Of all the wonderful things to see in this life, for me the most fascinating is the human face. And yet I haven’t much interest in making portraits. Although I marvel at the art and craft of those who can make the likeness of a person on paper or canvas, it’s not something I’m—well—drawn to. On the other hand, I seem to enjoy grabbing various features on a given face and visually schmooshing them around. I can’t help myself. Here’s a rendering I did in a portrait painting class way back in the day at Art Center.

It’s not a bad likeness of the model. Except her mouth is crooked. Technically, it’s a mistake, a student flub. But I’ve always liked the artistic tendency that slip of the hand indicated. Kinda wished I’d flubbed bigger, more intentionally. So I enjoy making sketches from the faces I see. Not portraits exactly. Not necessarily even caricatures of recognizable faces. But facial features and characteristics, schmooshed around and recomposed in the endless possibilities that make up the wonderfulness of the human face.