Sketch artists draw pictures of people based on witnesses' descriptions.

Sketch artists are also called composite, forensic, or police artists. They try to draw detailed and accurate pictures of suspects for police to use in solving crimes.

Sketch artists meet with witnesses or victims to learn what they remember about suspects. They ask questions to help witnesses remember details. For example, they may ask about eye color, skin color, and the shape of the suspect's nose. They may show witnesses a book of drawings of facial features to help witnesses describe the features of the people they saw.

Based on the information they gather from witnesses, sketch artists draw initial sketches. They show them to witnesses to get feedback. They make changes to sketches until witnesses think the sketches look like the person they saw.

Sketch artists may also do reconstructive work. This process involves using skeletal remains and clay to create a three-dimensional (3-D) model of a face. Using their knowledge of the gender, age, and race of the remains, sketch artists mold facial features.

Sketch artists also use computers to create sketches and images. Sometimes they draw directly on the computer screen using a digital pencil.

Some artists create sketches of people at different ages. They work from photographs and create sketches of people as they might look when they are older. Police use these pictures when they need a picture of someone who has been hiding or missing for many years.

Sketch artists may document crime scenes. They use measurements gathered by forensic technicians to create rough sketches of crime scenes or objects that may be missing.