## 1. Basic Head Shape and Construction
* **The Head:** Start with a light oval or circle for the cranium.
* **The Jaw/Chin:** For a teenage boy, the jawline usually becomes **sharper and more angular** or square compared to a child. Sketch guidelines to bring the sides down further and square off the chin slightly.
* **Center Lines:** Lightly sketch a vertical line down the center of the face (for symmetry) and a horizontal line (the eye line) about halfway down the oval.
### 2. Feature Placement and Proportions
Teenage proportions start to move closer to adult proportions, which are generally:
* **Eyebrows:** Draw the eyebrow line just above the eye line. For boys, the brow ridge tends to be **thicker and straighter** than for a girl.
* **Eyes:** The eyes are on the main horizontal line. Make them **slightly narrower or more angular** than a child's eyes.
* **Nose:** The bottom of the nose is typically about halfway between the eyebrows and the chin. Draw a **more defined** bridge and tip.
* **Mouth:** The mouth is located about a third of the way down from the nose to the chin. Keep the lips relatively **thin** and the overall shape fairly straight or slightly curved.
* **Ears:** The ears usually align vertically between the eyebrow line and the nose line.
### 3. Key Differences for a Teenage Boy
To differentiate the sketch from a younger child or a girl, focus on these areas:
* **Jawline and Neck:** Make the neck **wider** and the jawline **more prominent and squared** (not fully square like an adult man, but definitely less round than a child).
* **Brows:** Give him **thicker, darker, and straighter** eyebrows.
* **Hair:** Teenage hairstyles are often more complex or stylized. Sketch a trendy haircut, making sure the hair doesn't look too big for the head—it should look like it's resting naturally.
* **Maturity:** If you want him to look older, make the distance between the eyes and the mouth a little longer, giving the face a less "baby-faced" look.
### 4. Body Sketch (If including the torso)
* **Torso:** The body begins to shift from a cylindrical shape to a more **inverted triangle** shape (broad shoulders, narrower waist).
* **Shoulders:** Draw the shoulders **broader** than the head. This is one of the biggest visual cues for a male figure.
* **Neck:** Ensure the neck is wide enough to support the head and connect smoothly to the shoulders.
### 5. Detailing and Shading
* **Refine Lines:** Go over your initial, light guidelines with firmer lines, erasing the construction lines you no longer need.
* **Shading:** Use light shading under the jaw/chin, under the lower lip, and on the sides of the nose to give definition. Shading the hair helps give it texture and volume.