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.

Although the ear’s structure doesn’t carry expressions like other facial features, its three-dimensional form is clear and highly logical.
Learning to observe and break down the ear not only makes your portrait drawings more complete, but also helps you accurately capture the tilt and rotation of the head.

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.

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.

The small diagram at the top left helps illustrate these curves and transitions.

● Antihelix:

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

● Tragus:

A small protrusion in front of the ear canal, protecting the entrance of the ear canal.

● Concha:

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.

● Earlobe:

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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