Drawing an Ear

Among the details of the face, the ear is a very particular and unique shape for each person. Nevertheless, it seems more complex than it really is. In this article, we will take a detailed look at how to draw an ear.

Synthetic forms for drawing an ear 

In order to be able to draw our ear, we will use an approach based on synthetic shapes. That is, we will first try to draw simple shapes that we can make more complex later on.

So, I will start by drawing a parabola shape that looks like a D with a slightly raised belly. It will serve as the base for constructing my ear.

Next, I install a first curve inside my basic shape. It follows the belly of the D and curls slightly inward. This will be the main construction line for the upper rim of the ear: the helix.

I then refine the bottom of my base shape to represent the lobe and draw the tragus, the small piece of cartilage that covers the opening of the ear canal, in an S shape.

I finally position the antihelix, the curved part inside the ear's concha. This shape is quite complex, but it roughly resembles a Y. The two upper branches anchor under the helix, and the lower branch ends its course towards the tragus.

Our large shapes are done. Nonetheless, the ear is primarily an open volume, meaning it is defined more by shadows and lights than by contour lines. So it's necessary to understand where the hollows and bumps are located. In the following diagram, I have identified the three main hollows and bumps of the ear. Obviously, these surfaces can themselves consist of other hollows and bumps, but they are less pronounced.

We have our main bases; now we can add the details. Here, I'm just making the existing curves more complex and adding shadows to indicate volume while respecting the schema above. The following ear is completely imagined but remains believable because it follows the simple structure we presented earlier.

Other views of the ear

We just saw how to represent the ear from the simplest angle: the profile. However, the approach using synthetic shapes allows us to represent the ear from other angles of the head by applying the same principles. Thus, it is possible to represent the ear as seen from the front by basing it on the profile view. This will be more compressed than the previous one, and some volumes may overlap depending on the type of ear you want to represent.

The last angle that will interest us is the rear view. This time, the representation is simpler but very different from those seen above. Indeed, we no longer see the inside of the ear, and we can see the earlobe behind the helix. It attaches to the head and allows the ear to be more or less oriented forward.

A unique drawing

You now have the basics for drawing ears. If you would like to go further, start by observing ears on different subjects. The ear is unique to each individual, and the more you try to reproduce them, the better you will understand their subtleties.

Finally, don't hesitate to take liberties and imagine your own ears! Once you've mastered the basic structure, it is easy to create credible ears.

Written and Illustrated by Louis Grieves