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 structure of the ear doesn’t carry expressions like other facial features, its three-dimensional form is clear.
Learning to observe and break down the ear not only makes your portrait drawing more complete but also helps you accurately grasp 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.

Reference Points	DescriptionDescription
Upper boundary	roughly aligns with the eyebrows or the upper corner of the eyes.
Lower boundary	roughly aligns with the base or the wings of the nose.
Front–back position	the ear is not flatly attached to the face but embedded in the concave surface of the temporal bone, tilting backward about 15°–20°.

📍 Key observation
In the front–side structural view, the ear’s front–back position corresponds exactly to the “rear turning point of the mandible,” which is an important clue for understanding the spatial turn of the head.

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.

Antihelix:

耳輪內部對應的隆起部分，形狀類似Y，通常分成上下兩個分支，支撐耳朵的結構。

The inner second ridge, shaped like rolling hills, divides into two branches: the superior and inferior crus.

It is the key to the ear’s sense of depth; its curvature is visible from both front and side views.

Tragus – position and shape

From the side view, it partially covers the entrance of the ear canal.

Shape：
一個小型的 A small cartilage protrusion shaped like a triangle or crescent,，
前緣略厚、外側圓滑、上緣與Antitragus 形成一個小弧狀凹陷，這個凹陷叫 屏中切跡

Function:

Protective function — blocks some noise and dust, protecting the ear canal entrance.

Sound guidance — reflects sound waves, helping distinguish front and back sound directions.
In 3D modeling or portrait drawing, the tragus roughly indicates the “center of the ear canal.”

Tragus – form and volume structure

Antitragus

位置：
在耳屏的 對面、稍下方，
位於耳垂上方、耳甲腔的外側邊緣。

Shape：
一個A small oval or triangular cartilage projection,，
Slightly tilted forward and upward, forming a “V-shaped notch” with the tragus.

Function:

Protects the ear canal — together with the tragus, forms an outer guard around the canal.
Reflects sound — helps in identifying sound direction, especially from behind.

Antitragus – form and volume structure

Cymba conchae:

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:

Dorsal Fin (Top Fin):The lowest part of the ear, connected beneath the antitragus.

Structure:：

The only part of the ear without cartilage;
Composed of skin, fat, and a small amount of connective tissue;
Rich in blood vessels, soft to the touch, and highly flexible.

Attachment point — connects to the head in front of the jaw angle, marking the boundary between the helix and the side neck skin.

Drawing and observation key points

Viewpoint	Features and depiction
Front view	the earlobe almost touches the side of the lower face; highlights appear soft.
Side view	hangs in a semi-oval shape with smooth edges, forming a gentle curve with the jawline.
Three-quarter view	the earlobe appears as a light oval, serving as the natural ending of the helix.

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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