Alain Picard (b.1974), "Beautiful," 2012, pastel on paper, 36 x 24 inches, Cecil Byrne Gallery

by Max Gillies

Everyone has one, so everyone is interested, to a lesser or greater degree.  I’m referring to the face.  Artists have been depicting faces for millennia, sometimes flatteringly and sometimes frankly, but always with the understanding that every viewer has a direct connection with the subject—and also a way of assessing the rendition’s accuracy.

Just as important is the way we “read” facial expressions: there are happy and sad, for example, but also every possible emotion and mood between.  Capturing each is no easy task, so we instinctively admire those artists who get it right.

Enjoy this diverse array of approaches, and please tell us about other artists who excel in this area.

Dave Santillanes (b.1972), "Motherhood," 2015, oil, 16 x 20 inches, Private collection
Dave Santillanes (b.1972), “Motherhood,” 2015, oil, 16 x 20 inches, Private collection
Kwani Povi Winder (b.1989), "In His Eyes," 2017, oil on linen, 20 x 16 inches, Private collection
Kwani Povi Winder (b.1989), “In His Eyes,” 2017, oil on linen, 20 x 16 inches, Private collection
Kyle Stuckey (b.1987), "New day," 2017, oil on linen, 12 x 10 inches
Kyle Stuckey (b.1987), “New day,” 2017, oil on linen, 12 x 10 inches
Linda Harris Reynolds (b.1957), "Nina in Summer," 2017, oil on linen, 27 x 34 inches, Private collection
Linda Harris Reynolds (b.1957), “Nina in Summer,” 2017, oil on linen, 27 x 34 inches, Private collection
Scott Prior (b.1968), "Matt Hensley," 2016-17, oil on canvas, 16 x 20 inches
Scott Prior (b.1968), “Matt Hensley,” 2016-17, oil on canvas, 16 x 20 inches
Alain Picard (b.1974), "Beautiful," 2012, pastel on paper, 36 x 24 inches, Cecil Byrne Gallery
Alain Picard (b.1974), “Beautiful,” 2012, pastel on paper, 36 x 24 inches, Cecil Byrne Gallery
Joel Daniel Phillips (b.1989), "Leroy," 2016, charcoal and graphite on paper, 42 x 94 inches, Private collection
Joel Daniel Phillips (b.1989), “Leroy,” 2016, charcoal and graphite on paper, 42 x 94 inches, Private collection
Kate O'Hagan (b.1971), "Believe," 2016, oil on linen, 40 x 30 inches, RJD Gallery
Kate O’Hagan (b.1971), “Believe,” 2016, oil on linen, 40 x 30 inches, RJD Gallery
David W. Terry (b.1958), "Poet: Naomi Shihab Nye," 2017, oil on linen, 18 x 24 inches
David W. Terry (b.1958), “Poet: Naomi Shihab Nye,” 2017, oil on linen, 18 x 24 inches
Krystii Melaine (b.1963), "Rascals, Rebels & Rogues," 2016, oil on linen, 32 x 46 inches
Krystii Melaine (b.1963), “Rascals, Rebels & Rogues,” 2016, oil on linen, 32 x 46 inches
Bart Lindstrom (b.1947), "Favrot," 2005, oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches, Private collection
Bart Lindstrom (b.1947), “Favrot,” 2005, oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches, Private collection
Paul Keysar (b.1977), "Alise with Her Head in the Clouds," 2017, oil on canvas, 20 x 24 inches
Paul Keysar (b.1977), “Alise with Her Head in the Clouds,” 2017, oil on canvas, 20 x 24 inches
Lee Guk Hyun (b.1983), "The Girl in the Dream," 2015, oil on canvas, 24 x 18 inches, Lotton Gallery
Lee Guk Hyun (b.1983), “The Girl in the Dream,” 2015, oil on canvas, 24 x 18 inches, Lotton Gallery
Hollis Dunlap (b.1977), "Susan 2," 2016, oil on panel, 16 x 12 inches, Sirona Fine Art
Hollis Dunlap (b.1977), “Susan 2,” 2016, oil on panel, 16 x 12 inches, Sirona Fine Art
Jason Drake (b.1955), "Time to Dream," 2017, oil on panel, 24 x 28-1/2 inches,
Jason Drake (b.1955), “Time to Dream,” 2017, oil on panel, 24 x 28-1/2 inches,
Dan Christian (b.1975), "Aurora," 2016, charcoal and pastel on paper, 9-1/2 x 7-1/2 inches, Lovetts Gallery
