Side profiles

[frigid ocean]

Hi! So I am a “self taught” artist (also not as experienced since I rarely get out of my comfort zone when drawing) but I’ve had the same problem for a while. I CANNOT draw side profiles for my characters since they just end up looking like a dog’s side profile, and the fact that my artstyle is noseless doesn’t help the case, how can I fix this? 😭 (picture of a doodle of mine for a reference of my artstyle)

[mild cargo]

Hiii. I kinda know this subject so I wanna help. This is mostly made easier, well it Will be hard, but at least Will be easier when you simplify the shapes of your OC or character (like the head in this case). If you don't yet know how to make cylinders, spheres, and boxes (most important), I recommend practicing them so you can later manipulate them to your liking, or in this case, to the character's feature head (also combining one shape and the another shape for one aspect of the character).

[frigid ocean]

I understand, Tysm for the advice!!💗

[smoky badger]

your art style is so chibi! I have one idea for you- a workaround I see lot of artists with styles like you using is, even when from the front the nose isn't visible, you can see a slight outline of it from the side. It's basically a super simplified version of a regular, semi-realistic side profile.

[mild cargo]

Sorry for the delay :(. Wanted to add that by knowing shapes You can simplify However you want, and to make it easier to draw the character, I recommend thinking of the shapes in 3D by adding contour lines to them (Drawbox website is good for that).

Another easier way to maintain the characteristics is this method of putting lines on each characteristic of the character (whether it's head, hair, eyes, whatever you feel you need, for your back and side view, or in 3/4 althought thats harder, but this method helps

After that You can now draw the side view. again itll still be hard but It's iteration, You gotta try again and again to see if it turns out well and if it at least it looks like as the simplification of shapes you did before
(I recommend focusing more on replicating your own simplification reference that You did than on your reference with colors and that stuff, those'll distract You, lesjshndk)

I then simplify the shapes of the eyes (I usually do it with one straight and one curve, Asymmetry always works)

Btw, For the side view, since the OC is a person, I used the Loomis method, a method you can find on YouTube on Proko's channel if you want to learn how to draw human heads, although I recommend it Since it helps you later in situations like this. I didnt know what a head would look like in profile, but I remembered the Loomis side view I practiced, so I applied it here

And on top of that sketch with shapes and forms I added now the lineart or well the feautures of the character, the blue lines from before helped me on that

This is a tip I think i grabbed on another channel but You can try copying the same shape as the character's outer silhouette as I did here, since the silhouette always defines who the character is. This also works in 3/4 view, but I think it's more effective in 3/4 views.

Although, as I said, it's difficult, so you don't always have to follow this rule of shapes and forms, as long as your character looks the same when you find everything is right after iterating over and over again

For example, here from Mickey, maybe before You didnt notice but Mickeys ears always are the same two circles on His head not matter what angle he is, kinda not logically but it works, as long as the character looks the same all good so You iterate over and over again, search references from the head or better practice loomis head that is simplified already, simplify head with shapes and forms easier (Drawabox I recomend for practicing looking all in 3d) and well, Don't give up, love your way of drawing really 🙂

And well, here the final result, Didnt have time for sweater sorry :(. If you want, you can use this drawing to get an idea of what it looks like in profile, hehe.

[mild cargo]

Oh love your drawing :)! She looks adorable. Yes, I forgot to mention that, from the front something like the nose might not be noticeable, but from a side view it could. I always wonder: In this view, is something tied up behind its back? Do its eyes stick out? Does its head look longer, like an alien's, in profile than from the front?) And I draw those things. That would lead us to look for real life eferences again to find that out; it always helps.

Oh, and sorry for the long text 🙁

[frigid ocean]

OMG GUYS IM JUST SEEING THISSS

ILL LOOK FOR THE TIPS RQ

I LOVE YALL

[frigid ocean]

TYSM FOR YOU HELP!! ILL DEFINITELY LOOK MORE INTO IT

I HIGHLY APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME YOUR TIME TO HELP ME!!!

[frigid ocean]

omg this is so fire

IT MATCHES MY STYLE SO WELL ACTUALLY

Also while I was gone I tried to give my artsyle noses :3 I think I’ll only use them on more complex drawings tho, I still love my noseless artsyle

[frigid ocean]

I’m definitely using this for reference, tysm!! 🥹🥹

[frigid ocean]

I actually attempted to learn that method, but I thought it was only for more semi realistic artsyles

I’ll give it another shot tho, maybe I wasn’t paying enough attention lol

I apologize for replying so late also, I just assumed I wouldn’t get more messages here 😭super helpful tho!!

[mild cargo]

Hi, sorry for replaying late too lol :,v You're welcome! And yes, If I'm not mistaken, all styles not matter what are always built on something fundamental (I don't know if what I said makes sense lol). Hopefully you'll grow up as a great artist someday ❤️