Digital Head Sketches

Over the past several months I've been doing a few digital sketches of heads and faces, often based on captured news photos I see on the various morning news outlets. Some of these were made because of interesting expressions or interesting faces or lighting. In most cases these drawings were made using Sketchbook, a subscription digital art program, and a Wacom Cintiq drawing tablet. Any digital art program these days allows many options, of course, but a quick impression is quite simple and easy to revise or save, and Sketchbook has become my favorite.

"Disgusted," digital from online still

A few of these sketches came about because the expression of the person interested me. These were mostly people I saw in an online news image, but sometimes the source was Facebook or another less known site. And the person might or might not be famous or even known by the public. They were chosen for their facial structures or expressions.

In no case is any of these a finished drawing. Instead they're quick ideas, the same as might be recorded in a Molek

"Blackwater," digital from online still

ine using pencil. In "Disgusted" part of my interest was in the shape of the woman's head. In part too, the unusual perspective was fun to capture. The same goes for the male head in "Blackwater," who photo appeared in a news item. His glum expression and hooded eyes were intriguing, and related to a legal setback.

"Ibon," from an online selfie

In some cases the individual pictured was chosen because of the particular news situation and the expression I saw. As I've posted several times in the past, capturing expression is for me one of the most difficult and fascinating of artistic skills. And for me too that means a continual struggle to find the exact mark to evoke the desired expression. "Ibon" shows a kind of joyfulness in the raised eyelids and wide-eyed smile that I liked.












 

"Y'all Really Should Trust Us," from an online news photo

In the case of the final sketch, it was the downcast mouth and sidelong look that made me stop and do a sketch. Sometimes the expression belies other circumstances. In this case the drawing was in June, after a failed bill in the United States Senate. The politician in the sketch, having led the unsuccessful effort, seemed terribly downcast and disappointed.


Public sketching in coffee shops, parks, community centers--anywhere people gather--is strongly advocated by many, and I agree. But sketching heads and faces is a simple matter these days, using online sources and digital methods.