There are millions of eyes, mouths, noses, ears, chins in the whole world and each with its own characteristics. However, to make cartoon-style faces, you just need to understand the basics. In this tutorial, we will learn how to create emotions on the faces of cartoon characters in just a few steps.

human face behavior

Just like the tone of the voice, the facial expression lends itself to easy and quick change. Different expressions are not only the result of muscle contraction, but also the simultaneous action of one and the relaxation of opposite muscles. For example, when laughing and smiling, the same muscles are involved, only with different intensities.

If you are asked to describe what feelings are depicted below, what would you say?

Surely you will say that the boy is thinking about something. Not really. This image expresses a complete lack of expression, since none of the facial muscles are tense.

In fact, this facial expression people use 80% a day. When a person is alone, this is exactly the expression on his face, but when a person is in a company, listening or talking, usually his face expresses various emotions.

Primary emotions

Primary emotions are those emotions that arise on primary stimuli and people do not have sufficient control over them and their origin.

These basic emotions are expressed on our face regardless of culture, race or age. Below are the main ones:

• Happiness (1): The corners of the lips are raised up - the eyebrows are raised up - the eyes are wide open;
• Anger (2): The corners of the lips are lowered down - the tips of the eyebrows near the nose are lowered down - the eyes are wide open;
• Fright (3): The corners of the lips (sometimes the entire line of the lips) are randomly lowered down - raised eyebrows of irregular shape - eyes are wide open;
• Sadness (4): The corners of the lips are lowered down - the tips of the eyebrows near the nose are raised up - the eyes with lowered eyelids.

These are the basic facial expressions and we use them most frequently throughout our lives. For a cartoon, it is generally necessary to develop other expressions based on the main ones.

There are two more expressions that complement the group of basic ones:

• Surprise (5): Small and half-open mouth - eyebrows raised above an irregular shape - eyes wide open;
• Nonsense! (6): The corners of the lips are randomly lowered down - the tips of the eyebrows near the nose are lowered down - the eyes are closed.

"Why was it necessary to separate these two emotions from the first group?"

Simple: these expressions are variations of the expressions of the first group.

Now, you might be wondering why there are so few basic forms of emotional expression? It's very simple: there are primary colors that can be mixed to create others, just as there are primary emotions that can be mixed to create other secondary expressions! Just take a look:

Note that to create a sleepy expression, we took the eyebrows from the expression of happiness and mixed them with almost closed eyes of sadness. Cool, isn't it?

family emotions

The fun doesn't end! A family of emotions consists of those emotions, for the construction of which it is necessary to change only one component in the previous one.

Note that only the mouth has been changed in the drawing. We can express two different feelings, starting from the basic (“nonsense!” - “something smells bad”).

Here is another example ("surprise" - "fear"):

Here, too, only the mouth has been changed.

This time we use the mouth and eyes to get another version of the same primary emotion ("surprise" - "confused").

We can extract the third emotion from the secondary:

Fantastic, isn't it? It's entirely possible that you'll end up with dozens or even hundreds of possible emotional faces for your design by applying these techniques!

The physical side of emotions

Primary emotions and physical state of the concept are very close. One form of emotion can mean another.

Note that physical emotion stems from the primary. Fatigue comes from sadness.

We can amplify the emotion simply by adding an additional element - drops of sweat ("hot"):

Let's see another example of a physical reaction. This time our character is being electrocuted! In short: completely lost control over the reaction!

We exaggerated the mouth expression to get the desired result.

Note that primary emotions are dominant. Shock, even when uncontrollable, is a variant of fear.

Intensity and additional elements

Depending on the intensity of the emotion expression, we can create very interesting results:

In addition to intensity, we can insert additional elements into the image to increase emotion. In the first image, let's add a few drops of sweat to emphasize the fear. In the second case, we add a language.

Back to fear. Let's adjust the image to explore a more intense sense of panic!

We increase the eyes of the character and close his face.

Angle changes

To achieve a stronger impact, you can change the viewing angle of the scene.

Note that when placing the corner of the stage from top to bottom, it creates an impression of inferiority for our character. In contrast, by positioning the camera from bottom to top, we make our character more menacing! The prominent chin and taunt help create the perfect atmosphere for threatening!

In cartoon style, menacing characters tend to have large chins, weak characters have large eyes but smaller jaws, and the mouth is always very close to the chin.

Try to apply these methods in your projects and you will see!

Playing with social stereotypes and context

To make our characters more stereotypical, we can add some elements that reinforce the context of the scene.

Notice the drunk has messy hair, an unshaven look, heavy eyelids, and one tooth sticking out of his mouth. The patient has a large nose and considerable age, eyes are closed and saliva is visible when coughing.

Here is another example. The picture below can be applied in several contexts. The man on top is in pain, the man below is furious.

Let's change the picture. Let's add tears to two characters and cloth in the hand of one of them and they will cry.

Facial Signals

People use facial expressions to convey certain signals to other people.

Below is an illustrative example of signal exchange. The heartthrob directs his gaze to the girl. Did she fall in love with him?

Let's look at another example. A common cartoon scene: a sweet girl who always gets what she wants.

Let's change the context. We have only changed the direction of the eyes. This detail made the girl more shy.

Conclusion

If you have difficulty expressing the feelings and emotions of your characters, then the best way to achieve results is to train in the perception of the emotions of other people.

We hope you are motivated to explore the expression of different emotions. And remember that for caricatures you need to exaggerate the expressions and understand the basics of their instantaneous formation.

Translation - Duty.

