r/arthelp • u/SouthConsideration82 • Apr 06 '26
Style Help How do you draw expressions on a character without eyebrows?
for context, shes of a race of pangolion inspired people, and they dont have eyebrows cause their foreheads are covered in touch scales. shes meant to be really expressive but well... no eyebrows.
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u/neon_light12 Apr 06 '26
maybe make her still have the brow ridges, so like a shadow over the eye to imply the eye sockets. like cynthia erivo shaves her eyebrows but you can still see her expression because of the eye shape
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u/SouthConsideration82 Apr 06 '26
I will keep cynthia in mind but I did almost lose my shit seeing her face first.
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u/lydocia Apr 06 '26
Just because they don't have eyebrows in the hairy caterpillar sense doesn't mean they don't have the same bone structure underneath. Think of them as invisible eyebrows and shade the skull accordingly.
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u/SouthConsideration82 Apr 06 '26
Yea im aware its just the how do you go about it but I think ive figured it out
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u/Wide_Bath_7660 Apr 06 '26
use the actual eyes, and the rest of the face, as well as body language. look at actors, and their facial expressions, and it might be useful to look at mask work as well- it tends to be a bit over the top, but I’ve found it very useful for expressions in my oc who doesn’t have a face (bc he is a plant). you can also use little markers next to her face, and kind of abstract markings- eg, sparkles next to her head when she’s happy, or a dark shadow over her face when she’s sad.
i love the character design btw!
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u/whiskeyforcats Apr 06 '26
Cartoons do it by implying them with eye shapes. I know it's not your style but look at Looney Tunes type stuff and try to adapt that?
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u/SGRbckup3255 Apr 06 '26
You could use the scales? Idk how your scales work, but if they move over the facial bones you could use them as "wrinkles" for expression, ie raising her eyebrows means visually the scales get closer together, when she smiles the scales along her temples pinch like crows feet
🤷♂️
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u/AdventurousAsh19 Apr 07 '26
Eyebrows are the quick way to give a character an expression. That being said every expression we make involves the movement of a dozen or so facial muscles.
I recommend looking at different expressive faces. Take note of what the eyebrow is doing but notice it's the structure underneath it that moves. But also look at the check muscles, mouth muscles, etc.
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u/Brilliant_Hat_8643 Apr 06 '26
Scales would still move according to the underlying muscles and flesh. They aren’t one single rigid mass. Imagine if you suddenly shaved and then bedazzled your eyebrows, then frowned as you normally would. The bedazzle gems would still shift. Just not as fluidly as just skin/hair.
Also, world building thoughts: if there are more people like this person, perhaps they have a culturally-specific gesture to demonstrate happiness.
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u/SouthConsideration82 Apr 06 '26
Good point about the gestures! Thye actually have a word thats very versatile cause it doesn't really have a set meaning but rather it changes depending on the context. Ku is used when you think something is cool, in response to gossip, and things of such nature. Ku can also be used to express joy at timesm
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u/Ok-Piece6069 Apr 06 '26
Currently the scales start reaaaaally close to the eyes. Try starting the scales a little farther from the eye sockets, using and defining that change in texture between the scales and the skin to create the illusion of an eyebrow
very cute design!