How To Show Expression With The Mouth!

How to show expression with the mouth!

This was a request and at first I wasn’t sure if I had anything to provide with, but as it turn out it got a little longer than I expected because there were actually things I had to say!! Wow!!

Anyway, this is some guidelines I follow when I try to make the face expressfull, more specifically the mouth! It is often neglected, since it’s actually pretty hard, I’ll admit. But I’m here to help (hopefully…)! A mouth expression tutorial as per request. Enjoy and hopefully it will help some a little. ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ

Draw the teeth at the right angle.

This is super important. The upper jaw follows the angle of the head, and the lower jaw will depend on how open it is. Make sure you have a rough estimate of where the teeth are, and how much of them you’re going to see!

The lips will VERY roughly follow the same angle as the teeth. It really depends on the character, but it gives you a sense at least.

If you DON’T do this, you’re going to lose so much volume and the mouth is going to end up looking unrelatable. I showed this example in this tutorial:

It’s not just the lips!

The cheeks, chin, and tongue play a role too!

Try look at your own mouth or references! I have a very pliable and large mouth, so that’s one reason why my characters have it too lmao.

ASYMMETRYYYYY (ง ͠° ͟ل͜ ͡°)ง

I cannot emphasize how important asymmetry is when drawing expressions. It applies not only to the eyebrows to achieve the Dreamwork Face™, but also the mouth. Seriously if you draw a symmetric mouth I will deliver myself to your mailbox and then shout at you until you fix it.

Look at the difference between these two for example: which one has more “life”?

I think you get the idea.

Push and squish - give it flow

Here’s an old drawing I have but it illustrates how I think when I squish the mouth, and use folding and wrinkles to my advantage.

Look at your own face and see where skin bundles up, where it creases the most and when bumps appear on your chin. Subtle details makes all the difference!

One VERY effective detail is illustrated in the first sketch, where I pull upwards on one side, and downwards on the other. That’s a good detail to use when the character is making a skewed expression, or is extremely frustrated. I encourage you to play around with that concept bc it’s ~super effective~!

EXAMPLES:

Happy: Your entire mouth is pushed upwards, not just the corners of your mouth!

I tend to draw a :3 mouth bc I’ve been drawing Lance too much….. You don’t have to but it’s basically imprinted in my motor memory by now.

Pouting/frowning: corners are pushed down, middle pushed slightly up. Sometimes, there’s a slight dip in the middle too. It can give a sense that the character is biting their lips.

Showing frustration/intimidating/is intimidated: basically showing a lot of teeth. The corners are as open as possible and the middle sorta more squished. An extremely important detail here is showing some of the gums, and open space between the cheeks and teeth. That way it looks like the mouth it open to it’s full potential. Here is also where you basically MUST add folds and bumps, or else it’s not going to look relatable.

(Here I am again with the pulling upwards on one side and downwards on the other, as illustrated on the last sketch)

And then again, here’s just another doodle showing how important it is to show the gums. It’s the same face twice, but the second one looks slightly more frustrated doesn’t it?

(from my other tutorial on how to draw facial expressions)

As you can see, this last one is very versatile and I draw it a lot. Play around with the basic shape and see how much subtle details makes a lot of difference!

That’s it!

I hope that cleared some things up and was somewhat helpful! Enjoy drawing ✨

Tags

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Writing Masterpost (Updated 07/08/17)

★ Fandoms are listed in alphabetical order, fics are listed from oldest to the top, newest to the bottom in each respective category. ★

★ Like what you see? Please consider donating to my [ko-fi] or supporting my [Patreon], I’d really appreciate it! ★

★ I also have an [ao3] account and a [wattpad] account! ★

★ ★ ★ DIABOLIK LOVERS ★ ★ ★ –Smut– —– Listen to me, Sow – Yuma Mukami x MC —– Hellishly Irresistible – Shu Sakamaki x MC —– Come to Hell with Me – Laito Sakamaki x MC —– You Better Stay Still – Ruki Mukami x MC —– I Can’t Wait to Unwrap You – Laito Sakamaki x MC

–Quick Writes– —– Ayato’s Love Bites (NSFW)

~*~*~*~*~

★ ★ ★ KILLING STALKING ★ ★ ★ –Smut– —– Do You Want to Suck My Cock, Charlie? – Sangwoo Oh x OC