An anime character with absolutely no emotion on his face looks pretty boring. But it is worth changing the line of the mouth a little, and along with the character, you yourself can start smiling. And learning how to draw anime emotions is not difficult at all, all you need is a pencil, a piece of paper and a little practice.

Before you start drawing emotions, you need to draw the face of your character. There are many ways to draw an anime character's face, but let's focus on the simplest of them:

1. Draw a circle with a pencil. It doesn't have to be perfect.
2. Draw a vertical line down the middle of the circle.
3. We divide it into three equal parts with horizontal lines. The top part is for the hair, the center part is for the forehead, and the bottom part is for the eyes.
4. From the third horizontal line down, draw a rectangle whose height is 2/3 of the circle.
5. Draw a horizontal line down the center of the rectangle, and then with another horizontal line divide the bottom of the rectangle in half.
6. Connect the top corners of the rectangle to the bottom center point to form a triangle.
7. Now we draw the eyes, nose and mouth of the character along the auxiliary lines, as shown in the picture.
8. We draw the cheeks and jaw of the character.
9. Next, draw the ears (their height is equal to the height of the eyes), hair and finish the pupils and highlights for the eyes.

Positive emotions

Let's conditionally divide the emotions of anime characters into positive, negative and neutral. Positive will include smile, joy, laughter and love.

How to draw anime emotions? When drawing, pay attention to the position of the eyebrows, the shape of the mouth and eyes. In a calm state, the character's mouth is depicted as a straight line or as a dashed line. Now consider how to step by step with a pencil for beginners:

1. We draw the face of the character, and in place of the mouth we make a slightly curved line. This is how you fake a smile.
2. If you want your character to smile more or be happy, draw the mouth slightly open, like an inverted D, and the lower eyelids of the eyes slightly raised to cover the iris.
3. To depict laughter, we draw the mouth even more open, and the eyes closed and resembling two arcs.
4. Tears of joy are depicted with lowered eyebrows, a D-shaped mouth, teardrops at the corners of the eyes, and additional highlights in the eyes.
5. When falling in love, the character has hearts instead of eyes, and the mouth resembles the number 3.

Neutral emotions

Neutral feelings include surprise, puzzlement, fatigue, indifference, and actions such as tongue sticking, sleeping, and winking.

How to draw anime emotions related to neutral? When drawing such emotions, the eyes almost always change, the position of the eyebrows and mouth changes.

To depict the puzzled anime emotion step by step, draw one eyebrow lowered and the other one raised up. The character's eyes should look to the side or up. We make the mouth small and look like the letter L.

Surprise on the face of the character is depicted with high eyebrows, wide-open mouth and eyes. The pupils are drawn small.

If you want to draw a very strong surprise, then remove the eyebrows from the character, and instead of the eyes, draw two large circles with dots inside. The mouth is opened so wide that it merges with the chin.

For a tired character, we draw eyebrows and upper eyelids with straight lines, and depict the eyes with two dots. Under the eyes we make strokes and draw a mouth with an arc.

To portray the character showing the tongue, draw the eyebrows in a wave, the eyes in the form of two inverted Vs, the mouth in a slash, and the tongue in the form of an arch.

The sleeping hero's eyebrows are slightly tilted, his eyes are closed, and his mouth is open and looks like a small oval.

If you are depicting boredom, the eyebrows should be straight and slanted, the upper eyelids should be drawn with straight lines, and the eyes should be small semicircles. The mouth is open and inclined, shaped like an uneven oval.

To portray a wink, draw the eyebrows raised, one eye closed, and the mouth with a small smile.

negative emotions

Negative emotions: anger, sadness, tears, fear and shock.

How to draw sadness anime emotion? First draw the raised eyebrows, then add some highlights to the eyes and make the mouth arch. Tears to the character are drawn in the form of two streams from the eyes. The eyes can be open and look down or completely closed.

To depict sobbing, draw closed eyes, from which tears flow in different directions in streams. At the same time, the mouth is open so that teeth are visible, which are depicted by an additional strip slightly uneven at the edges.

A frightened character has slanted eyebrows, wide eyes, and a smaller iris. Three vertical stripes are drawn near the lower eyelid. The mouth is depicted open, shaped like the number 8.

Shock is depicted with raised eyebrows, eyes in the form of small circles with strokes below, and a wide-open mouth that merges with the chin.

How to draw an anime emotion of anger step by step? If you want to draw a disgruntled character, then this is done with the help of furrowed eyebrows and lowered corners of the mouth. To make the character's face seem even more annoyed, you need to draw wrinkles between the eyebrows, and draw a mouth with clenched teeth. To do this, draw a slightly uneven oval and a broken line in the middle.

In a rage, the character's mouth opens even more and teeth become visible. Eyebrows bend even more, and the irises of the eyes are reduced.

Symbols that convey emotions

A feature of anime and manga was the use of symbols to display certain emotions. There are quite a few such characters, but let's focus on some of them. For example, a droplet on the character's temple can mean stupor or overwork, and a lot of drops symbolize nervousness and embarrassment.

Another well-known symbol is the vein or cross. It can be drawn on the character's head, cheek, or clenched fist. Such a sign indicates that the character is very annoyed.

A sigh is represented by a small cloud next to the character's mouth. If the hero has spirals instead of eyes, it means that he is dizzy.

A spark that flashed in the character's eye symbolizes his irritation or rage, and rhombuses - a predatory brilliance.

Eyes without pupils are drawn to very angry characters or those who have lost control of themselves. The absence of a nose indicates resentment or discontent of the hero.

