BFF

The BFF project consists of 127 drawings combining the faces of friends. Inspired by my two-year experience working as a forensic artist, I drew the faces of 64 pairs of combined friends. I then drew a series of composites of the composites, until finally arriving at one drawing emergent from all 128 faces.

I drew using charcoal pencils on 8.5 x 11″ Stonehenge paper – the same size used when I was working as a forensic artist. From 2007-2008, I accepted photo submissions for the project through my website. The first 64 people who sent in usable photos were included, and drawings were made in the order that the photos were received. Participants include people from many countries including the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, and China. After years of intermittent work, the final drawing was completed in May 2018.

For Sets 1 and 2, I chose individual features from each face to be combined into a composite portrait (similar to the process I used while working as a forensic artist). For Sets 3-7, I averaged each individual facial feature together to create hybrid faces in an effort to remove my subjectivity from the compositing process. Hybridized names were created for all drawings as well.

From the initial set of 64, the original drawings have been sent to the friends of the people who sent in the photos (at least, to those I could still get in touch with) – an experiment in gift economy.

This video shows every combined face in the project surrounded by the photos or drawings it is derived from.

This video shows the lineage from each photo submission through all seven sets of drawings to the final composite face.

BFF Set 1

Set #1, 1: Locha (Jascha and Loren) Set #1, 2: Milly (Kelly and Michelle) Set #1, 3: Jara (Jay and Tara) Set #1, 4: Mephanike (Stephanie and Mike) Set #1, 5: Lauri (Lauryn and Cari) Set #1, 6: Roson (Allison and Rosie) Set #1, 7: Mason (Jason and Matt) Set #1, 8: Torence (Tobi and Dorence) Set #1, 9: Nollis (Allison and Noah) Set #1, 10: Charven (Charity and Steven) Set #1, 11: Hash (Hatim and Shawn) Set #1, 12: Dom (Tom and Derek) Set #1, 13: Jimarigny (Jim and Marigny) Set #1, 14: Tistin (Tim and Kristin) Set #1, 15: Mera (Megan and Laura) Set #1, 16: Dee (Fee and Dale) Set #1, 17: Narolie (Aaron and Natalie) Set #1, 18: Chanica (Chase and Monica) Set #1, 19: Tril (April and Tim) Set #1, 20: Allikat (Allistair and Kat) Set #1, 21: Magbia (Raabia and Maggie) Set #1, 22: Tyrah (Tyler and Sarah) Set #1, 23: Harris (Harley and Chris) Set #1, 24: Narfan (Snarf and Danny) Set #1, 25: Amistopha (Amina and Christopher) Set #1, 26: Christogar (Christopher and Edgar) Set #1, 27: Rathloy (Kathleen and Roy) Set #1, 28: Benoa (Noa and Benji) Set #1, 29: Diarock (Diana and Brock) Set #1, 30: Erizzy (Erin and Lizzy) Set #1, 31: Kelmat (Kelly and Matt) Set #1, 32: Stanna (Stacey and Jenna) Set #1, 33: Matherix (Max and Catherine) Set #1, 34: Yaslio (Yasmin and Helio) Set #1, 35: Shandy (Shane and Andy) Set #1, 36: Kirstali (Kirsten and Ali) Set #1, 37: Michleen (Michael and Cathleen) Set #1, 38: Adrox (Roxie and Adrien) Set #1, 39: Mikola (Nicola and Mike) Set #1, 40: Kyphanile (Stephanie and Kyle) Set #1, 41: Jaura (Jay and Laura) Set #1, 42: Shean (Sean and Shane) Set #1, 43: Brassica (Jessica and Brad) Set #1, 44: Yashew (Matthew and Yasmin) Set #1, 45: Kathred (Fred and Kathryn) Set #1, 46: Kellicia (Alicia and Kelley) Set #1, 47: Gordrim (Gord and Yae Rim) Set #1, 48: Jedrew (Andrew and Jed) Set #1, 49: Dather (Heather and Dave) Set #1, 50: Shané (Shannon and José) Set #1, 51: Sarni (Jenni and Sarah) Set #1, 52: Zhaiqi (Dong Qian and Zhai An Qi) Set #1, 53: Mistal (Michelle and Crystal) Set #1, 54: Sarex (Sarah and Alex) Set #1, 55: Othui (Otter and Huihui) Set #1, 56: Leitiago (Leiticia and Tiago) Set #1, 57: Junzhou (Jun Yin and Qing Zhou) Set #1, 58: Leomires (Leonardo and Thamires) Set #1, 59: Devonessa (Devon and Vanessa) Set #1, 60: Marcela (Marcos and Ângela) Set #1, 61: Gustiana (Fabiana and Gustavo) Set #1, 62: Brill (Brian and Bill) Set #1, 63: Danvio (Daniele and Flávio) Set #1, 64: Juliandrei (Julianne and Andrei)

