring the Structure Beneath the Skin

• Mistake: Focusing only on the surface features like the eyes, nose, and lips without considering the underlying bone structure and muscles can result in a flat, lifeless portrait. Often people get hung up by the facial features and forget to think about the structure underneath.

• How to Avoid It: Study facial anatomy and keep in mind the underlying structure. Understand where muscles and bones create shadows and highlights on the face.

5. Getting Stuck on Details Too Early

• Mistake: Related to above, a common mistake, especially for beginners, is focusing on small details (like the eyelashes or the texture of the lips) before getting the basic shapes and proportions right.

• How to Avoid It: Start with broad, general shapes and proportions, and refine them as you go. Once the overall structure is in place, then add details gradually.

6. Not Paying Attention to Eye Placement

• Mistake: Eyes are one of the most important features in a portrait, and incorrect placement can drastically impact the likeness of your drawing. Eyes that are too close or too far apart can make the face look off.

• How to Avoid It: Remember that the eyes are generally one eye-width apart. Use your basic guidelines to ensure proper placement of the eyes and check for symmetry. Try standing a few feet away to assess if you have the proportions correct.

7. Flat Hair or No Texture

• Mistake: Hair can make or break a portrait, and many artists struggle with drawing it convincingly. Flat, lifeless hair can detract from an otherwise good portrait.

• How to Avoid It: Pay attention to the direction of hair growth and the texture of different types of hair (straight, curly, wavy). Use varied line thickness and direction to create volume and movement in the hair. (See some of my videos on how to draw hair!)

8. Overuse of Erasers

• Mistake: Some artists rely too much on their eraser to correct mistakes, leading to overworked areas or even damage to the paper.

• How to Avoid It: Instead of erasing, try using pen without pencil to sketch in your portrait! This will help you loosen up and feel less precious about the drawing. It is a good challenge I recommend.

9. Bad Reference

• Mistake: If you're using a photo that doesn't have enough detail, that can be a challenge.

• How to Avoid It: Make sure you select a photo that is large so you have enough to work from. If you are working from life (ie. a self portrait) that can also work well.

10. Lack of Emotion or Expression

• Mistake: A portrait that lacks expression can appear stiff and lifeless. A common mistake is not capturing the emotional essence of the subject. Another is using photos that have too toothy a grin, making the portrait look awkward.

• How to Avoid It: Pay attention to the subtle details that convey emotion, such as the position of the eyebrows, the curve of the lips, or the intensity of the eyes. Try to understand the mood of the subject and reflect it in your drawing.