How to Draw Ears:Simplified Ear Structure and Shading Tips

In the process of learning portrait drawing, the ear is often a part that gets ignored — or even skipped altogether.

其實耳朵的構造雖然不像五官那麼有表情，但它的立體結構清晰。
學會觀察與拆解耳朵，不但能讓你的人像畫更完整，還能幫助你掌握頭部傾斜與轉動的準確性。

Basic position and proportion of the ear

The ear isn’t just randomly attached to the side of the head — it has general reference points (though the exact position varies from person to person):

The top of the ear aligns roughly with the eyebrows, and the bottom aligns with the base of the nose — a common reference when viewed from the front.
From a side or upward angle, the ear shifts slightly backward, positioned between the midline of the head and the back of the skull.

對照基準	Description
上界限	約與眉毛或眼角上緣齊平
下界限	約與鼻翼或鼻底齊平
前後位置	耳朵不是貼在臉上，而是嵌入顳骨的凹面中，略向後傾約 15°～20°

📍 關鍵觀察
在正側面結構中，耳朵的前後位置剛好對應「下頷骨後方轉折點」，是頭部空間轉折的重要線索。

Practical tip: When sketching the draft lines, first mark the general contour and tilt direction of the ear. This helps you position the facial features and overall head structure more accurately.

Below, I’ve broken the ear down into three main parts to help us understand its shape characteristics.

Our ears, also called the auricle, are composed of the following parts:

Observation method for the five major structural areas of the ear

● Helix:

The most prominent outer curve of the ear, forming an arc around the ear. The helix outlines the ear, and it’s important to pay attention to its curvature and the shadows formed by its folds.

對耳輪:

The raised part inside the helix, shaped like a “Y,” usually branching into upper and lower parts to support the ear's structure.

內側第二層「山丘起伏狀」摺線，分為上腳與下腳兩支。

是耳朵立體層次感的關鍵，正面與側面都能看見其轉折。

耳屏位置與形狀

Dorsal Fin (Top Fin):：
耳屏位於耳孔（外耳道）前方，緊貼臉頰側。位於耳道前方的小突起，用來保護耳道。
從側面看，它剛好蓋住耳孔入口的一部分。

形狀：
一個小型的 三角形或半月形軟骨突，
前緣略厚、外側圓滑、上緣與對耳屏 形成一個小弧狀凹陷，這個凹陷叫 屏中切跡

功能:

保護作用：遮擋部分噪音、灰塵，保護耳道入口。

聲波導向：反射部分聲波，有助於分辨前後聲音方向。
在3D建模或人像畫中，耳屏位置幾乎就是「耳孔中心」。

耳屏體塊結構

對耳屏

Dorsal Fin (Top Fin):：
在耳屏的 對面、稍下方，
位於耳垂上方、耳甲腔的外側邊緣。

形狀：
一個小型橢圓或三角形的軟骨突起，
向前上方微微傾斜，與耳屏形成「V形凹口」。

功能:

保護耳孔：與耳屏共同形成耳道外圍的防護。
聲音反射：可幫助辨識聲音方向（特別是後方聲源）。

對耳屏體塊結構

耳甲艇:

The hollow area inside the ear, situated between the helix and antihelix, which helps funnel sound into the ear canal. It resembles a satellite dish or bowl.

耳垂:

Dorsal Fin (Top Fin):：耳朵最下端，連接於對耳屏下方。

構造：

唯一沒有軟骨的耳部組織；
由 皮膚、脂肪與少量結締組織 構成；
富含血管，觸感柔軟、可活動性高。

附著點：與頭部連接於下頷角前方，是耳輪與頸側皮膚的交界。

繪圖與觀察重點

視角	特徵與表現方式
正面	耳垂幾乎貼在臉側下方；亮面柔和。
側面	呈半橢圓形下垂，邊緣光滑。與下頷線形成柔弧轉折。
三分之四角度	耳垂呈「淺亮橢圓」，是耳輪的自然收尾。

The soft, rounded lower part of the ear, lacking cartilage. The thickness and shape of the earlobe vary among individuals.

●How to Draw Ears:

The plaster model of an ear on the far right simplifies the curves into planes, which can help us understand the areas' transitions.

It’s recommended to study a plaster ear model before drawing real ears to get a sense of the basic shapes.

1.Simplify the Outline:

Start with simple geometric shapes (like circles and ovals) to sketch the general shape of the ear, marking the positions and characteristics of the helix, antihelix, tragus, and earlobe.

You can also use rectangles to assist in drawing ears from different angles, helping you understand the ear's geometric forms.

2.Refine the Structure:

Once the outline is complete, add structure lines to capture the rises and falls between the helix and antihelix.

3.Enhance the 3D Effect:

Use shading to emphasize the ear’s contours, focusing on the intersections of the helix, antihelix, and tragus. Observe how even small shadowed areas can create depth.

Shape changes of the ear from different angles

Front view: only a small portion of the ear is visible, and the helix becomes the most prominent contour line.

Side view: the entire ear is visible — this is the best angle for studying its structure.

Three-quarter view (45°): the ear appears slightly compressed, but the directions of the helix and earlobe remain identifiable.

Upward and downward angles: The ear shifts noticeably up or down depending on the tilt of the head; observing the crossing directions of the helix and antihelix is the key to judging the angle.

I hope this guide helps you understand ear structure and drawing techniques. If there are any topics you’d like to see or specific drawing methods you'd like to learn, feel free to leave a comment or message me. Happy drawing!

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