Dan Christian (b.1975), “Aurora,” 2016, charcoal and pastel on paper, 9-1/2 x 7-1/2 inches, Lovetts Gallery
Kevin Beilfuss (b.1963), "Angelica," 2016, oil on panel, 18 x 24 inches, Walls Gallery
Kevin Beilfuss (b.1963), “Angelica,” 2016, oil on panel, 18 x 24 inches, Walls Gallery
Mark B. Goodson (b.1957), "Expressions of Quilly," 2012, oil on canvas, 18 x 72 inches
Mark B. Goodson (b.1957), “Expressions of Quilly,” 2012, oil on canvas, 18 x 72 inches
Nancy Boren (b.1955), "Four Corners Cowboy," 2016, oil on canvas, 30 x 20 inches, Claggett/Ray Gallery
Nancy Boren (b.1955), “Four Corners Cowboy,” 2016, oil on canvas, 30 x 20 inches, Claggett/Ray Gallery
Suzie Baker (b.1970), "To Every Purpose," 2017, oil on linen panel, 40 x 20 inches
Suzie Baker (b.1970), “To Every Purpose,” 2017, oil on linen panel, 40 x 20 inches
Teresa Elliott (b.1953), "Moon As Bright," 2016, oil on panel, 16 x 12 inches, Private collection
Teresa Elliott (b.1953), “Moon As Bright,” 2016, oil on panel, 16 x 12 inches, Private collection
Tang Wei Min (b.1971), "Children of the North, Affection," 2016, oil on canvas, 24 x 20 inches, Lotton Gallery
Tang Wei Min (b.1971), “Children of the North, Affection,” 2016, oil on canvas, 24 x 20 inches, Lotton Gallery
Shana Levenson (b.1981), "Repent and Forgive," 2016, oil on dibond, 20 x 20 inches, Abend Gallery
Shana Levenson (b.1981), “Repent and Forgive,” 2016, oil on dibond, 20 x 20 inches, Abend Gallery
William H. Neukomm (b.1972), "Chi Cerca Trova," 2015, oil on linen, 32 x 40 inches
William H. Neukomm (b.1972), “Chi Cerca Trova,” 2015, oil on linen, 32 x 40 inches
Brenda Hash (b.1961), "Liz," 2016, pastel, 16 x 25 inches
Brenda Hash (b.1961), “Liz,” 2016, pastel, 16 x 25 inches
Damian Lechoszest (b.1976), "The Farmer," 2017, oil on canvas, 20 x 16 inches, InSight Gallery
Damian Lechoszest (b.1976), “The Farmer,” 2017, oil on canvas, 20 x 16 inches, InSight Gallery
Kristy Gordon (b.1980), "Silence," 2016, oil on canvas, 30 x 30 inches, Cube Gallery
Kristy Gordon (b.1980), “Silence,” 2016, oil on canvas, 30 x 30 inches, Cube Gallery
Kristy Gordon (b.1980), "Boundaries," 2016, oil on canvas, 24 x 18 inches
Kristy Gordon (b.1980), “Boundaries,” 2016, oil on canvas, 24 x 18 inches
Karen Offutt (b.1967), "Offspring," 2017, oil on gessoed wooden board, 30 x 20 inches
Karen Offutt (b.1967), “Offspring,” 2017, oil on gessoed wooden board, 30 x 20 inches
Johne Richardson (b.1960), "Morning Light," 2013, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 40 inches, Private collection
Johne Richardson (b.1960), “Morning Light,” 2013, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 40 inches, Private collection
James Tennison (b.1955), "Molly," 2014, oil, 32 x 24 inches
James Tennison (b.1955), “Molly,” 2014, oil, 32 x 24 inches
Shana Levenson (b.1981), "Home," 2017, oil on dibond, 22 x 26 inches
Shana Levenson (b.1981), “Home,” 2017, oil on dibond, 22 x 26 inches
Suzie Baker (b.1970), "His Own Drum," 2017, charcoal and pastel on paper, 24 x 18 inches
Suzie Baker (b.1970), “His Own Drum,” 2017, charcoal and pastel on paper, 24 x 18 inches
Gianni Strino (b.1953), "The Enchantress," 2016, oil on canvas, 16 x 16 inches, Lotton Gallery
Gianni Strino (b.1953), “The Enchantress,” 2016, oil on canvas, 16 x 16 inches, Lotton Gallery
Felice House (b.1977), "Sarah Fire," 2015, oil on canvas, 24 x 48 inches
Felice House (b.1977), “Sarah Fire,” 2015, oil on canvas, 24 x 48 inches
Felica House (b.1977), "Karen Wind," 2016, oil on canvas, 24 x 48 inches
Felica House (b.1977), “Karen Wind,” 2016, oil on canvas, 24 x 48 inches

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