Drawing Genuine Facial Expressions (Part1)

In this lengthy video, I discuss drawing the five basic facial expressions, and break the nuances of what makes an emotion read. There are many ways to show someone sad, happy, angry, or surprised - and what quirks may be introduced from each of them.
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[@amour9086]

Didn’t know how to do facial expressions so my characters would always look like 😐

[@emelyangel8027]

SAME 😭🖐️

[@ebaycat4445]

Yesssss 💀🤧

[@w0rmie5]

Nah but fr tho, they’re either sad or neutral

[@kixmi4837]

Sameee

[@kvllxua_]

relatable 😭

[@jerartist127]

thanks toniko I struggle the most as an artist with facial expressions

[@frenchfry55]

@@ryanmeyer3268 Me too, that's actually why I'm here, to learn facial expressions and perspective. These videos are very nice

[@Meepo007]

I know how to draw three types of expressions: The blank expression. The extremely unimpressed/fed up expression The "Well I've screwed up"/ "I've had way too much caffeine" expression

[@LinkLover-so6of]

The fact that I know exactly what you're talking about.. 😔

[@danishsayyad9136]

O O u

[@GoblinLord]

tip: it seems like the open mouth surprise is more of amazement or astonishment, while the closed mouth or SLIGHTLY open mouth is more genuine surprise, and doing a stretched sideways mouth during eye opening is frightened shock (because it's like saying "AH!")

[@LT-jr3yb]

I can’t tell you how much I laughed when you started to make faces, omg. That made my night honestly. But for real thank you for this lesson!!

[@adlyalhakim1490]

Hahaha same

[@euts2557]

I burst into giggles at 1:05 -- jokes aside I should def. do this.

[@nanitwice7971]

XD same

[@yoongination2251]

its weird how I find if people get mad at me I get scared but when I see angry or screaming facial expressions on characters I like I get so happy

[@YuEun]

0:59 _ recording 2:44 7:15 _happy 8:20 _sad 12:24_angry 18:37 _surprise 21:54_ simple

[@primeape6431]

naisu~

[@Ouihee]

As soon as I saw that dog on the screen, I hit the subscribe button.

[@poseidon24ism]

Saaame.

[@tayru00]

*_"this kid is in turmoil"_*

[@headphones_guy777]

34:28 the world is gonna roll me

[@beatrizreis4931]

I ain’t The sharpest tool in The shed

[@_sillywild_]

@@beatrizreis4931 She was looking kind of dumb

[@beatrizreis4931]

Silly Wild with The finger and her thumb

[@_sillywild_]

@@beatrizreis4931 In the shape of an "L" on her forehead

[@thebedsthelimit5133]

Well, the years are coming and they don't stop coming

[@dc5805]

this is so helpful!! ive been following along with your animation course (just got past part 1) and i was struggling with applying the basic principles to acting, so this is great!! thanks so much

[@blueberrymuffin4921]

How would you make each face look like the same person? I notice that the people have different noses and facial features and they look like different ppl, but I want different expressions on the same person. Will you pls do a video on that?

[@quartzenmirror2168]

1) I suggest having a nutral faced reference of the character you want to make expressions for on hand. 2) Pull up some expression references and study how, depending on expression, pieces of the face will move and shift 3) Based on your study, imagine how your characters face would move, stretch, and scrunch to replicate that expression, while keeping the features they have. (Example: strong cheek bones, sharp nose, round chin, tatooes, ect.) 4)Do a handful of test sketches until you feel happy with how it looks. Still look funny? Repeat steps 2 and 3 until more comfy. Hope this helps.

[@alexread00]

@@quartzenmirror2168 thank you so much for your response

[@quartzenmirror2168]

No problem!

[@binderiyamunkhsukh8596]

At first glance, i saw this and thought what a long tutorial, but when it played it was actually so detailed and very well explained, the best tutorial ever! Thanks a lot!

[@cricketg.8913]

This is the first video of yours that I've watched, and your introduction is adorable! Thanks for the tips!

[@sarahabousaid798]

This is the first time I draw along the video, and I must say my A4 sheet looks very... expressive :) Very good and thorough explanation! thank you!

[@ssanjeevsankar8333]

1:03 omg joey is teaching us expressions

[@moonkafu2157]

The best way of looking at an expression and being sure that it's a genuine one is to look at kids. They don't feel the need to hold back. If they're sad then they're gonna bawl, if they're happy then they're gonna laugh and looking at that you'll know what to exagerate in stylization. Honestly half of the expressions he showed here were really good but the other half looked faker than my grades, never use stock photos as reference except for extremely rare cases. His explanation was something I did not find bad though

[@kimmy9245]

Those sad expressions are really getting to me and I love it

[@PowerSpirit50]

My face can barely make convincing expressions, so I can't look in the mirror for referance. My eyebrow muscles are so unused that it's a workout to look angry.

