Portraits That Convey Gestures

Hello.
Ever since I was a child, I have loved drawing people's faces.
I would draw portraits of my friends in the margins of my notebooks during class, or try to copy the faces of celebrities on TV. I never had any special training, but I remember how much I enjoyed capturing someone's "essence."

I recently bought an iPad mini and started drawing portraits digitally for the first time in a while.
Although I only started taking it seriously recently, I would like to share with those who are interested in starting portrait drawing how I find the photos I use as references and some of my personal preferences.

Why I am drawn to gestures

When people think of portraits, many might imagine a face looking straight ahead or something like a passport photo.
But in my case, I have always been strongly drawn to "expressions and movements while doing something."

For example, the moment a high school girl gently tucks her hair behind her ear, or the way she quietly ties her hair while looking down.
In those natural gestures, I can feel the person's atmosphere and personality, which makes me want to draw them.

If the pose is just standing there, it feels like there is not enough information, making it difficult to capture the person's inner self. That is why I focus on "gestures."

How to search on Pinterest

Since I started drawing digitally, I have been using Pinterest more often to find reference photos.
What I am conscious of is using keywords that evoke "movement" or "emotion."

In Japanese, I use terms like "profile," "tying hair," and "gesture."
In English, I often use "look down," "tie hair," "touch ear," and "soft expression."
Often, a simple combination of words can lead me to photos that really resonate with me.

From what I find that way, I choose photos where I think, "I want to draw this gesture," and sketch them.

The moment emotion enters the drawing

The other day, I drew a high school girl sitting on the beach, holding a soft drink high up with one hand.
The transparency of the bottle catching the light, the natural pose, and the slightly dazzled expression.
The moment I saw the photo, I thought, "I want to draw this atmosphere."

When there is a gesture, my imagination naturally expands, wondering, "What kind of mood was she in?" or "Was she showing this to someone?"
I like the feeling that it is not just about making it look like the person, but that a little story is born within the drawing.

To beginners

Some people might think, "Portrait drawing seems difficult."
I am still practicing myself, but rather than aiming for perfection, I focus on drawing the moment I feel, "This gesture of this person is wonderful."

It is fun to draw, and when I finish, I can think, "I like this drawing." I think that is what makes a portrait most attractive.

Summary: Gestures have stories

When drawing portraits, "how much it looks like the person" is important, but I feel that "what kind of gesture you choose" changes the world of the drawing.

A person's feelings and atmosphere reside in casual movements.
That is why I believe that by capturing and drawing that instant, the portrait becomes one that conveys emotions to the viewer.

Now that I have a new tool called the iPad mini, I want to continue drawing my own style of portraits while focusing on gestures.
And I would be happy if this could be a small hint for those who want to try drawing as well.