DIGITAL EXPRESSIONS WORKSHOP
for media studios + animation schools
5 Days - 6 hours/day - In-Person
CG artists must have familiarity with animation software
from Faigin's face book
Faigin's week-long workshop provides digital artists with comprehensive training on mastering various facial movements using a pre-rigged model. Each three-hour session combines in-depth lectures on the principles of facial expression with live digital drawing demonstrations by Faigin. He breaks down the key components of facial expressions and guides participants in how to observe and replicate these movements using their own faces as references.
Workshop artists also learn the foundational criteria for creating a neutral, resting face with no apparent emotion. In addition, they practice posing accurate and convincing versions of the six cardinal facial expressions.
​Participants complete practicum projects at the end of each workshop day which are reviewed and discussed by Faigin in class at the beginning of the following session. Reference is also made to recent research on facial expression based on Faigin’s participation in the Facial Expression Research Group (FERG), a CSE research team at the University of Washington.
​
​
​This workshop is ideal for any digital artist interested mastering the basics of the expressive face in preparation for a career in animation or game design.
Workshop Syllabus
DAY 1
MORNING: ​Introduction to Facial Expression | Movements of the Upper Face
The Eyes + Brow: Neutral, Position of the Lids, Muscles of the Brow
​​AFTERNOON: Movements of the Upper Face
The Frown, the Glare, the Brow of Distress
Assignment #1: Posing the Muscle Movements around the Eye
DAY 2
MORNING: Practicum Review | Movements of the Mouth 1
​Muscles of the Closed Mouth: Sneering, Smiling, Frowning, Pouting, Lip Tightener
AFTERNOON: Movements of the Mouth 2
The Open Mouth: Relaxed, Lower Lip Stretcher, Snarl/Disgust, Smile
Assignment #2: Posing closed- and open-mouth movements.
DAY 3
MORNING: Practicum ​Review | The Cardinal Expressions - SURPRISE + FEAR
Coordinating eyes and mouth; levels of intensity, differences, posing SURPRISE + FEAR
​AFTERNOON: The Cardinal Expression: SADNESS
Crying vs. merely Sad, varying degrees, posing Crying + SADNESS
Assignment #3: Posing SUPRISE, FEAR + SADNESS
​​DAY 4
MORNING: Practicum Review | The Cardinal Expression: ANGER
The basics of ANGER, Closed-mouth Anger in various levels of intensity, Open-mouth Anger in a variety of mouth positions
AFTERNOON: The Cardinal Expressions: DISGUST + JOY
The basics of DISGUST – the 3 active areas, posing DISGUST – open mouth
The basics of JOY – eye/mouth agreement, posing the closed-mouth Smile
​
Assignment #4: Posing ANGER, DISGUST and the Closed-mouth Smile
​
DAY 5
MORNING: Practicum Review | The Cardinal Expression: JOY (cont)
The broad Smile, the Laugh, Varieties of the Smile: sly, bittersweet, eager & fake
Assignment #5: Posing varieties of the Smile
AFTERNOON: Final Practicum Review | Critique
Course summary + student feedback
​
​​