Flames in the eyes are a symbol of anger or determination, and small crosses mean that the character has passed out.

What will you create

For all the artists and illustrators who have ever worked with facial expressions, these very expressions will be something like a computer monitor: if it does not work correctly, then all the efforts thrown into the development of the hard drive have been wasted.

In the ranking of what we pay attention to first when we look at a person, the face will be somewhere at the very top. If we notice a face in a composition, we immediately pay attention to its expression. The body shows us movements, but the face is a window into the inner world of a person, and the ability to correctly show this very inner world is what distinguishes a good, observant illustrator (or, for example, a writer) from a bad one. That is why we must work hard on this topic. A lively facial expression can distract attention from some errors in proportions (partly due to the fact that we will unconsciously linger attention on the face), however, on the contrary, this does not work - a character with a face that looks like a mask is terrible.

In drawing facial expressions, the artist faces the dichotomy of reality and image. Actors, for example, have to gesticulate unnecessarily and speak more expressively - also, a “normal” facial expression will not always be easy to recognize, and therefore we should not think about how a sad expression looks like, but about what the face tells us about sadness. In other words, the illustration must somehow make up for certain signs from real life that cannot be conveyed on paper.

In this tutorial, I'll talk about the parts of the face that change to convey emotion, and then I'll go directly to how to portray a wide range of emotions. I tried to include as many emotions as possible, which are not so simple, but are depicted quite often, but this does not mean at all that I will show you everything that a face can express.

Here we should remember about the color wheel: you can mix any two colors, but if you mix too many colors, you get an incomprehensible gray tint. In the same way, we can experience several emotions at the same time, but the more there are and the more contradictory these emotions, the more the face becomes like a mask, since the emotions seem to overlap each other.

There is no clear recipe for how to learn how to draw facial expressions well, there is only one rule - the rule of thumb: how well you draw an emotion is directly related to how well you can portray it yourself, in other words - try to feel the emotion in the process of drawing like a real actor.

Further in the lesson you will meet the so-called Tree of Emotions, which is my own classification of them, which I consider the most convenient, but this, of course, is not a scientific classification and their location may be different.

It is best to consider these emotions in relation to each other, rather than as something absolute, since different people not only express emotions in different ways, but also can interpret them differently, depending on their own experience and background. The emotion I labeled "angry" might look like "enraged" to you, or maybe your character is so averse to expressing emotions that if he gets angry, it will look more like "frustrated" according to my diagram. ". But what is really important is that “angry” is an emotion more vivid than “disappointed”, but less vivid than “enraged”.

Well, here's an interesting fact for you: studies show that facial expressions of happiness, sadness, rage, fear, surprise, disgust, and interest are identical in all cultures.

How do facial features tell us how we feel?

Eyes

Much can be depicted only with the help of the eyes. The interaction of the eyelids, the position of the iris, and the size of the pupil can create subtle yet noticeable changes in facial expression, as the eyes are the focus of attention on the face. They are the most important thing in facial expression, so before working on other features, make sure that the eyes are depicted correctly. The description in bold in the screenshot below will match the emotions on the Emotion Tree.

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: sleepy eyes: the eye is partially closed by the eyelid, half closed iris and pupil, only a semicircle is visible; Relaxed eyes: open as usual, eyelid visible, Touching pupil: it barely touches the edge of the eyelid; live eyes: open as usual, but the eyelids are not visible; Wide open eyes: the opening is large and round, Free pupil: does not touch the edges of the eyelids

Under Alive I mean the eyes in their natural state when we are active. They should not be more open than relaxed eyes, but if the drawing style is not very detailed, then the eyelids do not need to be drawn, as the observer may perceive them as a sign of some other emotion.

Also, the pupil can be of three sizes:

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Normal, Extended, Narrowed

A dilated pupil does not occur in a live or wide open eye state (except in the terror state). Constricted pupil does not occur in relaxed or sleepy eyes.

Please note that light eyes (gray, blue) always appear wider than dark eyes, and vice versa, dark eyes always look more relaxed than light ones. It is necessary to keep all these factors in mind when working on facial expression, because only you will be able to create the right expression. In my diagrams, light eyes are shown everywhere, since I need to show the pupil.

Brows

Eyebrows are a very subtle indicator of emotions. I have noticed that even the slightest change in the arch of an eyebrow can completely change the look of a face. For our purposes, we can divide the brow into two parts that move semi-independently: the base and the arch. Semi-independent, since with the movement of one part, the other always moves a little. Both parts can be relaxed, raised or lowered, and the combination of these two movements gives us a new facial expression, as you can see in the table below:

Translator's note: on the screenshot: Parts of the eyebrow from left to right: base, bend; The head of the table from left to right horizontally: Relaxed, Raised, Lowered (frowns), the head of the table from top to bottom vertically: Relaxed, Raised, Lowered.

Each movement has a certain gradation of intensity, which also affects the shape of the eyebrow as a whole (and can also form wrinkles above the nose and on the forehead), so in the end we will end up with many, many options with small differences that will be difficult to put in one table. . Listen to your intuition, experience and observations. The Emotion Tree will show you many examples.

Mouth

The mouth is in second place in terms of the degree of influence on facial expression after the eyes. You will find details of the position of the lips (and additional expressive features like dimples, teeth...) on the Emotion Tree, and below you will find a guide to the shape of the mouth, which is affected by the curvature of both lips.