~*~*~*~*~

★ ★ ★ MYSTIC MESSENGER ★ ★ ★ –Smut– —– Is This What Princesses Like? – Zen(Hyun Ryu) x MC —– This is for My Pleasure First – Jumin Han x Jaehee Kang —– This Time, it’s My Pleasure – Jumin Han x Jaehee Kang —– I Wish I Was There Right Now – Seven(Saeyoung Choi) x MC —– We Could Have Some Fun – Yoosung Kim x MC —– You Don’t Need to be Nervous With me – Jumin Han x Jaehee Kang —– You’re Gorgeous, Love – V(Jihyun Kim) x MC —– You’re Releasing an Animal Tonight – Werewolf!Zen(Hyun Ryu) x MC —– And I Want Your Blood – Vampire!Jumin Han x MC —– Imagine Me, Werewolf!Zen – Werewolf!Zen(Hyun Ryu) x MC —– You’re Going to Give Me Your Soul – Demon!Yoosung Kim x MC —– There’s More Potion Where That Came From – Witch!Jaehee Kang x MC —– It Sounds All the Better When You Play it, Love – Zen(Hyun Ryu) x MC —– Too Bad You Can’t Fuck a Hologram – GHOST!Seven(Saeyoung Choi) x MC —– I Want You For Dessert – Jumin Han x Jaehee Kang —– This is What Netflix and Chill is, Right? – Seven(Saeyoung Choi) x Male!MC —– The Camera Doesn’t Make Beauty, it Captures It – V(Jihyun Kim) x MC —– This Was What You Had Planned? – Zen(Hyun Ryu) x MC —– Shall We Go Back to Bed? – Jumin Han x MC —– Let Me Eat You Until You Can’t Take It – Zen(Hyun Ryu) x MC —– Try to Stay Quiet – Werewolf!Zen(Hyun Ryu) x MC —– Just Check Your Messages – Zen(Hyun Ryu) x MC —– Do You Like How my Bike Vibrates? – Zen(Hyun Ryu) x MC —– Our Birthday Isn’t Over Yet – Seven(Saeyoung Choi) x MC x Unknown(Saeran Choi) —– I Don’t Know What You’re Talking About, Officer – Police Officer!Zen(Hyun Ryu) x MC

–Smut Series– —– One Night Standerwood (Part 1) (Part 2) – Vanderwood x MC

–Fluff– —– As I Love You – V(Jihyun Kim) x MC —– You’re the Most Gorgeous of People – Zen(Hyun Ryu) x MC —– There’s My Beautiful Princess’s Smile – Zen(Hyun Ryu) x MC —– Can We Take Your Picture? – No Pairings, V(Jihyun Kim) Focus

–Quick Writes– —– Making Out With Jumin (Smut-ish) —– Jumin and Jaehee Curing a Headache (NSFW) —– Shower Lesson With Jihyun (NSFW) —– Giving Zen Head (NSFW) —– Zen’s Valentine’s Day Cocklate (NSFW) —– Giving Jihyun Head (NSFW) —– Zen’s Happy Trail (NSFW) —– Teasing Unknown (NSFW) —– Vanderwood’s Training (NSFW) —– Blindfolded by Zen (NSFW) —– Yoosung’s Birthday Blowjob (NSFW) —– Maid Seven (NSFW) —– Say Something [Zen] (Angst) —– Blindfolded Zen (NSFW) —– Zen’s Beast (NSFW) —– Walls [Zen] (Angst) —– Butler!Zen (NSFW) —– Werewolf!Zen’s Tease (NSFW)

–SFW Headcanons– —– Job Switch (RFA + V) —– Favorite Card/Board games (RFA + V + Unknown) —– As Songs from Wicked (RFA) —– Getting into a Fight (Zen) —– Reacting to the Death of MC (RFA)

–NSFW Headcanons– —– First Time with Male!MC (RFA + V + Unknown + Vanderwood) —– Shy MC Hinting at Sex (RFA)

–Vanderweek 2017– —– Day 1: Memories —– Day 2: Vanderwood Route —– Day 3: Romance (NSFW) —– Day 4: Hobbies —– Day 5: Conflict

~*~*~*~*~

★ ★ ★ UTA NO PRINCE-SAMA ★ ★ ★ –Quick Writes– —– Cuddling with Natsuki (Fluff)

~*~*~*~*~

★ ★ ★ VOLTAGE INC ★ ★ ★ ★ Scandal in the Spotlight ★ –Smut– —– The Best Birthday Present of All – Kyohei Rikudoh x MC

–SFW Headcanons– —– Steamy Collab with Idol!MC (Kyohei)

~*~*~*~*~

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7 years ago

A summary of how people die (and don't) in swordfights

This is a really good article about how quickly people actually die from cuts and punctures inflicted by swords and knives. However, it’s really really long and I figured that since I was summarizing for my own benefit I’d share it for anyone else who is writing fiction that involves hacking and slashing your villain(s) to death. If you want the nitty gritty of the hows and whys of this, you can find it at the original source.

