Nose Sculptors Teacher Guide High School Fine Arts • Drawing Foundations
GRAPHITE SCULPTORS
THE NOSE KNOWS: REALISTIC SHADING & ANATOMY
Teacher Resource LESSON PLAN
Lesson Blueprint
Duration: 90 MinutesGrade Level: 9-12 (Foundations)Focus: Value & FormMedia: Graphite Pencil
Media Kit
Drawing pencils (2B, 4B, 6B)
Kneaded and vinyl erasers
Blending stump (tortillon)
Core Objectives
Students translate the organic, 3D structure of the human nose into a realistic drawing using graphite. Students will:
• Identify the four key anatomical zones: bridge, ball, nostrils, and septum.
• Differentiate between hard edges (nostril rims) and soft value transitions.
• Apply a full value scale relative to a single, consistent light source.
Anatomical Zones: Teaching Breakdown
1. The Bridge
Hard bone structure. Front plane catches light; side planes step into shadow.
2. The Ball
Spherical pronasale. Catches main highlight and casts downward shadow.
3. The Alas
Nostril wings. Curved wings cupping backward, holding midtones & shadow rims.
4. The Septum
Central partition. Connects to upper lip and anchors primary cast shadow.
Teacher Demonstration: Guided Script (25 mins)
Step 1
Define Light Direction (2 mins): Draw a clear lightbulb on the board. Remind students: "Value is relative. If light strikes the top-left, the bottom-right planes must drop into shade."
Step 2
Map with Spheres (5 mins): With 2B, lightly sketch vertical and horizontal axes. Draw three interlocking spheres (one large in center, two smaller on sides) to establish proportions.
Step 3
Block Core & Cast Shadows (5 mins): Switch to 4B. Map out the boundaries of the core shadow under the tip, septum, and the cast shadow onto the upper lip.
Step 4
Render Gradients (8 mins): Shade from dark to light. Render nostril cavities and under-ball crease with 6B. Use blending stumps for smooth transitions, preserving white paper for highlights.
Step 5
Lift Highlights (5 mins): Pinch a kneaded eraser into a clean edge. Dab out secondary reflections on the bridge and nostril rims to create structural highlights.
Unit: Portrait Foundations Page 1 of 2
High School Fine Arts • Drawing Foundations
PEDAGOGICAL STRATEGIES & RUBRIC
MANAGING PITFALLS, DIFFERENTIATION & CRITERIA
Teacher Resource ASSESSMENT
Anticipating Student Pitfalls & Corrections
The Symbol Drawing Trap
Pitfall: Students default to symbolic lines, drawing outlines around the nostrils and ball.Correction: Ban outlines. Have them construct planes and render boundaries through differences in tone.
Over-blending & Muddy Value
Pitfall: Smudging with fingers muddying midtones and highlights, resulting in flat graphite metal looks.Correction: Ban finger-shading. Keep stumps clean, blending only on boundary soft gradients.
Scaffolded Practice / Differentiation
For Struggling Artists:
Use the pre-outlined "Sphere Template" on the practice worksheet. Focus only on shading the lower shadow planes with a single 4B pencil.
For Advanced Creators:
Render the nose at a three-quarter perspective or under high-contrast dramatics (chiaroscuro). Model textures like pores using specialized eraser dabs.
Professional Assessment Rubric
Criteria Advanced (4 pts) Proficient (3 pts) Emerging (1-2 pts) Anatomy & Proportion Accurate zone mapping Proportions flawless. Spherical ball, outer wings, and septum align perfectly. Recognizable landmarks with good symmetry; minor proportions skew but realistic. Distorted. Relies on flat symbol drawings without underlying structure. Shading & Value Range 5-tone gradient scale Wide range (1 to 5). Deep core shadows contrast beautifully with bright highlights. Good value scale, but oversaturates midtones. Light source direction is clear. Washed out, flat gray, or solid black. Lacks highlight preservation. Form & Blending 3D mass rendering Superb smooth transitions between bone and soft tissues. Deep three-dimensional feel. Sufficient 3D look. Smooth bridge gradients, with slight smudging. Flat or metallic. Relies on harsh smudges, or heavy outlines that erase volume.
Unit: Portrait Foundations Page 2 of 2
Nose Shading Slides ART FOUNDATIONS • PORTRAITURE
STUDIO I
GRAPHITE SCULPTORS
The Nose: Rendering Three-Dimensional Form with Value
Lesson 1: Nose Anatomy & Shading Slide 1 / 5
Anatomical Zones
01. Anatomy
The human nose is not a flat symbol. To draw it realistically, we must divide it into four primary geometric volumes that interact with light:
Key Concept: If you master these four zones, your drawing shifts from a flat sketch to a physical sculpture.
1
The Bridge (Nasal Bone)
A firm wedge structure. Flat on top with angled side planes.
2
The Ball (Pronasale)
A spherical bulb of cartilage. Curving away in all directions.
3
The Wings (Alas)
Symmetrical pockets flanking the central ball, cupping backward.
Lesson 1: Nose Anatomy & Shading Slide 2 / 5
Light Behavior on Curving Form
02. Light & shadow
To make a nose pop out from the paper, you must establish a consistent light source and map the five core light/shadow zones.
Shadows are not random—they are the direct results of structural planes turning completely away from the path of light.
Light Zones
Highlight: Bare paper where light hits directly.Midtones: Gentle gray wrapping around side planes.
Shadow Zones
Core Shadow: The darkest zone on the object itself.Cast Shadow: The shadow thrown onto the lip/face.
Pro Tip: Reflected Light bounces from the cheek back up into the under-nostril shadow. Always leave a subtle, soft grey sliver inside shadow zones.
Lesson 1: Nose Anatomy & Shading Slide 3 / 5
Edges: Hard vs. Soft Transitions
03. Shading Rules
Hard Edges (Nostrils & Base)
Where one form physically stops and another begins, or where shadows are sharp and crisp.
The rim of the nostril opening (extreme dark recess).
The very start of the cast shadow directly under the septum.
Draw these using your sharper 4B and 6B pencil tips.
Soft Edges (Cartilage & Bridge)
Where forms curve gently without structural breaks. These require smooth, gradual shade changes.
Nose Shading Worksheet High School Fine Arts • Drawing Foundations
GRAPHITE SCULPTORS
NOSE VALUE CALIBRATION & SKETCHING
Student Activity STUDIO SHEET 1
Student Name:
Date:
Period:
Studio Instructions
Realism is built on control of graphite and contrast of form. Complete the two calibration activities below to prepare your hands and eyes for drawing full noses. Do not use outlines; establish forms purely by placing tones.
Part 1: 5-Tone Value Gradient Calibration
Using your 2B, 4B, and 6B drawing pencils, fill each block below with a smooth, solid value. Value 1 should remain pure paper white. Value 5 should be the deepest black you can produce with a 6B pencil without damaging the paper texture.
1: Highlight Pure Paper
2: Light Gray 2H or 2B Tip
3: Midtone 2B Flat Side
4: Dark Gray 4B Graphite
5: Core Shadow 6B Intense
Part 2: Sphere Shading (Spheroid Form Practice)
The tip of the nose is essentially a sphere. Render the circular practice canvas below as a 3D sphere. Establish the light source from the top-left (indicated by the sun icon). Show the: highlight, midtones, core shadow, reflected light, and a cast shadow.
Shading Checklists
Keep highlight near top-left.
Crescent core shadow on bottom-right.
Soft cast shadow extending onto flat surface.
Leave a narrow gray sliver of reflected light.
Light Source
Course: High School Drawing I Page 1 of 2
High School Fine Arts • Drawing Foundations
GRAPHITE SCULPTORS
PORTRAIT DRAWING & RENDERING
Student Activity STUDIO SHEET 2
Part 3: Guided Shading Practice (Scaffolded Proportions)
The drawing canvas below contains light guidelines of the 3-sphere nose block-out. Using the top-left light source , shade the nose. Render the ball, lateral wings (alas), and septum. Erase the dashed outer guide lines when complete.
Top-Left Light
Part 4: Independent Nose Drawing (Full Construction)
Now draw a complete nose completely from scratch. First: Draw your own 3-sphere proportion guidelines lightly with a 2B. Second: Render realistic values using a top-right light source . Leave NO outlining lines.
Top-Right Light
Course: High School Drawing I Page 2 of 2
