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WORK > Facial Expression: Action Units

Facial Expression: Action Units

As part of the Master Scientific Illustration program I wrote my graduation thesis on facial expression. To visualize the different movements the face can make, I used the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), which is a sort of library of separate possible facial movements, called Action Units (AU’s). Using my own face as reference, I started making pencil drawings of the main 27 Action Units of the list, and added some more movement guides and indicators in Illustrator.

Action Unit 1: Inner Brow Raise Illustration

Action Unit 2: Outer Brow Raiser Illustration

Action Unit 4: Brow Lowerer Illustration

Action Unit 5: Upper Lid Raiser Illustration

Action Unit 6: Cheek Raiser Illustration

Action Unit 7: Lid Tightener Illustration

Action Unit 8: Lips Toward Each Other Illustration

Action Unit 9: Nose Wrinkler Illustration

Action Unit 10: Upper Lip Raiser Illustration

Action Unit 11: Nasolabial Deepener Illustration

Action Unit 12: Lip Corner Puller Illustration

Action Unit 13: Sharp Lip Puller Illustration

Action Unit 14: Dimpler Illustration

Action Unit 15: Lip Corner Depressor Illustration

Action Unit 16: Lower Lip Depressor Illustration

Action Unit 17: Chin Raiser Illustration

Action Unit 18: Lip Pucker Illustration

Action Unit 19: Tongue Show Illustration

Action Unit 20: Lip Stretcher Illustration

Action Unit 21: Neck Tightener Illustration

Action Unit 22: Lip Funneler Illustration

Action Unit 23: Lip Tightener Illustration

Action Unit 24: Lip Pressor Illustration

Action Unit 25: Lips Part Illustration

Action Unit 26: Jaw Drop Illustration

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