Saving Reference Photos

Since I read that full faces are best for witnesses to view to recall faces and features, I have started saving photos in my computer in a special file. The photos are of people who have been arrested in zip codes 30078 (Snellville) and 30052 (Grayson/Loganville). I have been getting these same email alerts for years, but it just hit me that the photos are a great source for reference facial illustrations, because they offer a good range of ethnicities.

I get the email alerts from ScanGwinnett.com. I need to add Lawrenceville zip codes (and probably all other Gwinnett county zips) to my alerts, if I want to draw forensic art for Gwinnett County. So far, I have about 6 photos saved in which the people have some typical facial features/bone structure of Vietnamese, Native American/Hispanic (combined), and another who looks Guatamalan to me. The Caucasian pictures I've received so far were extremely bland looking, I don't know why, but these particular photos didn't interest me a all. Not very interesting or distinguishing features I guess. I know there will be more coming though, especially over the weekend! People seem to go nuts/do drugs over the weekend. It's been very interesting noticing the different people, what they were arrested for, and the facial expressions in their booking photos. The "no driver's license" illegal aliens sometimes have a "this is bogus" contemptuous expression. The shoplifters have a "oh crap, my mom's gonna kill me" sheepish look.

I haven't started drawing any of them yet, because I haven't had time. This is the busy time of the year for my art business, because a lot of people order pencil portraits for gifts. I have been really blessed with business! It took awhile for the orders to come in, but I am still getting portrait requests.

I am really blessed that I love to keep busy. I love having goals and something to look forward to after the Christmas order rush is over. I want to draw every ethnic group, age, and gender that I can, and create a collection of faces. I'm so fascinated by this!