…even in the case of mortal wounds, pain may not reach levels of magnitude sufficient to incapacitate a determined swordsman.

Causes of death from stabs and cuts:

massive bleeding (exsanguination) - most common

air in the bloodstream (air embolism)

suffocation (asphyxia)

air in the chest cavity (pneumothorax)

infection

Stabbing vs cutting:

Stabbing someone actually takes very little force if you don’t hit bone or hard cartilage.

The most important factor in the ease of stabbing is the velocity of the blade at impact with the skin, followed by the sharpness of the blade.

Stabbing wounds tend to close after the weapon is withdrawn.

Stabbing wounds to muscles are not typically very damaging. Damage increases with the width of the blade.

Cutting wounds are typically deepest at the site of initial impact and get shallower as force is transferred from the initial swing to pushing and pressing.

Cutting wounds have a huge number of factors that dictate how deep they are and how easily they damage someone: skill, radial velocity, mass of the blade, and the size of the initial impact.

Cutting wounds along the grain of musculature are not typically very damaging but cutting wounds across the grain can incapacitate.

Arteries vs veins:

Severed veins have almost zero blood pressure and sometimes even negative pressure. They do not spurt but major veins can suck air in causing an air embolism.

Cutting or puncturing a vein is usually not fatal.

Severed arteries have high blood pressure. The larger arteries do spurt and can often cause death due to exsanguination.

Body parts as targets:

Severing a jugular vein in the neck causes an air embolism and will make the victim collapse after one or two gasps for air.

Severing a carotid artery in the neck cuts off the blood supply to the brain but the victim may be conscious for up to thirty seconds.

Stabbing or cutting the neck also causes the victim to aspirate blood that causes asphyxiation and death.

Severing a major abdominal artery or vein would cause immediate collapse, but this takes a fairly heavy blade and a significant amount of effort because they are situated near the spine.

Abdominal wounds that only impact the organs can cause death but they do not immediately incapacitate.

Severing an artery in the interior of the upper arm causes exsanguination and death but does not immediately incapacitate.

Severing an artery in the palm side of the forearm causes exsanguination and death but does not immediately incapacitate.

Severing the femoral artery at a point just above and behind the knee is the best location. Higher up the leg it is too well protected to easily hit. This disables and will eventually kill the victim but does not immediately incapacitate.

Cutting across the muscles of the forearm can immediately end the opponent’s ability to hold their weapon.

Cutting across the palm side of the wrist causes immediate loss of ability to hold a weapon.

Stab wounds to the arm do not significantly impact the ability to wield a weapon or use it.

Cuts and stab wounds to the front and back of the legs generally do not do enough muscle damage to cause total loss of use of that leg.

Bone anywhere in the body can bend or otherwise disfigure a blade.

The brain can be stabbed fairly easily through the eyes, the temples, and the sinuses.

Stabs to the brain are more often not incapacitating.

The lungs as targets:

Slicing into the lung stops that lung from functioning, but the other lung continues to function normally. This also requires either luck to get between the ribs or a great deal of force to penetrate the ribs.

Stabbing the lung stops that lung from functioning, but the other lung continues to function normally. It is significantly easier to stab between ribs than to slice.

It is possible to stab the victim from the side and pass through both lungs with an adequate length blade. It is very unlikely that this will happen with a slicing hit.

“Death caused solely by pneumothorax is generally a slow process, occurring as much as several hours after the wound is inflicted.”

Lung punctures also typically involve the lung filling with blood, but this is a slow process.

The heart as a target:

I’m just going to quote this paragraph outright with a few omissions and formatting changes for clarity because it’s chock-full of good info:

…[stabbing] wounds to the heart the location, depth of penetration, blade width, and the presence or absence of cutting edges are important factors influencing a wounded duelist’s ability to continue a combat.

Large cuts that transect the heart may be expected to result in swift incapacitation…

…stab wounds, similar to those that might be inflicted by a thrust with a sword with a narrow, pointed blade may leave a mortally wounded victim capable of surprisingly athletic endeavors.

