If you are trying to improve your ability to draw faces, what better face to draw than that of a celebrity?

It is helpful to try drawing celebrities from time to time. Drawing well-known faces will help you to fine-tune your observational skills and catch those subtle characteristics that collectively build the likeness of a face everyone will recognize.

In this tutorial, we will enlist the help of well-known movie actress and <em>Scandal</em> star Kerry Washington. We will learn how to draw a face by using her very recognizable face as a reference.

[caption id="attachment_1704" align="aligncenter" width="533"]<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/kerry-washington-reference-photo.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1704 size-full" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/kerry-washington-reference-photo.jpg" alt="kerry washington reference photo" width="533" height="800" /></a> <b> © <a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/sbukley_info">Sbukley</a> | <a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/">Dreamstime.com</a></b>[/caption]
<h3>Sketch the Basic Guidelines</h3>
The first step is to make a lightly-drawn outline of the head. Keep it almost oval-shaped, more like an upside-down egg. As we look carefully at the reference photo, we notice that Kerry doesn't have a very wide head, so the oval should look more long than wide.

Draw a vertical guideline almost down the center, since there is a barely noticeable tilt to Kerry's right side. Next draw a horizontal line midway between the top and bottom of the oval, as seen below. This will serve as placement for Kerry's eyes.
<p style="text-align: center;">[table id=kwhead1-2 /]</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">You will need to draw three more horizontal guidelines. The one near the top will be the hairline. The second should be roughly halfway between the eye guideline and the chin. This will be for the nose. The last should be about a third of the way down from the nose line for, you guessed it, the mouth.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Carefully place four vertical dashes that will mark the inside and outside corners of the eyes. The width between the two eyes needs to be one eye length. Roughly from the midpoint of each eye, draw a vertical line to note where the corners of Kerry's mouth will be.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[table id=kwhead3-4 /]</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Next, sketch an outline of Kerry's neck and shoulders. You can also sketch the general shape of Kerry's hair at this point. Sometimes I wait to do this after drawing in the facial features, but this time I decided to do it sooner. Use the reference photo to form yours roughly the same.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">[table id=kwhead5-6 /]</p>

<h3>Draw the Eyes</h3>
For Kerry's eyes, begin with the outline of each eye between your previously-made guidelines. Make them slightly almond-shaped while making the inner-corner tear duct areas as natural-looking as possible. Next sketch in circles for the irises, pupils, and highlights. I sketch each iris first for proper placement, and then I go over each one with a circle template to make it perfectly round.

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Then you will want to sketch in the eyelids, including the lower rim of the lower eyelids. There is also a visible line of makeup above each upper eyelid. Finally, sketch in the eyebrows. If you plan to add any shading to your drawing around the eyes, I recommend holding off on the eyelashes.

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<h3>Draw the Nose</h3>
For the nose, first sketch a bridge and the ball of the nose. Then, around that framework, add details to the lower part of the nose to form the cartilage around the nostrils. There is a small highlight on the tip of the nose. Also notice that, even though we didn't draw guidelines for it, the inner corner of each eye is pretty much in alignment with the outer edge of the lower nose.

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<h3>Draw the Mouth</h3>
Look closely at the reference photo to try and capture the likeness of Kerry's mouth. Begin with the upper lip. Keep the corners of the mouth within the guidelines drawn earlier (each corner directly below the center of each eye). Next, draw the lower lip. In our reference photograph above and most others that you see of Kerry Washington, there is a slight opening of the center of her mouth even when her lips are closed. Be sure to capture this identifiable characteristic, as well as some sketched lines around the corners of her mouth that give a soft expression.

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<h3>Define the Face</h3>
Finish forming the face by drawing Kerry's well-defined (but nicely formed) cheekbones and jawline. This will help with developing a recognizable likeness. Notice that I didn't trace perfectly along that oval guideline drawn at the beginning? Rather than stay faithful to your guidelines, treat them as the "guide"lines they are by being flexible. Stay faithful instead to your reference photograph.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/how-to-draw-a-face-kerry-washington-cheekbones-and-jawline.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1714 size-full" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/how-to-draw-a-face-kerry-washington-cheekbones-and-jawline.jpg" alt="how to draw a face kerry washington cheekbones and jawline" width="641" height="800" /></a>
<h3>Below the Head</h3>
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