[@connie2285]

SAME

[@Wyi-the-rogue]

Neat didn’t know that could even happen.

[@rokamayono8590]

Same, but for me it’s my smile. It looks so unnatural and my teeth look odd so I’m stuck there like 🙂

[@PowerSpirit50]

@@rokamayono8590 When I try to smile with my teeth it looks like I'm baring my teeth in threat.

[@quartzenmirror2168]

Thank you so much! I had a lot of struggles with expressions and how to really get them to feel genuine. This all works even in my simple cartoon style and after practicing the whole video, I got better pretty quick, good video would watch again.

[@centuryfiles9558]

Just after watching this once my expressions instantly improved. Thank you!!

[@steeloptic]

watching even the first few clips has been SO helpful in improving my expressions, thank u so much for this ‼️

[@Th0tSlAyErIII]

I find it funny how innocent this video starts while I brought myself here mostly cause I can't figure out Guts's classic mad face (Berserk) and Gon's saddened rage (Hunter X Hunter). The tonal whiplash in my head was kinda huge.

[@pinkpanda821]

This video helped me so much! I’m working on a comic right now and this helped me show their genuine emotions at the time

[@user-xn3rs7tu5w]

Wow, your videos are sooooo helpful I’m so glad I found you 😆! I’m new to animation and the way you explain things and draw them out really helps me understand!

[@250saturn]

omgggg I've never seen this channel before but that was the CUTEST INTRO EVER.

[@calmryu9446]

Just discovered your chanel. Very informational :) My biggest problem right now i'd say is not knowing how to study but seeing you making those exercises helped me a little :-) thanks!

[@froginchair]

Listening to this while drawing really help me remind myself of what are the characteristics of the emotion

[@blacksage4316]

Wow this actually helped me a whole lot!! Thank you for making this!

[@SnowRavenn]

i'm learning SO much from you. thank you!!!! 😭😭😭😭🙏

[@icemage7739]

watching a movie and pausing it at a certain emotional expressions and drawing it is really good as well

[@dduncan5279]

Excellent! Thank you very much. Now I can put in a range of emotions into my characters.

[@richasinh]

Thank you so so much, it helped a lot...one of the Best tutorials on expressions. Grateful.

[@richardsmith175]

Great video! I enjoyed your breakdowns.

[@supermichael9857]

I don’t need to watch this seeing as how my expressions are already great. I just like watching your stuff!

[@pimpinpanba8799]

You are a really good teacher!

[@benjaminrenner7923]

Wow! Such a good video, now i instant wanna draw this by myself

[@AiQ_00]

Amazing video, thank you for sharing!

[@blackcitadel37]

One thing that took a lot of time for me to realize is how important eyebrows are when drawing expressive faces. A few milimeters up or down and everything changes completely.

[@tissueofmyissue]

This is the first time, I tried doing some facial expressions practice, I mean as for 1st time, I'm Satisfied. I still can't draw some expressions but I know I'll improve day by day.. I mean I need to practice, so that i can achieve my dream of becoming an animator.. Thankyou so much for this :)

[@marcelaespinace3489]

knowing about this channel was a BLESSING !!! thank you so much for ur explanations :[

[@carmelpaints313]

Thanks for thi s- it's something I've really wanted to dive deep into! :D

[@sopuruchindubuisi2354]

This is amazing. Thank you so much!

[@livefortheday7727]

This had so much useful information, thank you!!

[@alangelobaliton8466]

Man, this video really help me. Thanks dude

[@johntynan8161]

great content toniko👍

[@bishalryankashyap6262]

Thank for this amazing tutorial

[@theninjayistic]

Thank you very much Toniko!!

[@paolablanco1712]

This helps me understand expressions a lot. thanks

[@ilovesan]

My characters doesn't have any face at all 😋

[@ilikemochi94]

Slenderman type of characters…

[@leodrawscoolshit]

oh

[@teafollet5361]

Really nice introduction to facial expressions

[@Rudenbehr]

I learned so much with this, thank you thank you thank youuuuuuu

[@Alexandra36968]

thank you , a great tutorial

[@At_Amsterdam]

Amazing!!

[@roshanib123]

Thank you this video was so helpful!!!

[@pleurnicheuse1443]

This was fun to draw along to.

[@user-nu5br8yg4u]

Thanks for teaching!

[@ECHOSTVART]

Very beautiful

[@awaitingthetrumpetcall4529]

Wow. I subscribed before 5 minutes were up.