BFF Set 2

Set #2, 1: Micha (Locha & Milly) Set #2, 2: Jaranike (Jara & Mephanike) Set #2, 3: Rosi (Lauri & Roson) Set #2, 4: Torson (Mason & Torence) Set #2, 5: Vennolli (Nollis & Charven) Set #2, 6: Dash (Hash & Dom) Set #2, 7: Timarist (Jimarigny & Tistin) Set #2, 8: Demera (Mera & Dee) Set #2, 9: Charolie (Narolie & Chanica) Set #2, 10: Kattril (Tril & Allikat) Set #2, 11: Tybia (Magbia & Tyrah) Set #2, 12: Narris (Harris & Narfan) Set #2, 13: Christopha (Amistopha & Christogar) Set #2, 14: Benloy (Rathloy & Benoa) Set #2, 15: Diarizzy (Diarock & Erizzy) Set #2, 16: Kelna (Kelmat & Stanna) Set #2, 17: Yatherio (Matherix & Yaslio) Set #2, 18: Shantali (Shandy & Kirstali) Set #2, 19: Microx (Michleen & Adrox) Set #2, 20: Kyphola (Mikola & Kyphanile) Set #2, 21: Jaush (Jaura & Shean) Set #2, 22: Yassica (Brassica & Yashew) Set #2, 23: Kathricia (Kathred & Kellicia) Set #2, 24: Drimdrew (Gordrim & Jedrew) Set #2, 25: Dasha (Dather & Shané) Set #2, 26: Zharni (Sarni & Zhaiqi) Set #2, 27: Sartal (Mistal & Sarex) Set #2, 28: Huileio (Othui & Leitiago) Set #2, 29: Zhoumir (Junzhou & Leomires) Set #2, 30: Voncela (Devonessa & Marcela) Set #2, 31: Brustianill (Gustiana & Brill) Set #2, 32: Daliando (Danvio & Juliandrei)

BFF Set 3

Set #3, 1: Jaricha (Micha & Jaranike) Set #3, 2: Sonro (Rosi & Torson) Set #3, 3: Dannolli (Vennolli & Dash) Set #3, 4: Demarist (Timarist & Demera) Set #3, 5: Katolie (Charolie & Kattril) Set #3, 6: Risty (Tybia & Narris) Set #3, 7: Tophaloy (Christopha & Benloy) Set #3, 8: Rizna (Diarizzy & Kelna) Set #3, 9: Talerio (Yatherio & Shantali) Set #3, 10: Lamiphox (Microx & Kyphola) Set #3, 11: Yaushica (Jaush & Yassica) Set #3, 12: Kathrim (Kathricia & Drimdrew) Set #3, 13: Zharda (Dasha & Zharni) Set #3, 14: Talhui (Sartal & Huileio) Set #3, 15: Celamir (Zhoumir & Voncela) Set #3, 16: Briando (Brustianill & Daliando)

BFF Set 4

Set #4, 1: Sonicha (Jaricha & Sonro) Set #4, 2: Aristolli (Dannolli & Demarist) Set #4, 3: Riskato (Katolie & Risty) Set #4, 4: Riztoph (Tophaloy & Rizna) Set #4, 5: Phoxerio (Talerio & Lamiphox) Set #4, 6: Rimschica (Yaushica & Kathrim) Set #4, 7: Hiuda (Zharda & Talhui) Set #4, 8: Andomir (Celamir & Briando)

BFF Set 5

Set #5, 1: Sonaris (Sonicha & Aristolli) Set #5, 2: Tophkato (Riskato & Riztoph) Set #5, 3: Chixeria (Phoxerio & Rimschica) Set #5, 4: Hiudomir (Hiuda & Andomir)

BFF Set 6

Set #6, 1: Naritoph (Sonaris & Tophkato) Set #6, 2: Xeriomir (Chixeria & Hiudomir)

BFF Set 7



Set #7, 1: Xeriotoph (Naritoph & Xeriomir)

Time-lapse rendering of the final drawing.