Okay.. I'm trying to make the impression of laughter in a sketch. Because women are easier to draw (at least for me) than men, that's what I drew.
Well, ~40 minutes after starting, she's basically finished, and I still don't see laughter. Any hints, suggestions, telling me that I must be blind if I can't see laughter... would be very appriciated.
This link is dressed. Are you? (http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/3573/laugh9po.jpg)
Help?
How about a speech bubble with Ha ha ha? Or maybe an open mouth and closed eyes?
How about a speech bubble with Ha ha ha? Or maybe an open mouth and closed eyes?
The second option sounds more viable. I'll try opening the mouth a bit and see what it does.
Thanks.
Try #2 (mouth opened a bit, eyes narrowed but not closed) is currently scanning.
And here she is: click me (http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/5308/laugh25gx.jpg)
Good?
EDIT: Just noticed the too-thin head on the top-left. It's fixed now on paper, but not in the hosted pic above.
The Similized world
03-09-2005, 07:46
Here's just some general advice.
Start by drawing a ball and crossline where the mouth, eyes and perhaps brow & nose are, according to the angle & perspective you're trying to accomplish.
Realise how close to the point-of-veiw the different parts of the face is to the observer. In the picture in question, you'll never have cheeks that much wider than the brow of her face, regardless of how much you try to depict an eskimo chick.
Look at yourself in a mirror, when you don't know how to depict a facial expression. Bring a digital camera if you have trouble focusing while acting out what you're trying to capture.
If you don't possess a mirror, note that caucasians tend to have upwards turned eyeslits when they laugh. All people have the lover part of theyr eyeslits slightly raised when they laugh, usually the corners of their eyes as well. People tend to pull their cheeks up, not down, when they smile, and people's noses are usual higher on their face than, when they have a neutral expression. The chin of laughing women tends to be shot slightly forward when they laugh, as they generally lean their heads backwards. Or sometimes downwards, but that's usually reserved for shy females.The same is not a general rule for males.
When trying to convey - not just depict - laughter in a drawing, it's fairly important that the face has a slight "v" proportion overall. Try to have the features of the face go slightlu upwards along the edges. Likewise, a very slight v proportion is useful for depicting a neutral expression, and a straight - proportion is good for depicting pissed off people.
Lost track of what I'm saying, but good luck.