Thursday, November 12, 2009

Damien Weighill and Your Face Blog










Damien had a theory that Real People don't read your blog. So he started YourFaceBlog.blogspot.com. You send him your picture and he will transform it into an illustration, but beware you may end up looking like an alien or animal of some sort. Denny says we love Your Face Blog!

Denny:From your bio I know you were abandoned at birth, deep in the idyllic woodlands of the North East of England where you were adopted by a local clan of Bigfoot. Do you think being raised by a hairy mother and father influenced your desire to transform many of your subjects into animals and aliens?
Damien:Yes, I definitely blame my parents.

How did you come up with the concept for Your face blog?
It really just came out of me not being much good at drawing portraits. When I started the blog I expected a few of my friends would send me their photos, I would get a little practice and then that would be that. The mysterious ways of the internet meant that somehow other people keep on stumbling across the site and know I'm not necessarily any more proficient at drawing portraits but I'm supremely confident at producing inaccurate attempts at capturing people's likenesses.

Why the choice of Tom Selleck as your introductory face?
I've got a worrying obsession with facial hair. Tom Selleck is a hero for obvious reasons.

Each of your illustrations have so much personality. Is there an area of the face that is the key to capturing this?
I'm not sure I know the answer to this one. I try to focus the parts that make each person individual. Quite often the key seems to be in the eyes and mouth. And the if I'm in doubt about anything I just add a huge beard.

Any advice for young Bigfoot’s looking to break into illustration?
I really feel like I'm still learning the ropes myself. I think it's important to have a good idea of the strengths (and weaknesses) of your work and how other people (potential clients) perceive that. Whether it's a distinct style or a certain way of thinking that is unique to you.

Do you now believe real people do read your blog?
I think you could safely say that I'm convinced of that fact now.
http://yourfaceblog.blogspot.com
http://www.damienweighill.com