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!

54 Responses to “How to Draw Facial Expressions”

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40
Kara Says:
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:52 am
Okay, first: youre a good artist. :) you capture the essences of these emotions, its like _i_ feel them when i see the pictures.
Second: You actually helped me with my art. usually art sites dont really help me progress.
so THANK YOU! :D
39
Heather Says:
September 16th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
I love your site! It really helps!
38
Nathan Says:
June 29th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
thank u for the tortuials the have helped increase the things i can draw, i was stuck with simple human drawings but after this i have been able to impress my friends with fantasy art
37
Syed Pervez Rahim Says:
May 30th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Waoo! It’s Tremendous Tutorial.

Thanking you.
36
Bandit Says:
March 20th, 2009 at 5:30 am
Your website has helped me a lot!!!

Thankk youuu!
35
amran Says:
February 27th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
thanks a lot for the tutorial
its great it helped me a lot
34
wstips Says:
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Great site for digital cartoonist.
33
Taylor Says:
October 30th, 2008 at 7:01 am
Wow this is really helping me alot my drawings are so much better now
32
Edwarder Says:
September 30th, 2008 at 1:17 am
Oh my.. I, I just can’t thank you enough.
31
Ryan Says:
September 5th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
This helped me!! thanks ^^