Teaching resource Portraiture and expression

This resource will allow you to create a portrait with real expression.
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McMillan-Scott-Esme_33
Key Stage

Designed for students aged 11–14 (UK Key Stage 3 / Years 7–9), but adaptable for other ages.

Learning objectives

  • Understand and explore the basic anatomy of the skull and how it shapes the head.

  • Use a model to observe and draw a range of facial expressions accurately.

Learning outcomes

  • Warm-up head studies (quick sketches to practise proportion and observation).

  • An anatomical skull study (a labelled or carefully observed drawing showing key features).

  • A character drawing based on the model, using expression and features to communicate personality.

You will need

  • Pencils or charcoal

  • Drawing paper

  • Tracing paper

  • Life model (teacher or student volunteer)

  • Anatomy skull (optional)

Living Library-Teach-Anatomy (1)
Anatomy of the skull; eye sockets, cheekbones and jaw.
Living Library-TEACH-Anatomy(2)
Anatomy of the skull; jaw connection and back of the head
Kate Walton
Kate Walton 'Head Study', Pencil on paper, 2023

Exercise 1

Think of three dramatic facial expressions, such as laughter, shock, or despair. Create three quick portraits of your model posing with these expressions. Because these are quick studies, focus on exaggeration, expression, and dynamic line rather than visual accuracy.

Exercise 2

Set up your anatomical skull to draw. If you do not have one, you can copy the skull picture on the page or find one online. Draw the skull, paying close attention to its overall shape. Think about the forms of the eye sockets, cheekbones, and jaw. The eyes sit about halfway down the skull, and a human skull weighs roughly the same as a bowling ball, try to capture that sense of shape and weight.

Exercise 3

Place a sheet of tracing paper on top of your skull drawing. Draw a head from imagination over the skull. Use your hands to feel where your ears and eyes sit in relation to your skull. This will help you understand how facial features relate to the underlying structure.

Remember: the eyes are quite small in relation to the skull, so resist the temptation to draw them too large.

Exercise 4

For the final exercise, ask the model to take an exaggerated pose of laughter. Think about what you have learned about the structure of the skull. This will help give your drawing a clear foundation and make the expressive features of the model’s face feel more believable to the viewer.