Painting: the foundations of a facial expression

Art and design

In this unit, pupils will learn the art of portraiture in greater depth. They will learn how artists create expressions, mood and feeling in their portraits using facial features, colour, lighting and props.

Photography and painting: facial expressions in portraiture

to ensure the features are the correct size and in the right place

Why is proportion important when drawing a face?

{{ }} refers to the arrangement of elements in an artwork or image.

adding details like eyebrows and eyelashes.

What is the first step in painting a face after sketching it?

emphasises raised areas of the face and light direction

What does adding highlights to a face painting do?

Faces are symmetrical and all proportions should fit to set guidelines.

Which of these features is most important for conveying emotion in a facial expression?

the distance between the top and bottom of something

how big or small something is compared to something else

How can colour affect the mood of an artwork?

What basic shapes are often used to sketch a face?

When sketching facial features, where should the eyes typically be placed?

Starter Quiz