1. Both lips are curved: smirk, happy (open) mouth shape
2. The lower lip is curved downwards, the upper is curved upwards: a very happy form of the mouth - it is open more than usual - perhaps to scream.
3. Both lips are curved upwards: fear, fear (the corners of the lips are relaxed, but the lower lip is raised in pain)
4. The upper lip is curved up, the lower lip is curved down, but this time the upper lip is more curved: the jaw is dropped. In general, the mouth is relaxed.
5. The lips look as if they are trying to connect in the center: the reason for this is the corners, which are raised as if in order to growl: this is an angry open mouth.

Nose

The nose, to put it mildly, is not the most expressive part of the face, but it still changes with certain emotions (anger, crying, disgust, awakening) and even wrinkles appear on it if a person experiences very strong anger or disgust.

Tree of emotions

I present to you my classification of 58 facial expressions, most of which can be combined if necessary. In the middle you see No expression, from there the tree grows into 5 generic expressions - Relaxed(blue), Surprised(green), smiling(Yellow), Evil(red) and sad(violet). Below are the characteristics of each expression.

Translator's note: in the screenshot, from top to bottom, from left to right (first row, category sad(purple)): Pain, Cry, Stress, Horror, Confusion, (second row sad(purple)) Depression, Suffering, Frustration, Fear, Guilt, (third row sad(purple)) Longing, Sadness, Disappointment, Experience, Timidity, (fourth row, Relaxed(blue)) Delight, ( sad(purple)) So-so, ( Evil(red)) Skepticism, Revenge, Pout, Grouchiness, (fifth row Relaxed(blue)) Animation, Appeasement, Relaxation, (center) Lack of emotion, ( Evil(red)) Frowning, Grief, Angry, Anger, Rage, (sixth row, Relaxed(blue)) Exhaustion, Fatigue, Laziness, ( Surprised(green)) Curiosity, ( smiling(Yellow)) Smile, Innocence, ( Evil(red)) Contempt, Disgust, (seventh row, Relaxed(blue)) Sleepiness, Boredom, ( Surprised(green)) Surprise, ( smiling(Yellow) Hope, True Smile, Pride, ( Evil(red)) Arrogance, Arrogance, (eighth row, Relaxed(blue)) Weakness, ( Surprised(green)) Impressed, Puzzled, ( smiling(Yellow)) Tenderness, Grin, Satisfaction, Fun, Laughter, (ninth row, Surprised(green)) Shock, ( smiling(Yellow)) Seductiveness, Excitement, Ecstasy

Relaxed facial expressions

They are characterized by horizontal features and the absence of extremes - there will be no facial distortions.

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: No facial expression, Relaxed

Lack of expression

A face that lacks any expression is the starting point for all emotions, but it is given here so that you can distinguish it from a relaxed face. In real life, a face with no expression/a face with a neutral expression is a relaxed face, however, it does not always look like this. And it turns out this way because of the individual characteristics of faces - some people look gloomy, even when completely relaxed, while others seem to be smiling. So, in order to depict the absence of facial expression on paper, you need to pay attention to the following details:

• There is no expression on the face, however, it is not relaxed
• Eyebrows in a neutral position
• The eyes are lively, but can be relaxed if you're aiming for a blank expression.
• The pupil barely touches the edge of the eyelid
• Lips closed and neutral (straight horizontal line)

relaxed expression

To separate this facial expression from its absence on paper, it is necessary to emphasize the feeling of relaxation:

• Slightly lift the corners of your mouth. The smile is almost imperceptible, but thanks to this it becomes clear that the person is experiencing rather pleasant emotions.
• Eyebrows are also neutral
• The eyes are relaxed, the pupil is closed and slightly dilated

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Appeasement, Revitalization, Enjoyment

appeasement

Inner calmness and serenity are expressed outwardly in the absence of tension in facial features:

• The only real difference from the relaxed facial expression is the closed eyes, as if the person is completely trusting and surrendering.
• Due to the fact that the eyes are closed, the eyebrows are slightly inclined downwards.
• The area of ​​the eyelids in relaxed closed eyes is smooth, the lower eyelid is slightly curved upwards.

revival

“Aaaahhh…” is a face that sells cleansers and pleasant fragrances.

• The only real difference from Appeasement is that the smile widens and the lips part in an instinctive reaction to something pleasant. Please note that in the case of an increase in emotion, "Revitalization" will develop into "Enjoyment".

Pleasure

"Mmmm ..." - a real pleasure!

• The smile becomes wider, the corners are compressed, dimples may appear
• Eyes still closed for the same reason
• The head moves back, the chin rises, as if fencing off worldly worries, in order to feel the beauty of the moment

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Laziness, Fatigue, Exhaustion

Laziness

Heavy eyelids and a smile tell us that a person is not only relaxed, but also idle.

• Sleepy eyes, pupils at least half hidden, eyelids less toned than normal
• Even the eyebrows are flatter than usual
• Smile weak - less effort!

Fatigue

The loss of tone is no longer happy due to the loss of energy:

• Head tilts slightly forward
• Sleepy eyes
• Eyebrows look pathetic
• Bags under the eyes

exhaustion

There is no energy left at all, the person is weakened.

• The head is visibly tilted
• Eyebrows look even more pathetic, even painful
• I can barely keep my eyes open
• Loose bags under the eyes
• The jaw is so relaxed that it drops slightly

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Drowsiness, Weakness, Boredom

Drowsiness

The man nods. This is a slightly different fatigue, in this case, it is not associated with overexertion, and, accordingly, it is not expressed on the face (unless the person is tired and sleepy at the same time).

