How to Show Pain and Terror in Drawings

In searing pain

The human face is capable of too many expressions to count. These expressions mostly rely on the positioning of the eyebrows, the shape of the eyes, and the shape of the mouth, though other features might come into play with some expressions.Pain and terror are negative emotions that some artists might want to create for whatever reason. These are emotions of vulnerability. They can also be called moment-of-truth emotions because they are emotions experienced in a do-or-die situation. These expressions mostly involve widened eyes, raised eyebrows, and opened mouths, but there are other variations depending on the situation.

Things You'll Need

• Drawing pencil
• Pencil eraser
• Drawing paper

Instructions

Drawing a Nervous Character

1. 

   Draw two circles and draw two curves that cover the top of the eyes and go down the outer sides of the eyes.

2. 

   Draw high and curving eyebrows.

3. 

   Draw a small nose and a tiny or nonexistent mouth. Add lines under the eyes to represent blush. Draw the rest of the head.

Drawing a Scared Face

1. 

   Draw an outline for a head.

2. 

   Draw a straight line with the edges cornering downward

3. 

   Draw several vertical lines where the cheeks would be to indicate a blush. Above the blush, draw horizontal lines where the eyes would be.

4. 

   Draw circles on the inner top parts of the horizontal lines. Draw curving lines above the circles that serve as the upper eyelids. The character should appear like his eyes are very wide.

5. 

   Draw curving lines above the eyelids.

6. 

   Draw whatever hair you'd like on your character's head.

How to Draw a Character Fainting

1. 

   Draw a circle for the mouth. Draw five lines above the mouth, two on one side, two on the other, and one directly above the mouth.

2. 

   Above the lines on the sides, draw lines that curve downward. Draw one curving line above each set of vertical lines.

3. 

   Draw curving lines that curve upward and circles that attach to the inner, under sides of the curving lines.

4. 

   Draw the rest of the head and draw slanting lines to represent the eyebrows above the eyes.

5. 

   Draw hair on the character's head.

Drawing Intense Pain

1. 

   Draw the head however you'd like.

2. 

   Draw a line on the lower part of the head. Draw another curving line underneath the straight line. This should form the mouth. Draw a tongue if you'd like.

3. 

   Draw horizontal lines that curve upwards where the eyes should be. Draw a straight line in the center of the face for the nose. If you want, draw lines on the cheeks to represent blush.

4. 

   Draw lines above the eyes that slant upwards towards the forehead.

5. 

   Draw hair on the character if you'd like.

Tips & Warnings

• In general, draw the eyes more closed when pain is being expressed and more open when fear is being expressed. During periods of intense pain, the mouth can be opened very widely.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish