2D Reconstructions

Reconstructions from unidentified skeletal remains are done at the behest of, and in conjunction with, a medical examiner’s office. The artist works with a forensic anthropologist to attempt to determine the victim’s appearance from clues on the bones.

The skull is measured and photographed, and the artist traditionally completed the drawing on tracing vellum directly over the photo of the skull with graphite pencil. In this way, the artist can see the subtle variations of the bone that give each face its individual appearance. I follow a similar process, but I draw on a digital drawing tablet now. I’ve found working digitally I can zoom in to see details on the bone that I can’t see working in pencil. The quality of the digital work is also kept as the artist intended, not losing any of the tone in the scanning and copying process as it might with a pencil rendering.

Studies over the years have taught us that the bone indicates the size and placement of specific facial features. The forensic anthropologist will provide information about the sex, age, and derivation of the bones (African-derived, Asian-derived, European-derived, or a mixture of two or more of these).

2D reconstruction Kittitas Co. WA. Skeletal remains were found about 40 years after victim's death. Family recognized the drawing when it was released to the media and victim was positively identified as Kerry Hardy-May.
2D reconstruction Kittitas Co. WA. Skeletal remains were found about 40 years after victim's death. Family recognized the drawing when it was released to the media and victim was positively identified as Kerry Hardy-May.
2D reconstruction Kittitas Co. WA. Skeletal remains were found about 40 years after victim's death. Family recognized the drawing when it was released to the media and victim was positively identified as Kerry Hardy-May.
Corona Girl, Williamson Co. TX. IDed in 2019 as Sue Ann Huskey.
Corona Girl, Williamson Co. TX. IDed in 2019 as Sue Ann Huskey.
Corona Girl, Williamson Co. TX. IDed in 2019 as Sue Ann Huskey.
Identified from Olympia WA Shaun Moore 2020
Identified from Olympia WA Shaun Moore 2020
Identified from Olympia WA Shaun Moore 2020
King Co WA 20-753
King Co WA 20-753
King Co WA 20-753
Identified from BC Canada 2020
Identified from BC Canada 2020
Identified from BC Canada 2020
ID from Clallam Co WA 2020
ID from Clallam Co WA 2020
ID from Clallam Co WA 2020
2D reconstruction, King Co. WA. 2015. Remains found on Mt. Si in North Bend WA.
2D reconstruction, King Co. WA. 2015. Remains found on Mt. Si in North Bend WA.
2D reconstruction, King Co. WA. 2015. Remains found on Mt. Si in North Bend WA.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2012.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2012.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2012.
2D Reconstruction. Spokane WA case. 2007. Mixed race male with previous facial injuries above left orbital cavity and to right lower edge of mandible.
2D Reconstruction. Spokane WA case. 2007. Mixed race male with previous facial injuries above left orbital cavity and to right lower edge of mandible.
2D Reconstruction. Spokane WA case. 2007. Mixed race male with previous facial injuries above left orbital cavity and to right lower edge of mandible.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2012.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2012.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2012.
2D reconstruction, King Co. WA. 1989 case. Cold case detective saw my sketch (on right) and noticed resemblance to booking photo (black and white in center). Found more booking photos of same subject, but all were under different names. After further investigation and media attention, victim was identified as Rita Lang.
2D reconstruction, King Co. WA. 1989 case. Cold case detective saw my sketch (on right) and noticed resemblance to booking photo (black and white in center). Found more booking photos of same subject, but all were under different names. After further investigation and media attention, victim was identified as Rita Lang.
2D reconstruction, King Co. WA. 1989 case. Cold case detective saw my sketch (on right) and noticed resemblance to booking photo (black and white in center). Found more booking photos of same subject, but all were under different names. After further investigation and media attention, victim was identified as Rita Lang.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2013 unidentified remains case where the medical examiner kept the glasses and jacket. These items were photographed and included in the drawing.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2013 unidentified remains case where the medical examiner kept the glasses and jacket. These items were photographed and included in the drawing.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2013 unidentified remains case where the medical examiner kept the glasses and jacket. These items were photographed and included in the drawing.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. Elderly homeless male 2010.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. Elderly homeless male 2010.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. Elderly homeless male 2010.