• Eyebrows seem to be stretched over the eye that the person is trying to keep open
• Head tilts forward, and may also tilt to the left or right
• The other eye and eyebrow are completely relaxed, as on the face of a sleeping person.
• Mouth is neutral

Weakness

"BUT? What?…Where is my coffee?” - this is the very state of “Monday morning”, when we are trying with great difficulty not to fall asleep.

• Eyes out of focus and cloudy
• Eyebrows look puzzled
• The mouth indicates that the person is confused

Boredom

"Dying of boredom" is an appropriate phrase to describe this facial expression: all the features are horizontal, and, as if trying to outdo the complete absence of facial expression.

• Eyebrows are the most flat and lower than usual
• The corners of the mouth are slightly lowered (boredom is unpleasant), but not so much as to indicate effort.
• Sleepy eyes

Surprised facial expressions

This category is a little smaller than the rest, as surprise is usually closely related to other emotions, but here we are dealing with pure surprise, neither positive nor negative. Such a facial expression is characterized by wide openings and roundness: first of all, the eyes, and then the rest of the features.

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Curiosity, Surprise, Perplexity

Curiosity

The only difference from the lack of facial expression is the interest expressed in the eye area.

• Eyebrows are raised, to create an accent, one eyebrow can be raised stronger
• Eyes are alive and focused
• You can open your mouth slightly to enhance expression

Astonishment

A typical reaction to something unexpected. The head will usually unconsciously tilt back.

• Lips tighten - this reaction is more stylistic than life - by reducing the mouth, we can increase the emphasis on the eyes
• Wide, rounded eyes (the iris barely touches the eyelids) and eyebrows
• Mouth may be slightly open

puzzled

"I don't understand anything..."

• The eyes are slightly slanted, as if staring at the source of the problems, the gaze is directed downwards.
• Eyebrows furrowed in an attempt to focus
• Lips pursed
• One eyebrow can be raised to enhance the questioning facial expression (“Will I deal with this or not?”)
• Behaviorists note the following differences between the sexes: When men are puzzled, they tend to rub their chin, twitch their earlobes, or scratch their forehead/cheeks/back of the neck. Women, on the other hand, tend to touch the bottom of their incisors with their finger slightly open, or place it under their chin.

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Impressed, Shock

Impressed

This is a reaction not just to something unexpected, but to something that a person did not consider possible at all. Usually this expression is accompanied by a tilt of the head forward so that the eyes have to be raised in order to see what the person was actually impressed with.

• The eyes are wide open, but the eyebrows are neither rounded nor raised (the opposite of Curiosity), as if not the whole face has yet fully believed in what is happening.
• Jaw drops slightly

A more intense version of "Surprise" - something completely unimaginable happens: aliens have landed on earth, a dog asks what time it is, or something like that.

• The jaw drops, but although this means relaxation, the mouth remains narrow. Opening wide, as if in fear, would require muscular effort, which is not available at the moment of shock.
• Eyebrows very raised
• The eyes are open to the maximum, the iris does not touch the eyelids
• Lips are not curled and teeth are not visible

Smiling facial expressions

Characterized by an upward elevation of facial features.

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Smile, True smile, Grin

Smile

Such a smile is called polite, intentional, weak or "fake". It is given out by two signs (just do not confuse such a smile with a light, but sincere, as, for example, in "Pacification"):

• The lower eyelids do not shrink, and, accordingly, crow's feet do not appear in the corners of the eyes.
• The corners of the lips stretch horizontally instead of curling up

Such a smile can often be seen in photographs, as it does not distort facial features. In some cultures, such as those in Southeast Asia, such a smile can mean shame or even polite rejection.

true smile

A true smile (also known as a cheek smile) is a reflex that cannot be faked.

• The lower eyelids shrink, often creating wrinkles called "crow's feet"
• The corners of the mouth rise up, and because of this, the entire smile line seems to rise on the face

Grin

A "true smile" of such intensity that the lips part involuntarily, revealing the teeth.

• The eyes are the same, or even more wrinkled
• The corners of the mouth are more distinct, lines are visible that connect them to the wings of the nose.
• The sudden appearance of teeth is a very strong signal of happiness.

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Excitement, Ecstasy

Excitement

This emotion rushes out, so that the facial features, although tense, become more open.

• The eyes are wide open, but you can still see the tension in the lower eyelid.
• Eyebrows raised
• Very wide open smile

Ecstasy

Emotions finally burst out, and the face radiates joy and excitement.

• Eyebrows are rounded and raised high
• The eyes are rounded, the iris may not touch the eyelids
• An open mouth is added to an open smile - it is difficult to remain silent in this state

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Pride, Satisfaction

Pride

In this case, it is considered as a neutral emotion; for an emotion with a negative connotation, see Arrogance and Arrogance.

• Eyes closed and relaxed, as if contemplating some achievement
• Smile, in a way, self-satisfied
• Chin up high, head tilted back

Satisfaction

When everything turns out the way we want, but we need to restrain emotions out of politeness or harmfulness.

• Eyes closed as if to hide satisfaction
• The lower eyelid is pressed against the upper eyelid, adding wrinkles.
• A wide smile is sincere, but at the same time, the mouth is compressed in order to hide gloating - this also adds wrinkles.

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Fun, Laughter 1, Laughter 2

Fun

"Oops! It's been fun."