Essentially, the heart can temporarily seal itself well enough to keep pressure up for a little while if it’s a simple stab. The arteries around the heart, while they are smaller and harder to hit, actually cause incapacitation much more quickly.

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6 years ago

best ones from Thomas Sanders’ Narrating People’s Lives.

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7 years ago

Humans are adorable.

Supporting evidence:

1. Humans say ‘ow’, even if they haven’t actually been hurt. It’s just a thing they say when they think they might have been hurt, but aren’t sure yet.

2. Humans collect shiny things and decorate their bodies and nests with them. The shinier the better, although each individual has a unique taste for style and colouring

3. Humans are not an aquatic or even amphibious species, but they flock to bodies of water simply to play in it. They can’t even hold their breath all that long; they just love to splash!

4. When night falls and the sky goes dark, humans become drowsy and begin to cocoon themselves in soft, fluffy bedding.

5. Some humans spend time in each other’s nests! Just for fun! It’s not their nest; they’re just visiting each other.

6. Some humans use pigments and dyes to make their bodies flashy and colourful! They even attach shiny dangly bits to their cartalidgous membranes!

7. Humans are very clever, and sometimes adopt creatures from other species into their family units. They don’t seem to notice the obvious differences, and often raise them alongside their own young!

8. If a human sees another creature in distress, they can commonly be observed trying to help! Even at their own risk, most humans are deeply compassionate creatures!

9. If a human hears a particularity catchy sound or tune, it will often mimic it, even to the point of annoying themselves!

10. Sneezes are entirely involuntary, and completely adorable. Especially when the human in question becomes frustrated

11. Humans love treats!!! Some more than others. Many humans will save these treats specifically for a later date when they are in need of comfort or reassurance. IE, pickles, pop tarts, Popsicles, etc

12. They’re learning to travel in space!!! They can’t get very far, but they’re trying!!! So far, they’ve made it to the end of their yard, and have found rocks

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7 years ago

M A S T E R L I S T

Here is a compilation of all the Mystic Messenger related stuff I’ve written so far. I will keep it updated very regularly, meaning that whenever I post a new headcanon, scenario or fic you will be able to find the link

|| FICS ||

RFA meets MC for the first time + ZenxMC having a lot of sex [NSFW]

RFA + Saeran + V being in theatre club together + ZenxMC

MC and Zen are professional ballet dancers who fall in love

MC cheating on her husband Saeyoung with Saeran [NSFW]

MC getting together with and proposed to by Saeran

MC taking her last picture of the RFA (based on art)

MC having worked for Jumin before joining RFA and Jumin finding out

Pride and Prejudice AU with JuminxMC

JuminxMC finding out they are half siblings after getting married [ANGST]

Male!MC surprising Jaehee after being away at war for years 5+1 things - The one where Saeran falls in love with bubbly, kind MC

||REACTIONS||

RFA + Saeran + V + Vanderwood reacting to MC leaving for world tour

RFA + Saeran + V sleeping positions + MC reaction to them

RFA + Saeran + V reacting to Asthmatic MC having an attack before sex [NSFW-ish]

RFA + Saeran + V reacting to MC being a really shitty cook

RFA + Saeran + V reacting to MC having a lisp due to dental a device

RFA + Saeran + V reacting to MC being cold to them, because they accidentally forgot her birthday

RFA + Saeran + V reacting to MC getting injured while caught in an accident with them

RFA + Saeran + V reacting to MC constantly crying for seemingly no reason

RFA + Saeran +V reacting to MC being cheated on and getting revenge

RFA + Saeran + V reacting to MC being a Junior in High School aka ‘underage’

RFA + Saeran + V reacting to MC having a phobia of butterflies

RFA + Saeran + V reacting to MC wanting to wait until marriage to have sex

RFA + Saeran + V reacting to MC being high after getting her wisdom teeth removed

RFA + Saeran reacting to MC being a YouTuber and joining in for a video

RFA + Saeran reacting to finding out MC being a drummer

RFA + V reacting to bubbly MC also being hella sassy and dragging a bitch

RFA reacting to MC giving them a blowjob [NSFW]

RFA reacting to MC joining and returning from the military

RFA reacting to MC going to College 2+ hours away

||HEADCANONS||

RFA + Saeran at Hogwarts Jumin x ZEN headcanons [platonic]

Zen/Jumin/Saeran having phone-sex with MC [NSFW]

||SCENARIOS||

MC is nervous about meeting Chairman Han + Jumin helps her in his own way

RFA+Saeran+V planning a romantic date for MC but everything going wrong…or not? [FLUFF] RFA+Saeran+V breaking up with MC and maybe getting back together?

