Children’s Features—Eyes & Lips

Children’s eyes are generally rounder than an adult’s, and the skin around them is smoother. When drawing children’s eyes, aim to create a soft, innocent expression by keeping your lines and shading delicate.

Practice drawing the eye from various angles. Note the position of the iris; part of the top and bottom should always be covered by the eyelids.

Children often exhibit a wide-eyed, curious expression. The highlights in the pupils add life to the drawing.

A child’s lips have a soft, pudgy appearance, and the mouth is usually not as wide as an adult’s. Again, the highlights are important for conveying the smooth texture. The corners of the mouth may have small dimples because they indent into the cheek slightly.

The top lip usually protrudes slightly over the lower one.

Don’t make the common mistake of trying to draw each tooth separately. Simply suggest the teeth as a group with subtle shapes.