What Makes a Portrait Truly Recognisable?

Much like reading, when you look at people, you don't need to study every detail to recognise someone.

In a split second, we take in the general structure — height, colouring, size — of a person and already know who it is. Then we spend the next seconds taking in more detail, but this is more to determine, perhaps, how they're feeling today, what they might be planning for the day, and so forth. Isn't this amazing?

This is also how I create my portraits. I capture expression, the size of someone's smile, the way they dress, the way they stand.

I don't copy photos one-to-one, but add artistic value and my unique interpretation of someone's way of expressing themselves through hairstyle, facial expressions, and outfits.

Take a look at some of my portraits here: All about custom watercolour portraits

Or find out what types of photos are best for portraits here: How to Choose the Right Photo for a Portrait Illustration