![Vahaadi Facial Anatomy Study [UPDATED]](https://inking.callyanncreates.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/cropped-thinkingspacebanner.png)
AC gave me a critique that helped me realize I draw jaws from 3/4 angle all wrong. *facepalm* So, I fixed it! Vahaadi’s face is thus a little boxier than I would have expected, but I’m OK with that. I’ve established that his crest and beard are both an eye-width in height, and his chin is longer than I would have guessed (I’m chalking this up to my stylistic preference for very short upper lips, so his mouth is a little higher than it ought to be). Looking at references of actual people, I found Vahaadi’s most exaggerated and distinctive feature is his eyebrows! I guess I already knew that from drawing the Lackadiasy Vahaadi, but I didn’t realize how extreme his are hahaha. XD
I took this study one step further and drew a “stretch” version, to see what he would look like when his eyes and mouth are all the way open and his brows are up as high as they’ll go! I think it’s funny because he never looks this “open.”
I finished this up with a “squash”! Again, not an expression he usually makes–or if he does, it’s very fleeting. And thank goodness. He looks like he’s like 80 years old, in pain, and/or about to cry! D: Figuring out the chin was the hardest part of this. Because his lips are pulling in and upward, his chin is puckering, but that would also pull his beard up…unfortunately, I don’t have a beard to examine, so I just guessed! I feel the squash turned out the least accurate.
Now that I have this guide to work with, I can move on to more suitable expressions and more challenging angles! …and, eventually, I’ll get to adding the hair, cowl and jewelry… >.>
P.S. Adam’s apples are the weirdest things ever. o.e
THANK YOU FOR THIS!!! It is flawless and so necessary. Now I won’t have to rely on his signature hairstyle to make him look like himself! I won’t be able to live with myself if even after having this I can’t get his nose right. Flynn Rider ain’t got nothing on Vahaadi, haha.
Ha! Well, not even I get his nose right. I usually draw the bridge much higher from the front–typically between his upper eyelids–but from the side I draw it lower. X| It looks too weird in profile to have the bridge go up that far, so I need to adjust the way I’ve been drawing him from the front. This was a helpful exercise to decide what his beard looks like and where his crest sits! Next step is to be able to do it with hair and/or cowl, and then with expressions. And really, I should do one of these for all of my characters. SOOOOOO helpful! You should try it, too!
WOW the squash face is perfect!!!
it is totally how I pictured it would be! Boy, it really is great having a reference for him now, one that we are both using. Since you’re busy trying to ingrain him into your muscle memory, would you like me to do one for Spark? Or will it be better for you if you do it?
Well, I want to ingrain her in my muscle memory too! And her face will be way more fun than Vahaadi’s. XD But, if you feel up to it, go for it! I know these aren’t your favorite kinds of things to draw though so don’t feel obligated!