• Eyebrows raised
• The eyes are partially alive - the pupil is slightly constricted
• A strong smile, however, a bit compressed - perhaps so as not to offend the subject being toyed with

Laugh

1. Break out into laughter: the head suddenly tilts back. All tension is located in the lower part of the face, the eye area is still relaxed

• Eyes closed and can be relaxed
• The mouth is wide open, the upper lip is almost flat, and the lower lip forms a parabolic curve.
• Eyebrows are rounded and set high
• nostrils flare
• Visible teeth and tongue

2. Laughter is a rude reaction: over time, stress (and even pain) becomes noticeable with the tension of the rest of the facial features.

• Head and body moving back and forth
• Eyebrows frown
• Eyes strain and may start to water
• The mouth is still wide open, but the effort required to close it is noticeable.
• Nose wrinkles and nostrils flare

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Tenderness, Seductiveness

Tenderness

When looking at a loved one, a child, or something cute.

• Head tilted to one side and slightly forward
• The eyes are full of tenderness: they are relaxed, the lower eyelid is slightly raised up, the pupils are covered
• A gentle smile appears on the lips

seductiveness

This facial expression depends on the person. This example mixes the possible options for changing facial features.

• Head tilted forward is an obedience signal indicating availability
• Sexual attraction dilates pupils and causes a blush
• The eyes are tightly closed, the so-called "look in the bedroom"
• Lips turned slightly outwards to indicate safety and accessibility (for both sexes)
• Please note that couples often bow their heads when talking, and both men and women bow their heads as a hint of flirting

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Innocence, Hope

Innocence

"Who am I? I have no idea what you're talking about." This is a comical expression, as someone who really wanted you to look innocent would keep a relaxed expression and a straight look.

• The eyebrows are rounded and raised high, as if the person is surprised.
• Eyes staring up or away with exaggeration
• The mouth can take on a variety of forms, from a bow to a grin.

Hope

In this facial expression, today's hardships and a bright future are simultaneously recognizable.

• Eyes look up, as if imagining the future, or asking for the best
• Eyebrows sad: "poor, unfortunate me"
• A slight smile indicates hope: without it, it would just be a sad face.

Evil facial expressions

Characterized by tension, in particular the area between the eyebrows, which reaches a maximum in some expressions.

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Frowning, Groping, Angry

frowning

A slightly frown can mean someone is getting angry, but it doesn't have to be; frowning can also mean doubt, an attempt to focus or remember something. On a smiling face, a frown makes the expression more stern.

In addition to frowning eyes, facial features do not express anything. This is the face of the person who receives the information (listens/looks/thinks): "I'm gathering information before making a verdict."

• The eyes are alive and receive information

chagrin

There is no ambiguity here: this emotion is weaker than Angry, but it clearly indicates irritation.

• The base of the eyebrow moves down, and where they end, a wrinkle may appear.
• Vertical wrinkle appears between the eyebrows
• The jaw is tense, which moves the lower lip forward and lowers the corners of the mouth
• Eyes alive

angry

An angry person looks very intently - this behavior is very typical, and causes the opponent to surrender without a fight.

• Eyebrows are low and tense, which creates wrinkles
• The nostrils are flared, which makes the lines of the wings of the nose show - all this indicates hatred of the object of anger.
• The mouth is compressed into a line with hard descending wrinkles at the corners.
• One of the first signs of anger is uncontrollable reddening of the ears.
• Other signs: tense body, dominant yet (hands on hips or clenched into fists, palm down punching gestures)

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Anger, Rage

Anger

Emotions become impossible to contain, and the mouth opens to scream:

• Head tilted forward like a bull ready to attack
• Eyebrows fall as low as possible, casting a shadow on the eyes
• The area around the eyes is tense
• The mouth is twisted, as if for a growl, the corners are stretched, but the lower lip tends upward
• Wrinkles appear on the nose, now there are not only vertical furrows, but also horizontal ones
• The nostrils swell even more, clearly visible lines extending from the wings of the nose to the corners of the mouth
• Lower fangs can be seen at the corners of the mouth

Rage

Complete transition to blind animal anger. What happens to a human face in this state can be compared to an angry lion or wolf.

• The eyebrows are simultaneously tense and curved, forming wrinkles on the forehead.
• Wide eyes with tiny pupils as if blinded by anger
• Wrinkles appear on the top of the nose
• It is quite possible that a person splashes with saliva!
• Due to the fact that blood pressure rises, veins become visible on the temples
• The area of ​​the nose and mouth goes into the extreme degree of "Anger", the teeth and tongue become more visible

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Contempt, Arrogance, Arrogance

Contempt

A response to something disgusting, in a physical (bad smell...) or moral (treason...) sense.

• The head is tilted back, the gaze is directed downward
• The nostrils rise, the wings of the nose become visible, and the lip curves on one or both sides.
• The lower lip is pressed against the upper, curving the mouth
• Eyes alive but narrowed
• The corners of the mouth are stretched to the sides, making it wider

Arrogance

The look on Lucius Malfoy's face. It is contempt, but with zero intensity: cold contempt. Here the object of contempt is not worthy of an emotional reaction.

• Eyes relaxed, pupils closed
• Eyebrows contemptuously raised and slightly furrowed
• Mouth curved down
• Eyes can roll in disdain

Arrogance

A person is not only sure that he is the best, he is also self-satisfied.

• Head tilted back, looking down
• Eyebrows lowered and more furrowed
• Smug smile: fake smile, in the center the lower lip is pressed against the upper
• One or both corners of the mouth are turned up in mockery, indicating cunning and superiority.

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Disgust, Skepticism

Disgust

A universal reflex response, mainly to food, but can also extend to intangible objects. All facial features reject the subject of disgust by contracting (eyes, nose) or protruding forward (mouth).

