A Beginner's Guide to Drawing Simple Faces
A circle, two dots, and a curved line — that's often all it takes for a beginner to draw their first face. Simple faces are a favorite early subject because they combine shapes kids already know into something full of personality and expression.
Why Simple Faces Are a Great Subject
Faces let kids practice combining shapes while also exploring something deeply personal — expression and emotion. A face doesn't need realistic proportions to feel finished and meaningful; even a rough circle with a few simple features can look happy, silly, or surprised, which makes this subject endlessly fun to experiment with.
Building a Face From Basic Shapes
Most simple faces start with a circle or oval for the head, then add a few basic features: dot or small circle eyes, a short line or curve for a nose, and a curved line for a mouth. From there, kids can add ears, hair, or a hat using shapes they've already practiced. There's no need for exact placement or proportion — the goal at this stage is simply putting features together in a way that reads as a face.
A Simple Activity to Try
Draw several identical circles on a page and ask your child to give each one a different expression — happy, silly, surprised, sleepy — using only the placement and shape of the eyes and mouth. This "same circle, different feeling" activity is a great way to explore how just a few small changes can completely shift a face's mood. A mirror can also be a fun tool — have your child look at their own face and try to draw a simple version of it.
Tips for Parents and Teachers
- Skip worrying about exact proportions — expression matters more than accuracy at this stage.
- Offer a light guide, like a faint cross inside the circle, if your child wants help placing features.
- Encourage variety — happy, angry, surprised faces are all worth exploring.
- Celebrate the personality in a drawing rather than judging its realism.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age can kids start drawing faces?
Many children start experimenting with simple circle faces as early as age three, often well before they can draw much else.
Should I show my child exactly where to put the eyes and nose?
A little light guidance can help, but it's worth letting them experiment and place features where they want to first.
Why do early face drawings often look like a "potato head"?
This is a very normal early stage. As hand control and observation improve, proportions naturally become more refined over time.
Conclusion
Simple faces let kids combine shapes with expression, and there's no wrong way to give a circle some personality. Keep it playful and let expressions be as silly as they want. From faces, simple animals are a natural next subject to explore — see our guide to drawing simple animals, or find more ideas on our coloring pages.