2D reconstruction, Wahkiakum Co. WA. Identified as Richard Arneson.
2D reconstruction, Wahkiakum Co. WA. Identified as Richard Arneson.
2D reconstruction, Wahkiakum Co. WA. Identified as Richard Arneson.
2D reconstruction, 2011. Exhumed remains case from Alaska. It is believed this victim was buried under the wrong name.
2D reconstruction, 2011. Exhumed remains case from Alaska. It is believed this victim was buried under the wrong name.
2D reconstruction, 2011. Exhumed remains case from Alaska. It is believed this victim was buried under the wrong name.
2D reconstruction, 2007. Thurston Co. WA. Identified.
2D reconstruction, 2007. Thurston Co. WA. Identified.
2D reconstruction, 2007. Thurston Co. WA. Identified.
2d Reconstruction King Co. WA 2009.
2d Reconstruction King Co. WA 2009.
2d Reconstruction King Co. WA 2009.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA 2010.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA 2010.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA 2010.
2D reconstruction, Snohomish Co. WA. Subject is mixture of African and European-derived ancestry. Cold case detectives asked for two drawings, each concentrating on the different ancestry. He had diastemata in the central and lateral incisors of his mandibular teeth, so a detail of the teeth was included in the sketch. This victim has been IDed as Rodney Peter Johnson.
2D reconstruction, Snohomish Co. WA. Subject is mixture of African and European-derived ancestry. Cold case detectives asked for two drawings, each concentrating on the different ancestry. He had diastemata in the central and lateral incisors of his mandibular teeth, so a detail of the teeth was included in the sketch. This victim has been IDed as Rodney Peter Johnson.
2D reconstruction, Snohomish Co. WA. Subject is mixture of African and European-derived ancestry. Cold case detectives asked for two drawings, each concentrating on the different ancestry. He had diastemata in the central and lateral incisors of his mandibular teeth, so a detail of the teeth was included in the sketch. This victim has been IDed as Rodney Peter Johnson.
2D reconstruction. King Co. WA. Remains found in 1980.
2D reconstruction. King Co. WA. Remains found in 1980.
2D reconstruction. King Co. WA. Remains found in 1980.
2D reconstruction King County WA 2016. Believed to be homeless.
2D reconstruction King County WA 2016. Believed to be homeless.
2D reconstruction King County WA 2016. Believed to be homeless.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2010.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2010.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2010.
2D reconstruction. Female killed in 1991 in Cowlitz County. Was an unidentified passenger in a semi truck that crashed and caught on fire.
2D reconstruction. Female killed in 1991 in Cowlitz County. Was an unidentified passenger in a semi truck that crashed and caught on fire.
2D reconstruction. Female killed in 1991 in Cowlitz County. Was an unidentified passenger in a semi truck that crashed and caught on fire.
2D reconstruction. Another of my very first cases, redone digitally recently.
2D reconstruction. Another of my very first cases, redone digitally recently.
2D reconstruction. Another of my very first cases, redone digitally recently.
2D reconstruction, King Co. WA. 2009.
2D reconstruction, King Co. WA. 2009.
2D reconstruction, King Co. WA. 2009.
2D reconstruction 2011. Mixed race female homicide victim. Shows some Asian ancestry, some Caucasian, possibly Native American.
2D reconstruction 2011. Mixed race female homicide victim. Shows some Asian ancestry, some Caucasian, possibly Native American.
2D reconstruction 2011. Mixed race female homicide victim. Shows some Asian ancestry, some Caucasian, possibly Native American.
2D reconstruction, Snohomish Co. WA. This case is known as Precious Doe. The victim was picked up in 1977 and murdered. A suspect was caught and served time for killing her, but she still has not been identified. Her killer was released from prison but has now died.
2D reconstruction, Snohomish Co. WA. This case is known as Precious Doe. The victim was picked up in 1977 and murdered. A suspect was caught and served time for killing her, but she still has not been identified. Her killer was released from prison but has now died.
2D reconstruction, Snohomish Co. WA. This case is known as Precious Doe. The victim was picked up in 1977 and murdered. A suspect was caught and served time for killing her, but she still has not been identified. Her killer was released from prison but has now died.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2011. This victim had unusual frames on his maxillary central incisors, so those were included in the drawing.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2011. This victim had unusual frames on his maxillary central incisors, so those were included in the drawing.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2011. This victim had unusual frames on his maxillary central incisors, so those were included in the drawing.
