Anatomy of Facial Expressions

I set out on a mission to get really good at drawing the female form, and began with just the face/head. I’ve acquired a stack of anatomy books and even went so far as to buy a rather pricey online course that was so boring I couldn’t get through it. The problem I have with most anatomy books is that the authors drawings are sloppy, inaccurate, confusing or don’t translate the scientific information well to completing a drawing. Or they only focus on males with a short insert on female anatomy. THIS BOOK is the book I’ve been searching for. It has so many detailed graphics and overlays using real people (both male and female) you’re able to fully understand why shapes, lines, and forms are the way they are on the face. With that understanding it becomes much easier to draw an accurate face in less time (with practice) and when something does look “off” I’m able to identity the problem and correct it instead of drawing, erasing, redrawing, erasing again.... there is plenty of text explanations that understand your end goal and why you’re using the book, they don’t make assumptions about how much you may already know or want to know, it teaches you many muscles and features that maybe you’ll never need to know but I like that it’s so thorough. Once you learn all of this info you can rely a little more on your imagination to render drawings and portraits accurately and beautifully. Totally worth every penny, I’ll be buying the companion book on the rest of the body soon!

This book contains an authoritative description of the anatomy of the human head. It was primarily created as a reference for sculptors and portrait painters, but I gather it has caught on in a few medical specialties. There is really nothing to read, it is all pictures that label the anatomy. Each picture color codes the features that you should know about, and the text is just the name of each feature. It starts with a tour of the bones, then a tour of the muscles, then identifying muscle groups that cause different parts of your face to move. Then at the end is a catalog of human facial expressions that identifies which combination of muscle groups is involved to achieve that expression. I wish there was more about the neck but there is another book for that.

This book is AWESOME for sculptors! I am not an artist but even I was extremely impressed with this book’s illustrations and examples of the myriad subtle variations among body types, facial features, ages, and etc. From what I could see, this book is an absolute goldmine for accurately capturing the expression and angle of a face an artist is “going for.” I wish I could afford to purchase all the books in this series for the sculptor in my family.

Truly the most thorough book on the market. As a physician assistant working in cosmetic injections, knowing and mastering anatomy is vital. As you can see the book breaks musculature down beautifully, as well as other areas of facial expression such as bone, ligaments, and fat. The artwork is also incredible and super detailed. Really a high quality book that is a must have for all working in facial aesthetics!

Good read

Good book.. however expensive

All artists must absolutely own this beautiful book,As well as the first volume "anatomy for sculptors" that addresses the human body ;The drawings are accurate and anatomically perfect ,These are the 2 books I dreamed about in my adolescence now they are real ,I recommend this book for designers and artistsConfirm or amateur.ps: Unfortunately the facial anatomy book has arrived damaged ,It was sent in a simple plastic bubble By the Society Exonicus, Incwhile I am in FranceIt's really a lack of respect they just wanted to take money and the restHe does not care,I was really dissatisfied because it is a beautiful book that I wanted to keep preciously, I thank the whole team for your wonderful work!

I started sculpting a few months ago and I love books, so obviously I bought every book on the planet, some were good, most were ok. What I rarely found were the views from all the sides. I mean what does it help you to see a smile but you don’t know what happens from side view-ears, cheeks, etc. This book shows it all, just wow. I am a visual type and every page is a visual. Amazing. I can’t wait to sculpt every facial expression. Definitely want to get the other book too.