Learn all about how to draw these different expressions in my How to Draw Emotions & Expressions tutorial. Click on any of the emotions below to view that expression’s lesson.
This video is a part of my People Skills series – a FREE sequence of tutorials, lessons, and assignments that will get you familiar with the basics of drawing humans and help you develop your own people-drawing style. Find the organized list of lessons on the People Skills home page.
a little squinted, bottom edge curves up
normal
any direction
normal
forms a grin or small smile
chin might be titled up slightly
EYE SHAPE: a little squinted, bottom edge curves up
PUPIL: normal
EYE GAZE: any direction
BROWS: normal
MOUTH: forms a grin or small smile
OTHER: chin might be titled up slightly
Nearly closed
hidden
hidden
raised
wide open smile, teeth visible
features might be more spread out over face
EYE SHAPE: Nearly closed
PUPIL: hidden
EYE GAZE: hidden
BROWS: raised
MOUTH: wide open smile, teeth visible
OTHER: features might be more spread out over face
outside corners turned down
large
looking down
inner corners pointed up, arches down
downturned, frown
head tilted down, eyes might be welling up with tears, extra reflections to show that eyes are wet
EYE SHAPE: outside corners turned down
PUPILS: large
EYE GAZE: looking down
BROWS: inner corners pointed up, arches down
MOUTH: downturned, frown
OTHER: head tilted down, eyes might be welling up with tears, extra reflections to show that eyes are wet
nearly closed, sloping down at outside corners
hidden
hidden
furrowed brow: skin wrinkled between eyebrows, arches down
open, corners down
head may be tilted up, if crying out in pain
EYE SHAPE: nearly closed, sloping down at outside corners
PUPILS: hidden
EYE GAZE: hidden
BROWS: furrowed brow: skin wrinkled between eyebrows, arches down
MOUTH: open, corners down
OTHER: head may be tilted up, if crying out in pain
alert, wide, outer corners tilted down slightly
small
might be looking to the side at possible danger
furrowed and inside corners raised
slightly open and corners turned down
someone scared might be sweating or breathing heavily
EYE SHAPE: alert, wide, outer corners tilted down slightly
PUPILS: small
EYE GAZE: might be looking to the side at possible danger
BROWS: furrowed and inside corners raised
MOUTH: slightly open and corners turned down
OTHER: someone scared might be sweating or breathing heavily
eyes super wide
tiny
looking at the source of danger or darting around looking for an escape
brows furrowed, eyebrows raised vey high, with inside corners up
wide open, teeth visible, screaming
features might be more spread out over face
EYE SHAPE: eyes super wide
PUPILS: tiny
EYE GAZE: looking at the source of danger or darting around looking for an escape
BROWS: furrowed, eyebrows raised vey high, with inside corners up
MOUTH: wide open, teeth visible, screaming
OTHER: features might be more spread out over face
wide open
small
looking straight ahead
raised, no furrow
very small, slightly open
the face remains fairly relaxed other than the changes described.
EYE SHAPE: wide open
PUPILS: small
EYE GAZE: looking straight ahead
BROWS: raised, no furrow
MOUTH: very small, slightly open
OTHER: the face remains fairly relaxed other than the changes described.
very wide open
tiny
looking straight ahead
raised very high, no furrow
forms an O shape, no teeth showing
the jaw drops making the face appear longer and the features appear more spread out vertically.
EYE SHAPE: very wide open
PUPILS: tiny
EYE GAZE: looking straight ahead
BROWS: raised very high, no furrow
MOUTH: forms an O shape, no teeth showing
OTHER: the jaw drops making the face appear longer and the features appear more spread out vertically.
inside corners sloping down
dialated, touching upper lid but not lower lid
Looking straight ahead as to intimidate
lowered, arches up, inner corners down, brow furrowed
frowning, lip pursed, corners visible
head tilted down, features appear closer together vertically
EYE SHAPE: inside corners sloping down
PUPILS: dialated, touching upper lid but not lower lid
EYE GAZE: Looking straight ahead as to intimidate
BROWS: lowered, arches up, inner corners down, brow furrowed
MOUTH: frowning, lip pursed, corners visible
OTHER: head tilted down, features appear closer together vertically
eyes wide with inside corners sloping down
small
Looking straight ahead as to intimidate
lowered, arches up, inner corners down, brow extremely furrowed
wide open, snarled, screaming, lines around mouth
features appear farther apart vertically
EYE SHAPE: eyes wide with inside corners sloping down
PUPILS: small
EYE GAZE: Looking straight ahead as to intimidate
BROWS: lowered, arches up, inner corners down, brow extremely furrowed
MOUTH: wide open, snarled, screaming, lines around mouth
OTHER: features appear farther apart vertically
wide
normal
looking ahead, or perhaps in different directions
normal or raised
get creative! grinning with tongue out, or wide open with toungue out
there are so many ways to draw a silly face!
EYE SHAPE: wide
PUPILS: normal
EYE GAZE: looking ahead, or perhaps in different directions
BROWS: normal or raised
MOUTH: get creative! grinning with tongue out, or wide open with toungue out
OTHER: there are so many ways to draw a silly face!
wide or irregular, each eye can be a different shape
normal
eyes crossed or pointing in different directions
normal or raised
get creative! grinning with tongue out, or wide open with toungue out
try tilting the head for extra silliness, and make the proportions really out of whack!
EYE SHAPE: wide or irregular, each eye can be a different shape
PUPILS: normal
EYE GAZE: eyes crossed or pointing in different directions
BROWS: normal or raised
MOUTH: get creative! grinning with tongue out, or wide open with toungue out
OTHER: try tilting the head for extra silliness, and make the proportions really out of whack!
eyes narrowed, squinting or scrunched
normal
looking toward source of disgust
brows lowered, furrowed
corners of mouth down, lower lip sticks out, tongue might be out
nose scrunched up
EYE SHAPE: eyes narrowed, squinting or scrunched
PUPILS: normal
EYE GAZE: looking toward source of disgust
BROWS: brows lowered, furrowed
MOUTH: corners of mouth down, lower lip sticks out, tongue might be out
OTHER: nose scrunched up
scrunched or closed
hidden
hidden
inner corners pointing down brow furrowed
open with outer corners turned down, tongue sticking out
whole face may be scrunched up, features appear smaller on face
EYE SHAPE: scrunched or closed
PUPILS: hidden
EYE GAZE: hidden
BROWS: inner corners pointing down brow furrowed
MOUTH: open with outer corners turned down, tongue sticking out
OTHER: whole face may be scrunched up, features appear smaller on face