Sketching-People

Chapter Five
EXPRESSIONS
When we look at another person, we usually look first at his or her face. Not only
is it how we identify that person, but it is also how we try to determine whether
he or she is angry, sad, elated, disgusted or mischievous. It will show in facial
expressions. Even an expressionless face means something depending on
the context that person is in. Facial expression is such an important part
“Drawing is ... not an exercise
of particular dexterity, but
above all a means of expressing
intimate feelings and moods.”
– Henri Matisse
of getting a viewer to connect with an image
that it can’t be neglected.
It is so important to draw people
going about their daily lives
because they are real people
who are constantly expressing
genuine emotion. Though the
model is good for study, there
is no substitute for the real thing
(even an actor can only replicate
or accentuate an expression).
EXPRESSION ADDS
INTEREST TO A DRAWING
Portraits may depict what someone
looks like, but they don’t draw the
viewer in emotionally. Expression
reveals feelings that the audience can
relate to. By juxtaposing expressions
of anguish, fear and worry in this drawing,
the viewer is drawn into the mental
state of the subject, leaving the viewer
to wonder what happened.