2D reconstruction Pend Oreille Co. WA unidentified, 2016.
2D reconstruction Pend Oreille Co. WA unidentified, 2016.
2D reconstruction Pend Oreille Co. WA unidentified, 2016.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2016. Bones presented as mixed race. Forensic Anthropologist requested a version showing the victim as identifying primarily Caucasian and a version showing victim as identifying primarily African American. Identified.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2016. Bones presented as mixed race. Forensic Anthropologist requested a version showing the victim as identifying primarily Caucasian and a version showing victim as identifying primarily African American. Identified.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2016. Bones presented as mixed race. Forensic Anthropologist requested a version showing the victim as identifying primarily Caucasian and a version showing victim as identifying primarily African American. Identified.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2016. Bones presented as mixed race. Forensic Anthropologist requested a version showing the victim as identifying primarily Caucasian and a version showing victim as identifying primarily African American. Identified.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2016. Bones presented as mixed race. Forensic Anthropologist requested a version showing the victim as identifying primarily Caucasian and a version showing victim as identifying primarily African American. Identified.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2016. Bones presented as mixed race. Forensic Anthropologist requested a version showing the victim as identifying primarily Caucasian and a version showing victim as identifying primarily African American. Identified.
2D reconstruction, Snohomish Co. WA. This victim had ongoing interactions with a witness for several years, so the witness was able to give limited assistance in the sketch. The victim advised he was from the east coast and said he'd been a bank security guard. The victim was wearing a deteriorated Eddie Bauer shirt. I contacted the archivist at Eddie Bauer to get a photo of the new version of the shirt to use in the sketch. This victim has been IDed through genetic genealogy as Nathanial "Terry" Deggs.
2D reconstruction, Kitsap Co. WA. 2016. Believed to be homeless.
2D reconstruction, Kitsap Co. WA. 2016. Believed to be homeless.
2D reconstruction, Kitsap Co. WA. 2016. Believed to be homeless.
2D reconstruction Snohomish Co. WA 2016
2D reconstruction Snohomish Co. WA 2016
2D reconstruction Snohomish Co. WA 2016
2D reconstruction Snohomish Co. WA. Native American or Caucasian victim. He was found wearing this plaid shirt.
2D reconstruction Snohomish Co. WA. Native American or Caucasian victim. He was found wearing this plaid shirt.
2D reconstruction Snohomish Co. WA. Native American or Caucasian victim. He was found wearing this plaid shirt.
2D reconstruction, Snohomish Co. WA. Remains found in 1980.
2D reconstruction, Snohomish Co. WA. Remains found in 1980.
2D reconstruction, Snohomish Co. WA. Remains found in 1980.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2015. Victim left in suitcase alongside the Green River in Kent WA.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2015. Victim left in suitcase alongside the Green River in Kent WA.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2015. Victim left in suitcase alongside the Green River in Kent WA.
2D reconstruction, King Co. WA. The first case I ever drew for KCME. Reconstruction is a practiced skill, and you learn with each case. I revisited this case in 2015 and drew it again, this time digitally and with some adjustments to allow for the distortion errors in my close up photography.
2D reconstruction, King Co. WA. The first case I ever drew for KCME. Reconstruction is a practiced skill, and you learn with each case. I revisited this case in 2015 and drew it again, this time digitally and with some adjustments to allow for the distortion errors in my close up photography.
2D reconstruction, King Co. WA. The first case I ever drew for KCME. Reconstruction is a practiced skill, and you learn with each case. I revisited this case in 2015 and drew it again, this time digitally and with some adjustments to allow for the distortion errors in my close up photography.
2D reconstruction Grant Co. WA. Identified.
2D reconstruction Grant Co. WA. Identified.
2D reconstruction Grant Co. WA. Identified.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2009 case, Identified.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2009 case, Identified.
2D reconstruction King Co. WA. 2009 case, Identified.

 

Back to Portfolio