COMMUNICATION, BEHAVIOUR & ART

FACIAL EXPRESSION COURSE FOR ARTISTS

Sophie Zadeh, Artist & Nonverbal Communication Specialist

Hello, welcome, and thank you for being here!

I've been lucky enough to work in two fascinating areas of work–nonverbal communication and the arts.

In this course for artists and the curious, I'm combining my unique skillset to share the fascinating world of facial expression with you.

I aim to equip you with a basic understanding of the mechanisms of facial expression. I want you to be able to improve the way you recognise, capture and express emotional facial expressions in your artwork, whatever medium you work in.

If you're curious about facial expressions and emotion without being artistic, this course will help you understand and recognise emotion and expression, increasing empathy and empowering you to communicate and respond better.

—Sophie

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Purchase Course $285 >

IMPORTANT

This course does not provide art tuition. Instead, it teaches artists (professional and amateur) about facial expressions to improve their artwork using their existing art knowledge and skills.

FACIAL EXPRESSION COURSE FOR ARTISTS—THE DETAILS

WHAT YOU GET

The course content combines pre-recorded video explainers (with transcripts), video and image examples, descriptive text, creative challenges, downloadable cheat sheets and other resources. If, while taking the course, you have questions, need clarification or need advice and feedback about your artwork, you can contact me directly.

WHO IS THE COURSE FOR?

It is primarily designed for artists interested in accurately capturing facial expressions. However, it's suitable for anybody interested in learning about facial expressions and emotion, helping them to read and understand the emotional state of others.

COURSE AIMS

Art schools and university art courses do not typically teach students about the science of facial expression–this course fills the gap, helping artists and hobbyists to capture expression accurately. The course aims to help artists improve their work—for example, in portraiture or sculpture. Learning about our core emotions can also help artists with emotional and creative expression in art.

Based on the science of facial expression, this fascinating insight, that few are privy to, can increase emotional recognition, understanding of others and empathy, empowering people to communicate and respond better. It's suitable for people who haven't previously learned about facial expressions and emotion, and professional and amateur artists.

CONTENT

Based on the science of facial expression, the course delves into the seven universal expressions, which mostly correspond to our core emotions—happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disgust, surprise and contempt.

I break down each emotional expression, providing the following content:

Video explainer—information about the emotion and its corresponding expression (transcript available)
At a glance—what the expression looks like
Expression in action—video
Creative challenge 1
In detail—what the expression looks like
- which muscles and action units are involved
- movements of the face
- subtle nuances in appearance
Action Units (muscle movements of the face in isolation)
Examples and descriptions of expression (photographs)
Additional fascinating information about the emotion or expression
Art challenge 2
Examples of the expression depicted in art

Course fee

$285 Australian Dollars

Purchase Course >

Sadness Expression in Art, Online Course for Artists: Facial Expressions

Happiness Expression in Art, Online Course for Artists: Facial Expressions

If you have any questions before during or after taking the course, feel free to contact me here, or email sophie@sophiezadeh.com

ADDITIONAL COURSE MODULES ARE SHOWN BELOW.

If you’ve already booked this course, you can access it via the image/module links below.

Featured

Introduction

This page provides an overview of emotional expression, with a video explainer (plus transcript) and key points.

Emotion and Expression

On this page, you’ll learn some fascinating secrets about emotion and expression.

Watch my TED-Ed lesson for an overview of emotional expression and learn about our core emotions. Then read about the brief history of facial expression and the discovery or microexpressions and a potential 8th expression–The Not Face.

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Facial feedback hypothesis and the body-brain feedback loop is an area that fascinates me. I leverage my understanding of this by switching my mental state to more positive emotion as and when I need to. Yes, that’s possible and very empowering. Enjoy learning about this!

Facial Proportion

As an artist, you may already be familiar with facial proportion–or maybe the myths surrounding it. On this short page, I clarify which art principles come closest to being a rule.

Action Units

This page provides an overview of the Facial Action Coding System, action units, emotion and expression.

It then provides video examples of the action units associated with universal expressions. Dip into this section in the future, using it as a resource if you need to.

Happiness

This page gives a brief video explainer of the emotion and expression of happiness. Followed by information about what the facial expression looks like–at a glance and in detail. There are video and example images, as well as the action units involved in the associated expression. You can then use each emotion/expression page as an at a glance reference in the future, as and when you need to.

Sadness

This page gives a brief video explainer of the emotion and expression of sadness. Followed by information about what the facial expression looks like–at a glance and in detail. There are video and example images, as well as the action units involved in the associated expression. You can then use each emotion/expression page as an at a glance reference in the future, as and when you need to.

Fear

This page gives a brief video explainer of the emotion and expression of fear. Followed by information about what the facial expression looks like–at a glance and in detail. There are video and example images, as well as the action units involved in the associated expression. You can then use each emotion/expression page as an at a glance reference in the future, as and when you need to.

Disgust

This page gives a brief video explainer of the emotion and expression of disgust. Followed by information about what the facial expression looks like–at a glance and in detail. There are video and example images, as well as the action units involved in the associated expression. You can then use each emotion/expression page as an at a glance reference in the future, as and when you need to.

Anger

This page gives a brief video explainer of the emotion and expression of anger. Followed by information about what the facial expression looks like–at a glance and in detail. There are video and example images, as well as the action units involved in the associated expression. You can then use each emotion/expression page as an at a glance reference in the future, as and when you need to.

Surprise

This page gives a brief video explainer of the emotion and expression of surprise. Followed by information about what the facial expression looks like–at a glance and in detail. There are video and example images, as well as the action units involved in the associated expression. You can then use each emotion/expression page as an at a glance reference in the future, as and when you need to.

Contempt

This page gives a brief video explainer of the emotion and expression of contempt. Followed by information about what the facial expression looks like–at a glance and in detail. There are video and example images, as well as the action units involved in the associated expression. You can then use each emotion/expression page as an at a glance reference in the future, as and when you need to.