What will you learn?
Fundamentals of Drawing Faces and Characters
Start with construction lines and compare male and female faces at different ages. Practise head proportions, turning the head and changing the direction of the gaze before adding individual features.
Draw eyes, noses and mouths, then explore the expressions of children, men and women. The later exercises cover the body, hands, clothing, movement and cartoon characters.
The course contains 29 recorded lessons with Mahmoud Al Khaled. Watch the introduction to see the drawing approach, follow the lesson sequence and repeat each exercise on paper. The recordings currently available are in Arabic.
Learning outcomes
- Construct heads and compare facial proportions at different ages
- Draw faces from the side and explore different directions of gaze
- Draw the eyes, nose and mouth with expressive variations
- Practise the human body, hands, fingers and clothing
- Use a line of action to build expressive cartoon characters
Your learning path
Course curriculum
Browse the complete lesson sequence. These are translated lesson titles and descriptions; current video recordings remain in Arabic.
01 · Face construction and changes with age4 lessons
- Introduction to face construction25:12
Practical demonstration: Introduction to face construction. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing male faces at different ages19:25
Practical demonstration: Drawing male faces at different ages. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing female faces at different ages22:32
Practical demonstration: Drawing female faces at different ages. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Face-drawing exercises17:47
Practical demonstration: Face-drawing exercises. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
02 · Direction of gaze and head angles5 lessons
- Directions of gaze in a female face21:23
Practical demonstration: Directions of gaze in a female face. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Directions of gaze in a male face19:40
Practical demonstration: Directions of gaze in a male face. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Directions of gaze in a child's face14:59
Practical demonstration: Directions of gaze in a child's face. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Exercises in the direction of gaze15:26
Practical demonstration: Exercises in the direction of gaze. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing a face in profile13:48
Practical demonstration: Drawing a face in profile. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
03 · Features and facial expressions5 lessons
- Drawing the eye21:50
Practical demonstration: Drawing the eye. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing the nose and mouth19:39
Practical demonstration: Drawing the nose and mouth. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- A child's facial expressions14:34
Practical demonstration: A child's facial expressions. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Male facial expressions27:41
Practical demonstration: Male facial expressions. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Female facial expressions22:38
Practical demonstration: Female facial expressions. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
04 · Body, hands, clothing and movement7 lessons
- Drawing the female body18:41
Practical demonstration: Drawing the female body. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing the male body and movement22:00
Practical demonstration: Drawing the male body and movement. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing the hand and fingers19:44
Practical demonstration: Drawing the hand and fingers. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing clothing and practice exercises16:56
Practical demonstration: Drawing clothing and practice exercises. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Further clothing exercises15:26
Practical demonstration: Further clothing exercises. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Movement exercises and drawing heroes21:50
Practical demonstration: Movement exercises and drawing heroes. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Movement-drawing practice17:10
Practical demonstration: Movement-drawing practice. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
05 · Cartoon characters and practical exercises8 lessons
- Drawing cartoon faces22:41
Practical demonstration: Drawing cartoon faces. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Cartoon facial expressions18:00
Practical demonstration: Cartoon facial expressions. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Cartoon-expression exercises18:05
Practical demonstration: Cartoon-expression exercises. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Facial-expression drawing practice12:42
Practical demonstration: Facial-expression drawing practice. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- The line of action in cartoon characters22:17
Practical demonstration: The line of action in cartoon characters. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Movement practice with child characters14:40
Practical demonstration: Movement practice with child characters. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing hands and fingers with further exercises20:24
Practical demonstration: Drawing hands and fingers with further exercises. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Eye-drawing practice14:50
Practical demonstration: Eye-drawing practice. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
Tools and materials
- Drawing paper or a sketchbook
- Graphite pencil
- Eraser
Materials, software and devices are purchased separately. Check compatibility and follow the safety instructions for the products you use.
Make time for practice
Watch a manageable part of the demonstration, pause and try the steps yourself. Keep your exercises so that you can compare them. Return to difficult sections and develop your work at your own pace.
Who is this course for?
Beginners who want to learn freehand drawing of faces, the human body and characters through practical exercises.
Record your progress
Your account saves lesson completion and playback position. Once eligible, request a completion certificate with the name you want printed on it. Newer members need to complete 60% of the lessons; eligible previous members can request directly. The certificate is emailed once per course and is not an academic or government qualification.
Read certificate and learning terms ↗Questions about this course
What language are the recordings in?
Current recordings are in Arabic. The website and lesson outline are available in English; changing the website language does not change the video audio.
Will I need to buy the same course in the other language?
No. Both website languages use the same course and enrolment. Your valid access opens the same course without another purchase. English recordings are playable only after they are supplied and verified.
How do I access my lessons?
Sign in with the account used for purchase. After payment confirmation, open My Courses and choose this course. Lessons are streamed in your account and can be paused and replayed.
How do I receive a certificate?
Request it from your learning space once eligible. Members registered after 10 October 2026 need 60% lesson completion. Eligible previous members can request directly. The certificate is emailed as an image and is not an academic qualification.
Are materials or software included?
The course price covers the recorded educational content. Required art materials, software and devices are separate. Review the tools list before enrolling.