[@freedomtophysics.68]

Idea of using front the camera is awesome.... thank you...dude..😊😊🤗

[@ilikefunbetterthanu]

Great work, inspires me to get drawing :)

[@geraldholland8731]

Very very helpful. Thanks

[@Model_BT-7274]

Speaking of shock, the IRL models you chose all look like they are faking. And it made me realize something. I think shock might be the hardest expression to try to imitate. It's one of those things that come naturally.

[@curioussoul5151]

thank you very much

[@dreamingarts5332]

영상 정말 재밌어요 !^^ very useful

[@kuyajaypi]

great video! *subbed*

[@jtiumproductions7629]

this was really helpfull i don't think my oc has ever looked this pissed thanks :D

[@YasminGeorge1]

I actually am learning how to draw these today

[@SirDude555]

Great Video! I'm checking out your channel after hearing "mewTripled" mention you on her channel. This type of beginner information is what I need. Cartooning is just a hobby for me, but I'm getting tired of all my drawing looking the same way.

[@Panda0nxtc]

Thank you master

[@lalkcExplores]

Thanks😀

[@blueflare3848]

I've seen a lot of artists draw a vertical and horizontal line when drawing faces. I never did this before but recently started trying it. Where do the eyes go on the horizontal line? Do the bottom of the eyes rest along the line? Or does the line cut through each eye?

[@TonikoPantoja]

This is a great question. I'll cover that on a video since I've seen different approaches. The most popular and the one I like to use is the loomis method - but there are other ones

[@blueflare3848]

@hellbound I feel like that’s too low on the face, though. The horizontal line is usually in the middle of the face, around where the eyes should be. I use the vertical line to figure out where the nose should be, which in turn helps me know where to put the eyebrows (another helpful trick I found out is that the eyebrows typically line up with the top of the ears).

[@beetljam792]

Squash and stretch is one of the most simple but effective art techniques

[@V1ctim_]

I replayed that intro 10 times for that doggo he was too cute for me idk why-

[@fcsteamboat]

Thanks!!!

[@asiaticgamer8653]

I love that intro song

[@Berwulfus]

That intro is so fucking adorable i cant AAAAAAAA 🧡🤎💘💞💟💥♥️💓💢💔

[@smileystuff261]

"This kid is in turmoil" KILLED me😂

[@Red_Nightmare_]

Im still rlly bad at stuff like this, but wow, this helped!

[@sharit7970]

Great content, very clear and useful, thanks for posting!

[@robertjv]

Thx bro, I always find facial expressions hard if I'm drawing them in an angle from the sides

[@101touchapps]

the faces man😂 subbed!

[@AlexandPedro]

Funny expressions! Hehe

[@chiellazona5624]

I just subscibed immediately when I saw this 1:08 lmao. I know it wont be boring

[@jonathanbrando5317]

I saw the intro and subscribed

[@ayyeyo]

1:10 when I know I'm home alone

[@TheToyHoarder]

How were you able to put a whole page of reference images into a single photoshop window, please?

[@olivegem6853]

I have a dumb question but what I struggle with is which I should draw first, the facial expression or the head shape. It’s easier to draw the face first and make it expressive but then the head looks sloppy around it…..

[@Qman125]

Do you work in the animation industry or something similar?

[@TonikoPantoja]

yup

[@PowerSpirit50]

@@TonikoPantoja Oh, what do typically work as?

[@-acne]

HOW DOES THIS DUDE ALWAYS GET THE OTHER FREAKING EYE

[@spikediesel2489]

SO HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT STUDYING FACE EXPRESSION

[@IzzyG321]

WHAT BRUSH DO U USE AT 3:32??? IT LOOKS SO SMOOTH BRO

[@miraclewade6112]

"This kid is in turmoil" 😂😂😂 10:55

[@Moookar]

Anyone have advice on how to add wrinkles to the mouth to convey tension WITHOUT necessarily conveying age? I struggle with it, but obviously all faces with tension have wrinkles, so

[@premnathart3496]

Please tell me about Your PC and hardware specification .

[@tommyhartley5751]

I’m just wondering if it is possible to emulate vintage animation in the style of the original Tom & Jerry Classics with modern technology?

[@pablochamber411]

look up "Cuphead"

[@tommyhartley5751]

Pablo Chamber Thank you!

[@melonbottle1852]

what brush settings are you using :0

[@alibino3154]

The fourth images on sad expression is the definition of smile in pain 😂

[@ElasticcowSlayer]

This use for comic expression 😎

[@artxroyalty]

My biggest issue when drawing different expressions is drawing the shape of the face/jawline at different angles so that they match the emotion…if that makes sense