• Eyebrows are quite wrinkled
• Eyes narrowed or half closed
• Head tilted forward, looking down
• Nose wrinkled
• Nostrils rise so high that the nose is distorted
• The alar lines are clearly visible and stretched the most
• The tongue depicts a gagging urge, occupies most of the mouth
• Compilation wrinkled
• The upper lip is relaxed, the lower lip is turned out and protrudes forward - this is how this mouth shape is formed
• The face is lengthened due to the open mouth

Skepticism

"And you expect me to believe it?"

• Staring away (sleepy eyes with straight horizontal eyelids, pupil half-closed) indicates boredom and disbelief (see "Curiosity" to compare with a lively look)
• One eyebrow raised is a universal sign of skepticism
• Mouth down enough to not appear satisfied (pull the corners of the mouth up and the facial expression will turn into a cynical one)

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Revenge, Pout, Grumpiness

Revenge

“You wait with me ... you will receive from me ...”

• The lower eyelid is closed more than the upper eyelid, creating a visible bag and lowering the corners of the eyes.
• The eyes are narrowed, as if in order to aim!
• The look is frowning, the eyebrows are lowered, but no more - saving anger for a more opportune moment.
• The mouth is compressed and wrinkled so that it is almost the same width as the nose.

Pout

“I don’t like it at all, but I can’t/won’t mind.” Most often, this facial expression occurs in children, but slightly pouting lips are an involuntary reflex when disagreeing.

• An accusatory look from under furrowed brows
• The lower lip is pressed against the upper and seems thicker, the corners of the mouth are lowered, the chin is wrinkled
• Head leans forward in involuntary submission

Grouchiness

Disappointment with mockery, such an expression often indicates comical relief.

• The eyebrows are furrowed, but this is not so noticeable due to sleepy eyes and half-closed pupils: “ In fact I am not angry and I do not suffer.
• The corners of the lips are lowered, but the line of the mouth is not even, which also indicates that this grimace should not be taken seriously.

Sad expressions

Characterized by downward sloping facial features. To all facial expressions of this branch, lowered shoulders will also be added.

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: So-so, Yearning, Depression

So-so

"Pff". The expression is almost neutral, with a slight hint that not everything is so good.

• One corner of the mouth is compressed, as if it's a failed attempt at a smile.
• Eyebrows are neutral
• The eyes are relaxed, the pupil touches the eyelids

Yearning

The main difference from "Sorrow" is the eyes, which are comparatively relaxed in resignation. This is what sadness turns into over time, as the pain subsides, but does not disappear.

• As a result, the iris is larger, and almost does not touch the eyelids.
• Eyebrows may droop slightly or strongly.

Depression

The next stage after "Tosca" - there was not even the strength left to be sad. Humility turned into hopelessness and indifference.

• The look is depressed and sleepy, the iris is barely visible, the pupil is dilated. The eyes may be closed as an attempt to shut out the world.
• The head is lowered or even hung.
• Eyebrows can be almost neutral, as if it takes too much energy to keep them in a "sad" position.

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Sadness, Suffering, Crying

sadness

A look full of pain, the cause of sadness is still fresh in my memory. All facial features are sloping down.

• The bases of the eyebrows rise and come closer, but there is no visible tension yet: it is pure sadness, without anger or fear.
• The eyes are alive (due to pain), but the lower eyelids droop down and may form a crease to emphasize this. The pupils do not touch the eyelids
• The corners of the lips are turned down
• "Silent tears" can roll down the cheeks

Suffering

Pain and confusion at the same time, there is no humility, but there is a desperate desire to eliminate the cause of suffering.

• The bases of the eyebrows are raised so high that tension is formed
• Possible tears
• Lips parted, as if the pain is so intense that it is impossible to contain it.
• The corners of the lips are lowered, the lower lip is pressed up in an unconscious but inevitable muscle reaction that occurs before crying.
• The pupil does not touch the eyelids, as the eyes are wide open in fear (the person is afraid that he will not be able to eliminate the pain)

Cry

The man is crushed and weeps uncontrollably; this facial expression shows the maximum distortion of facial features in this branch.

• The eyes are almost closed, as the eyebrows press on the upper eyelid, and the lower eyelid is pressed up
• Tension creates horizontal creases on the forehead
• There are so many tears that they pour from both corners of the eyes.
• Muscle spasm of the lower lip intensifies
• Face turns red
• nostrils flare
• chin trembling

Translator's note: in the screenshot: Pain

Pain

This picture depicts an adult in physical pain, see "Crying" for a child's reaction to pain. The features are reduced as much as possible - tension can distract from pain.

• Eyebrows are pressed to the eyes, the base of the eyebrows rise to the top, depicting pain
• The lower lip is pressed upward, while the corners of the mouth are strongly pulled down, exposing clenched teeth and even the lower gum.
• Eyes closed or narrowed
• Nose wrinkled
• The upper lip is raised
• Characteristic folds appear around the mouth, resembling brackets, which also indicate tension.

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Frustration, Frustration, Stress

Disappointment

In children, disappointment would look like sadness, but in adults, sadness is set off by reproach.

• Lips pursed (to contain reproach), mouth may be moved to the side in an attempt to hide the contraction
• Eyebrows can take on various combined expressions of sadness and frown
• The eyes are alive, the pupils touch the eyelids

Disorder

Combinations of anger and the desire to cry.

• The bases of the eyebrows try to frown and at the same time rise, wrinkling and turning the eyebrows into almost straight lines.
• The lips are slightly pouty, but the main tension is concentrated in the eyebrows, as the brain is working hard trying to find a solution to the problem.

