The Beauty of faces

There is nothing I love more than to capture someone’s essence through a drawing or painting. Something about accentuating certain features of their face and playing around with the hidden colors in the hair, skin, and clothes I find to be quite pleasing.   

Each person’s face is unique. One face may appear more welcoming while another may entail a wiser look about their features. Every part of the face has a role to play in what makes a person’s complexion. Let’s start with the head shape. There are six basic head shapes people typically fall under. The rectangular or narrow face is thinner and often gives off a sense of wisdom and authority. From an opposite approach, the rounder tear-drop face gives a more innocent and youthful look.   

The eyes, nose, and mouth show expressions and bring the whole face together through harmony. Eyes are in my opinion the most enjoyable part of the face to draw. They can bring out a certain part of a character without the mouth mirroring the reflection. The mouth often reflects the message the eyes may give.  

When you were a kid and went to draw a person like your mom you may have picked up a color such as peach or a medium shade of brown. Over the years I’ve come to realize that there is no one or even two colors in skin or hair. The skin is all about the undertones which come from the color of your veins and the base colors. These colors fall into the seasonal categories also known as fall, winter, spring, and summer. These colors contrast with the shadows and highlights of the face, whether it be warm, cool, or neutral. The color theory in the skin and hair varies for each person individually as well. For example, I have a bluish-greenish undertone that contrasts with a light peachy pink. That peachy pink may also blend with an olive green which all combined turns out to be neutral possibly spring or fall. With this color palate, a bright orange may wash me out.   

An opposite example could be a skin tone from South America.  Where the undertones are oranges, which in turn contrast with blue, which could also match with other bright hues such as Fushia or lime green. This person is likely a warmer summer.  Bolder colors will likely bring out this person's undertones and features on their face better.   

Facial expressions, makeup, and accessories are crucial to capturing that moment in time or in a scene where you are showcasing a person. Angles can better bring out that expression. Where the light casts shadows or highlights certain features of the face, accessories or hair gives its own unique emotion.   

For example, this piece I drew gives a sense of comfort but also a subtlety of passion. Bea (the girl) is looking off into the upper left corner which often indicates that someone is feeling in their thoughts. It also comes off as though she is in her thoughts or that she may be partially present and is looking at something in her view. The colors I chose to amplify in her face and clothes were intentionally matched to show contrast and emotion. The hair brings out the opposite colors which are the undertones of the face and clothes. Her freckled-rosy complexion gives a youthful cheeky impression. The colorful knit beanie brings out the niche quirky side of her personality as well. 

Beabadoobee

Beatrice

I’ve also discovered through this process what small details in the face make it masculine or feminine. A masculine face often has more straight lines and, a broad, and chiseled, look. The eyes are more angular, the nose is more defined, and the mouth is less defined. The jawline and creases around the eyes are straightened and defined. This allows facial hair to look more natural than it would on a more feminine face. The eyebrows are often bushier and more pronounced in a less delicate manner. The eyelashes may be prominent, but they're normally bent down to be less noticeable.    

A feminine face is quite the opposite of a masculine face. The shape of the face is always softened around the edges, the nose is less defined. The creases and wrinkles around the eyes are rounder and softer. The eyes themselves are effortlessly rounder than a masculine eye, more delicate. Some feminine eyes are naturally bolder. They are still less angular and straightforward than the masculine. This allows for more curls in the eyelashes which may appear more prominent. There is more emphasis put on the lip shape and color. There are more free-form curves whether subtle or loud.    

This all sounds a bit abstract. To simplify, you can compare and contrast this idea through these two drawings of the man I drew and the woman I drew.  

Dominick Fulco

Laufey

Notice how the man on the top has his chin and jaw more angular than the woman’s jaw on the bottom. The neck also has a huge part to play. With the man, his neck bends significantly more outward. While her neck is smaller and softly curves. The eyes of the man on the top are slightly rounder but are still sharpened in their shape as well as the wrinkle lines. The eyes of the woman on the bottom are elegantly mellowed in their shape. The brows are more curved and similarly match the eye’s construction.   

You can also compare two siblings, a brother and sister with no facial hair or makeup. Their features should be loosely reminiscent of each other. No matter what, there is a significant difference between masculine and feminine facial features.   

Each person is made distinctively different than another. What makes each person beautiful is their individuality and their likeness of the Creator.  

As Always, Thanks for Reading my Coffee Beans!