How To Draw Anger
Drawing anger is no easy feat, but it can be done with enough practice and the right tips. To show an emotion as complex as anger convincingly takes skill, patience and an understanding of the nuances of facial expression and body language. Drawing anger can bring out the detail in a face or posture which captures the emotion as convincingly as if you’d seen it for real.
Start by paying close attention to the physical postures that express anger. These could be clenched fists, a furrowed brow, and a set jaw, just to name a few. You can observe people in real life, or draw from photos and videos to get an idea of the kind of physicality that goes into expressing anger.
Observe the subtle differences in facial expressions too. The eyes are the gateway to the soul, and a person’s anger can be seen in their eyes. Visualize the eyes being narrowed, with the pupils constricting, and you’ll begin to capture the essence of anger.
Explore how a person’s clothing may be affected when they are feeling angry. Do they draw their shoulders back, widen their stance and square up? Or do they curl up and hunch over to show their displeasure? Pay attention to how their clothes might fit or move differently when they become angry.
You can also look at how a person’s body language may change when they feel angry. In the more extreme cases, they might even start to shake or tremble. Observe how the person moves, how their arms and legs move differently, and how their posture might become aggressive.
To capture these important details and nuances in your art, your drawing tools need to be up to the task. A good quality pencil and paper is always a good placeholder for testing out ideas. If you prefer to draw digitally, utilize layer masks or make copies of layers to experiment with different ideas quickly and efficiently.
Next, focus your attention on the individual elements of the pose or expression. Think about the shape of the mouth, the angle of the jaw, the slant of the eyes, or the tension in the body. You’ll want to capture the energy of the person while still keeping the facial features recognisable.
Once you understand how to draw basic emotions, try to break it down even further. How do intense eyebrows change the feeling of the expression? Can a slight smirk give it an edge? How can you create more tension and atmosphere in a scene by exaggerating the expression of anger? Practice these subtle details and soon enough you’ll be drawing anger with finesse.
Finally, convey the energy of anger. Use more pressure with your pencils or fingertips to make sure your expression conveys a sense of tangible energy and conviction. When you do this, you’re well on your way to creating convincing images of anger.
Developing the Character
One of the most important aspects of drawing anger is developing your characters accurately. When drawing a scene of anger, you need to make sure you’re depicting your character the way they would truly feel and look in the moment. This means understanding the character’s body language, facial expressions, and emotions.
Start by getting to know your character. Get to know their personality, their motivations, and their background. What makes them angry or anxious? What situations cause them to feel these emotions, and how do they express it? Knowing this will enable you to draw scenes of anger as authentically as possible.
Once you know your character, pay attention to the body language that they exhibit when they’re angry. Notice the tension in their shoulders, the furrowed brow, and the clenched fists. Pay attention to the subtle differences in their expressions and body language when they’re feeling angry.
Know the specifics. Visualize the tension in the jawline, the curl of the lip, and the narrowing of the eyes. This will ensure your character’s anger looks genuine and not contrived.
Creating a Scene
When drawing a scene of anger, you need to consider the atmosphere of the scene as a whole. Ask yourself these questions: will the scene show the beginning, middle or end of the angry episode? What kind of environment will the character be in, and what objects or props will they interact with? Establishing a setting will help establish tension and give your scene more context.
After that, consider the context of the scene. What could be the cause of the character’s anger, and how did it begin? Consider the emotions of the other characters around them, and the action moving around them. Use these details to craft a compelling scene that anyone looking at it can immediately interpret and understand.
Finally, consider the expression and body language of the character. Whether their anger is subtle or intense, capture the raw energy of their emotions. Pay attention to lines, angles, and shapes and how they work together to create a believable scene of emotion.
Burning the Details Into Your Work
When drawing a scene of anger, don’t be afraid to push the limits of your drawing. Intensify the facial expressions, manipulating the individual elements to create an anger that looks almost tangible. Put extra pressure on your pencil lines, or carve the details into your digital canvas by using a stylus.
Adding details can also be helpful in conveying the character’s emotion even more. Consider how clothing and props are affected by a person’s emotion. Are their garments wrinkled or bunched up around them? Are there any objects laying around them that can help reflect the intensity of the moment?
Making it Move
The final step in drawing anger effectively is to animate it. With a little practice, it’s easy to bring a scene of anger to life with animation. Start by experimenting with moments that capture the emotional buildup and breakdown of a character’s movement.
Pay attention to the soundscapes too. Every move your character makes can be paired with sound effects to make the scene more visceral for viewers. This can be a powerful tool for montage sequences or stand-alone animations that show a character’s descent into or recovery from anger.
When you put all of these techniques together and practice, you’re well on your way to drawing anger convincingly and accurately. Keep practicing and soon enough, you’ll be able to bring any character to life with just a few strokes of your pen!