MC drunk dialing RFA+Saeran and telling them ‘I love you’ for the first time

RFA and MC having been childhood friends but only finding out now

MC coming out as ftm transgender to RFA+Saeran+V MC being a criminal and RFA+Saeran finding out ||PART ONE||

MC being a criminal and RFA+Saeran having sex ||PART TWO|| [NSFW]

Jumin’s and V’s worst childhood memory

|| ANALYSIS ||

Is Jaehee really only Zen’s fan?

Why is Jaehee’s and Zen’s (possibly romantic) relationship not further explored and how well would they really fit together [1] [2]

Why Jaehee is obedient - a continuation of the discussion above

How MC’s behaviour changes in every route to match the romanced character as she doesn’t actually exist as a character of her own

Why Zen’s biker-gang days probably weren’t as safe as he makes them seem

Who of the five main characters needs therapy the most - a ranking with detailed explanation as to why

Some of the bigger reasons people don’t like Saeyoung/Seven/707

Why Jumin is a better/saner character than the fandom gives him credit for

How and Why Jumin Han is emotionally constipated

What mental illnesses do RFA+Saeran+V (possibly) have

Why Saeyoung doesn’t drink and what he possibly thinks of Zen/MC doing it

Why I hate Rika and why she is an undeniably shitty character Why Vanderwood falls flat as a character (for me)

|| MYSTIC SLICE OF LIFE ||

Ep. 1 - Jumin, Zen and the curse cat-photoshoot

Ep. 2 - Saeyoung and Saeran in Macaroni Make Men Smile

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masterlist mystic messenger

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7 years ago

MASTERLIST ✰

✰ This is so you can browse through all the writing freely and only read things you’re interested in~ For my convenience and yours ✰

✰ if you want to request a scenario/imagine, headcanon, or matchup go to my inbox [make sure they’re open] ✰

✰ all imagines are written in the ‘x reader’ format ✰

✰ if they don’t have a link it’s a work in progress ✰

✰ last updated August 6 @ 11:40 PM ✰

HEADCANONS

[safe for work] [** means favorite] [alphabetical order]

RFA (+Minor Trio) react to MC having a dream about losing them

RFA (+Minor Trio) reacting to Saeyoung’s Toy Shop

RFA (+Minor Trio) with MC who is best friends with Seven

RFA (+Minor Trio) with crazy colored hair

RFA (+Minor Trio) with mute MC

RFA (+V) getting in a fight with MC** [HAPPY END]

RFA (+V) react to MC wanting to leave after first party [ANGST]

RFA (+V) reacting to MC who can’t swim

RFA (V+Saeran) reacting to MC in a blanket burrito

RFA (V+Saeran) reacting to MC who is laying down on the floor

RFA (V+Saeran) reacting to MC who’s adopted and neglected

RFA (V+Saeran) reacting to MC with fear of storms

RFA (V+Saeran) reacting to MC with fear of yelling/screaming

RFA (V+Saeran) reacting to short MC

RFA (V+Saeran) with MC who is a fantasy writer

RFA (V+Saeran) with MC who has fear of heights

RFA (V+Saeran) with darker skin MC who is insecure

RFA reacting to MC with long shirt and no shorts

RFA using Snapchat

RFA watching Television with MC

RFA with MC who doesn’t smile for real, but when they do it’s beautiful

[not safe for work] [alphabetical order]

RFA (V+Saeran) first time having sex with MC

IMAGINES

Jaehee x MC having sex in the café [NSFW]

Zen x MC who is wearing thigh-highs and a short skirt [NSFW]

BY CHARACTER

[Yoosung]

none

[Zen]

Reactig to MC wearing thigh-highs and a short skirt [NSFW] [Imagine]

[Jaehee]

Having sex in the café with MC [NSFW] [Imagine]

[Jumin]

reacting to MC’s kitten and Elizabeth

Shy! Jumin** [both SFW + NSFW]

[Seven]

none

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7 years ago

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6 years ago

Guys this is a damn reference blog i will block y'all

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7 years ago

…if Your Mouth Is Faster Than Your Brain.

…if your mouth is faster than your brain.

I. Am. Fucking. Trash. Damn this game and damn this guy but he needs love and I want to show that there is so much love for him in my heart! :<

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A side blog, meant to contain useful lifehacks and references. Useful for me, of course.

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How To Show Expression With The Mouth!