Drawing and painting ears

By Tissa Hewavitarane

Fig. 2 - The ear from behind

We see human faces where ever we go, yet drawing them to any beginner seems a difficult task. Perhaps some expect instant skills and are therefore, surprised to find it so. Producing an accurate picture of a human face or any other part of the human body can only come with practice and knowledge.

It is always important to keep in your mind the basic shapes and features of the front and side. Study the illustration I have done in outlines which could be simplified into sound structures to build the drawing.

Fig. 1 - A selection of ears

When painting start by jotting down the accurate outline - don't bother with details until later. First apply a pale colour according to the texture of the skin and then go for shading.

Ears are very interesting to draw because each person has a unique pair. Some are easy to draw but others need a bit of thinking and studying. The ear is dis-like, with a turned-over rim designed to catch sound and channel it down to the ear canal. They come in all sorts of sizes with many variations of the basic shape, and they may have unexpected lumps and ridges.

Fig. 1 shows you a few ears drawn and painted some in outline too. One important thing to remember as I have mentioned in my previous lessons, is about drawing the human body. There are no straight lines in the human body. All are gentle curves of one kind or another.

Fig. 2 shows you that the ear from behind is quite another shape, one which is more like a rim on the side of the face.

Draw the ears of four people both from the side and front and colour them. Keep practising for a few hours daily until you register in your mind the correct features of the front and the side.