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hey guys, looking for a good resource that either shows a variety of different facial expressions (i.e eyes, mouths, noses, etc) or explains how to draw them accuratly. I would love to see cartoon versions, but i am sure that most of you will probably direct me to figure drawing books. either way, anything would be appreciated. thanks!
I'm not so sure there are any drawing tips inside but for pure variety and reference alone this
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0823016714/102-0462589-9756934?v=glance&n=283155 gets pimped a lot (Perhaps you've already seen it) and someone I trust in the business told me it's good for what it is, especially now that it's had time for the price to drop =)
Animation meat has a bunch of model sheets on their site. Many of them have character expressions:
http://www.animationmeat.com/modelsheets/modelsheets.html
Flash Character Packs, Video Tutorials and more: www.CartoonSolutions.com
The best reference for facial expressions can be bought in any dollar store or almost anywhere. Pick up a small mirror and do your facial expressions in that mirror, and transpose what you see into your work. That is what animators used to do before there was internet.
"Don't want to end up a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard" - Paul Simon
That was going to be my first suggestion but I was afraid of getting yelled at lol....
Noo!
Nooooooooooooooooooooo!
Its......not supposed to work that way, its supposed to be complex, lots of moving parts--a multi-volume warranty manual...!!! We cannot....... handle....cannot WITHSTAND the SIMPLICITY!!!
Its.
Toooooo.
EASY!!!!:rolleyes:
"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)
:)
Anyone not have their own face ? Raise your hand.
I use my bum.
Its the only way to get anyone to laugh.
"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)
LOL! Well come on good lookin , show it :)
I dedicate about ten minutes in front of the bathroom mirror every night to pulling faces. I also like to "freeze" certain expressions and look away from the mirror to "feel" where the strain lies, which facial muscles are involved. That's as much a help to me as actually seeing the expressions. (It'll also make me wrinkled like a prune in later years, I'm sure.)
I dedicate about FIFTEEN minutes every morning to looking at the bathroom mirror, but not pulling faces... Just checking to make sure everything is still where it is supposed to be as I age. :p
"Don't want to end up a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard" - Paul Simon
Mmmmmyep - hope you own a cheval glass.
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It was Ken Davis (was it?) who told me years ago that Bob Jaques would stop frame live action video of dialogue and would discover weird expressions. After a mirror and observing day to day, this seems like a good excercise.
It was.
Bob and Kelly ( his wife) would spent many hours studying all kinds of shows and clips, and had one of those video printer gadgets hooked up their tv--and printed off lots of really cool stuff.
The Carbunkle run of Baby Huey utilized this, as a episode of the original Star Trek provided truly plum material for a alien's contorted facial expressions.
Darliester--I am known, for good reason, as the Man without Shame who is cursed with the Heinie of Horror(tm).
Thou mayest wish to be of care for what thine wish for.
Mien pencil rests only so far away from mein idle hand.....
"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)
My take on animating expressions is that if you cannot feel it, it won't have any feeling. I've found that you really need to get your face going to gel a proper funny expression. The old-timers in the biz are well noted for doing this.
I've taught this kind of thinking for years now and noticed a trend amongst students: the ones that were reluctant to put themselves through the act of making faces at their desks often did really poorly in putting any life or emotion into their work.
This is one of those "differences that make the difference" kind of things that sets the pros apart from the amateurs.
Heck, how cares if people look on and laugh--someone is going to look on to the same expression on the character and hopefully have the SAME reaction, right?
So, get out there and make an ass of yourselves--that's what you get paid for.
Its healthy and fun, and...........dang it, will make the flowers grow.
"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399508031/qid=1149950753/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-3939048-5508712?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
Jack Hamm has a few pages of nothing but expressions in this nifty little book. I often use ye olde mirror, and my big EC hardbacks-- particularly the Jack Davis stuff. While I'm watching older movies, I also like to take note of particular expressions. It's amazing what a scrolling through a performance frame by frame will unearth.