Course Highlights


Drawing Babies, Infants and Adolescents

Babies are approximately 3 heads tall. Their heads are wider and shorter than those of adults (approx. 5¨ long), with all facial features appearing in the bottom third of the head as opposed to the bottom half. Although facial features are positioned according to the same guidelines as adults, they are proportioned slightly smaller in relation to the face. In most cases, babies will have additional skin around the chin creating somewhat of a double chin. Similarly, additional skin tends to fold around joints such as the knees and elbows.

Infants to Adolescents

Heads grow approximately 3 inches between the age of one and adulthood. When it comes to one and two year olds, the head length is approximately 6¨ long and their bodies are 4 heads tall, with legs relatively short compared to the head and torso. From this age onward, the torso, arms and legs grow more than the head-body proportion. The heads of toddlers are roughly 6.5 inches long and their bodies 5 heads in length.

Children aged 7-10 are approximately 6 head lengths tall while adolescents, aged 11-14 are approximately 7 head lengths tall, closely resembling that of adults. It is less useful to provide standard models of proportion for children because children are in a constant state of development and their proportions are ever-changing. Guidelines are helpful but it is more important that you rely on observation to guide your drawing more than anything.

Other pages of interest

Drawing the aged and overweight
Drawing babies, infants and adolescents
Drawing portraits
Portrait drawing 2
Facial features

Course Navigation

More resources