How to Draw Facial Expressions

By Kelly | July 27, 2007

One key to conveying your characters mood and personality is in the face. In this tutorial, you’ll find out the elements that convey emotion, and discover which cartoon ’shorthand’ drawing methods are used to convey them. I recommend you read through How to Draw Eyes before you continue, if you haven’t read it already.

1. Elements of Expression

The key elements of facial expressions are the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth. In furry characters, the ears are also important.
Take a look at these examples:

facial expressions

Which parts change the most?
The shape of the eyes, the angle of the eyebrows, and the mouth.

Notice that ears are ‘pinned’, or pointed back, when the character is angry or distressed.

Both the upper and lower eyelids affect the shape of the eye, and even the eyebrows have some effect too if they are strongly furrowed, as in the angry expression.

A genuinely happy expression should show the effect of the lower eyelid, flattening the shape of the bottom of the eye- fake smiles lack this effect in real life!

In cases where the pupil is ‘floating’, not touching the top or bottom edge of the eye, the character appears surprised. Without raised eyebrows and lowered jaw, the floating pupil just makes a character look deranged.
In other words, the combination of all 3 elements is key to conveying the right expression.

2. Focus on the Eye

Here’s an eye in several poses, depicting some different possibilities for showing emotion.
The first shows a little of the bottom eyelid, as well as the top. This expression is relaxed, or just plain normal. The high and slightly arched eyebrow makes the character alert. They’re engaged or interested, and thinking.

The second example eye is surprised, or shocked. The eyebrow arches way up, and we see the floating pupil again. The upper eyelid is pulled back, making the eye seem larger. You can change the angle of the eyebrow to add more subtle effects to the expression – angle it up and toward the center of the face for a concerned or unhappy surprise, and angle it down toward the center of the face to show anger.

The third eye is definitely not happy. We have the angry, down-angled eyebrow, which touches the eye itself it’s so low. Making the angle of the eyebrow even sharper, and covering more of the eyeball, will make a more intensely angry expression.

Eye #4 is concerned, sad, or fearful. The up-angled eyebrow is pulling at the flesh around the eye, distorting it. The lower eyelid is also making a strong appearance.

An even more angry, menacing expression in the next eye. Like I mentioned before, the angle of the eyebrow has intensified the emotion. The addition of the lower eyelid narrowing the eye adds to the effect.

The last eye is bored, tired, or otherwise disengaged. Most of the eye is covered by the upper lid, and there’s not much action in the eyebrow.

3. Learn by Example

My final advice to you, is to study the right models. Don’t just copy expressions you see in cartoons or manga. Get a mirror, study your own expressions. Watch how the muscles of the face move and bunch. Pay attention to the shape of the eye, and how much of the teeth you see when the mouth is open. Animators often act out the poses and expressions they need to draw, and I think this technique will serve you well. Don’t be afraid of looking like a goofball!

Here are some examples of facial expressions from my webcomic Good Cheese. Analyze the shape of the eye, angle of the eyebrow, and the mouth. What emotion does it convey? And, can you think of a better way to draw it?

Happy Drawing!

53 Responses to “How to Draw Facial Expressions”

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53
Martin Says:
June 28th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Nice tutorial! I like the fact that even ears are considered when drawing facial expressions! Very professional tutorial! :)
52
Kikitosan Says:
June 27th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
This was so helpful!
Only if I could choose which kind of animal should I draw…. I am kinda confused :\
But this helped me a lot with facial expressions. I am not that good when drawing faces and I should improve! ^^ Thanks a bunch guys!
51
Jasmine Says:
May 7th, 2010 at 3:13 am
Thanx for this good way to learn out how to make diffrent expresions…..I try self to do a Furry character but i are not good so this site really help me!