Stress

When there is too much going on in the head, the whole face contracts, as if in an attempt to contain all thoughts, or maybe shut out the world in order to deal with all these thoughts.

• The eyebrows are pressed against the eyes, frowning, but their bases curl up slightly, indicating pain.
• Eyes frown and slanted, inner corners down
• The lips are compressed, because of this, the mouth rises
• The nose is wrinkled, the face seems to crunch, even the tip of the nose rises slightly
• The shape of the mouth resembles a wave, and seems to say “Where to start? How to deal with it?

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Experience, Fright, Horror

Experience

An expression similar to "Suffering", but with less anger and more fear.

• The bases of the eyebrows, as in "Suffering", but the curve also rises, forming wrinkles on the forehead

fright

"Deer in the headlights."

• Eyes wide open and looking at the threat, constricted pupils - the main feature
• The bases of the eyebrows are raised
• Mouth nervously clenched
• The hand in fear squeezes objects, and because of this, the tendons stand out

Horror

All facial features are open, the skin turns pale, and the hair stands on end.

• The eyes are very rounded, the pupil is tiny. This facial expression shows the very first seconds when a person is terrified; in the future, the pupils dilate to see better, although the eyes are wide open. The expression of the strongest panic turns out to be creepy and completely unlike human
• The lines of the wings of the nose are visible
• Eyebrows raised high and tense
• A scream of terror curves the lower lip downward, exposing the lower teeth.

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Timidity, Guilt, Embarrassment

Timidity

The face also expresses mild embarrassment, as opposed to the strong "Embarrassment" emotion. Children express shyness by tilting their heads to their shoulders while raising their shoulders at the same time.

• The head is tilted forward and pulled into the shoulders in an attempt to hide like a turtle.
• Cheeks, ears and neck blush
• A forced smile of embarrassment: the corners are stretched to the sides, not up

Guilt

It is expressed in an attempt not to show one's guilt, in other words, a person tries to give an absent expression to his face.

• The gaze falls down and to the side, as if eye contact will reveal all the secrets. Head is likely to be turned away
• The face is not expressive, as the person is trying to divert attention from himself
• It seems that facial features have shrunk

Embarrassment

“Oh my God, it would be better if I fell into the ground now!” - this emotion is most strongly expressed by the eyes, while the rest of the facial features tend to become less noticeable.

• Round, bulging eyes stared down and to the side; the head is ready to turn, quite possibly to hide the face altogether
• The lower lip is pressed up, depicting fear

Pose

We rarely express our feelings with just one face: the whole body contains a whole set of unconscious gestures. If you use them, your character will look more alive and natural. In particular, the hands are very expressive, and I have mentioned their position under some facial expressions. Below are some common and notable poses used by illustrators:

Translator's note: in the screenshot from left to right: Hands on hips, Hands crossed, Hands touching the body

Hands on hips

Palms on hips, fingers forward, elbows out:

• Classic sign of confidence
• Shows that the body is ready to start working, perform some action, etc.
• Enlarges the upper body, making the person look more bossy and threatening in an argument (or in the process of punishing children)
• Also means "Stay away from me, I'm in an asocial mood"
• Note that if the thumbs are in front, the pose looks more feminine, and shows ambiguity rather than aggression.

Arms crossed

• Classic Defense Pose
• Disagreement, a person is closed to contact, arrogance, hostility. Women don't cross their arms around men they like.
• A self-soothing pose designed to alleviate anxiety and social stress
• If the arms and elbows are tightly pressed to the body, this indicates acute nervousness.

Hands touch the body

We unconsciously touch ourselves to calm down or relieve stress. Confusion, disagreement, disappointment, uncertainty are expressed in touching lips with fingers, scratching the head, touching the neck, earlobe, other hand, rubbing the cheek, etc. Such touching intensifies with increasing levels of stress and disapproval.

In particular, it is effective to show repressed rage with such allusions, as people tend to convey anger by gesturing.

Note that in children, the hand behind the head can express jealousy.

This exercise has already turned into a meme, but it's still cool for both fun and practical purposes: create a list of your favorite character (your own or any existing one), and then add a certain number of facial expressions to it. To avoid choosing based on convenience, choose them randomly (for example, poke with your eyes closed). You can even go even further and try mixed facial expressions or ones not mentioned in this tutorial.

Translator's note: in the screenshot in rows from left to right: smile, appeasement, arrogance, rage, fear, horror

Translator's note: in the screenshot in rows from left to right: blushed, horrified, uncertainty, daydreaming, pain, anger

Example? Please.

Bruce Willis - sideways glance, asymmetrical grin. Marilyn Monroe - raised chin, squinted eyes, parted mouth. Try to mentally imagine that the faces of these people will take on each other's expressions, they will seem strange and completely unfamiliar.

Facial expressions really express the character of a person. There are many books on how different emotions affect facial muscles. For example, "Body Language" by Allan and Barbara Pease or Paul Ekman is the first thing that comes to mind (not including anatomy for artists, of course). If you want to draw emotional portraits, information about the work of the muscles of the face will not be superfluous at all.

And for those who would like to try their hand at the image emotions already now, I would advise you to start with sketches and quick sketches. And for starters, I suggest you watch one lesson on this topic:

The lesson was prepared by the artist Olenchinkova Tatyana.

Emotions attract attention, it's hard not to agree with that!

Here are some more image examples for inspiration. emotions in the paintings of the great masters:

Repin, "The Cossacks write a letter to the Turkish Sultan"

Ribera, "Hawkweed"