Sketchbook: What's In A Face?

Pencil on tracing paper

Quite a lot, actually. Just like in real life, people judge a character the first time they see his or her face. This particular character plays an important role in my comic, but only for a short time. Readers have to connect with him instantly for his part in the story to work.

So I need his face to reveal a man wise and powerful, but also kind and grandfatherly, with a gentle sense of humor. Creating an original "old wizard" character is no easy feat with the likes of Gandalf, Dumbledore, and Obi-Wan Kenobi running around.

The eyebrows got me going. The earliest sketches were more generic, not very interesting. No matter how dignified his duties, this is the sort of man who delights in stories and games and amusing children. Frowsy, extravagant eyebrows gave me that feel, and the face followed from there. But what to do with the rest of the facial hair? Without a beard, or with too much head hair, he looked too young. The mustache or hair that's neater looks too restrained. So guess which one I picked?

And one more tidbit you might find interesting. I drew this while staying up to keep an eye on a wildfire burning 3 miles from my home, which is why I slept in and the Sketchbook post is late today.

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