How to Draw a Skull in Profile

1. Begin the skull in profile outline by drawing the eye socket or orbit. Start with a “C” shaped line. Inside it, use a series of curved lines to create a jagged, partial-circle shape.

2. Draw a wavy line in front of the eye socket, sketching the curvature of the brow bone and nasal cavity.

3. Draw a short curved line overlapping the front of the skull. This indicates the upper part of the mouth or jaw. Below it, draw several overlapping rounded shapes, indicating the teeth.

4. Continue drawing rounded teeth alongside the first, noticing the flattened bottoms or chewing surfaces. Then, begin sketching the teeth of the lower jaw beneath the first.

5. Finish drawing the lower teeth. Then, draw curved lines at the bases of the upper and lower teeth. Extend the lines from the points where the teeth meet.

6. Sketch the side of the skull using three curved lines. The first should cross horizontally below the eye and above the mouth. The second should extend from the lower line of teeth to the previous line. The third should begin midway through the first line. Allow it to cross the end of the first line before doubling back on itself and extending downward.

7. Extend the third line from the previous step to meet the line below the teeth, completely enclosing the lower jaw. Then, extend a long curved line from the top of the skull, nearly connecting to the back of it. Use a shorter line, overlapping this one, to connect it and enclose the cranium.

8. Contour the side of the cranium with a series of curved lines. Draw a short line from the last tooth on the top row to the nearby jawbone. Then, draw another curved line between the jawbone and cranium.

9. Complete your skull in profile outline by drawing wavy, crack-like lines across the cranium.

Color your cartoon skull in profile outline. We’ve shaded ours off-white, a typical color for dry bones.