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Sharon Blanchard has been an artist for most of her life. Having attended one of the most prestigious art schools in the country, Virginia Commonwealth University, Sharon has enjoyed using her skills and raw talent as an artist in the forensic field. Now working as a freelance forensic artist, Sharon assists law enforcement agencies, corporations, media outlets, private investigators and individuals with composite art (police sketches), post mortem sketches for victim identification, cold cases, courtroom art, and age progression composites.Sharon is available to assist as a forensic artist in criminal cases on behalf of any law enforcement agency, government office, media outlet, corporation, private investigative agency, private individual or family. To contact Sharon regarding her schedule for possible consultation as a forensic artist, please click on the Contact Us tab below.You can also read Sharon's blog "Cop Art" here. |
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Copyright 2010 Sharon Blanchard. All Rights Reserved.No portion of these images (in whole or in part) may be reproduced in any fashion without the expressed written consent of the artist, Sharon Blanchard.Webpage designed and maintained by Carla Aguiar and The Cabil Creative Services. See Carla's online portfolio here.Web hosting by GoDaddy.com. |
Sketch likenesses of criminal suspects, according to descriptions of victims and witnesses. Interview crime victims and witnesses to obtain descriptive information concerning physical build, sex, nationality, facial features, and related characteristics of unidentified suspect. Prepare series of simple line drawings conforming to description of suspect and present drawings to informant for selection of sketch that most resembles suspect. Question informant to obtain additional descriptive information and draw and verify details of features to improve resemblance of subject to recollection of informant.
Prepare post-mortem sketches from autopsy or crime scene photos and sometimes in person viewing; post mortem drawings are sometimes used by law enforcement agencies and cold-case squads to assist in identifying bodies and victims of crimes.
Prepare age progression sketches for suspect and victim identification. This is also a way to assist families, law enforcement agencies and private investigators to locate children and adults who have been missing for some time. Law enforcement agencies also utilize age progression sketches for wanted fugitives when suspects are wanted for crimes and have not been located for some time.
When still cameras are not allowed in the courtroom, I have covered criminal cases for various media outlets as a courtroom artist. Courtroom sketches are a valuable tool for the media and add interest to television news coverage, magazines and newspaper articles.
Composite drawings are only one means of creating an image of a suspect. Some law enforcement agencies use computer generated composites. After details regarding facial features are obtained from a witness, that information is input into a special software program which interprets the data and creates a sketch. Although some police departments find computer composites helpful, In my personal opinion, these "likenesses" lack the personality and realness a forensic artist can bring to their sketches. As I talk to and interview the victims and witnesses to crimes, this information manifests itself with every pencil stroke, line and shading I use in my sketches that computer programs just cannot catch.
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My sketch of suspect at conclusion of interviewing victim. |
Suspect arrested. Suspect pled guilty, convicted and sentenced. |
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Sketch of grand larceny suspect after interviewing witness. |
Security camera photo of suspect; I was called in by the police department to provide a sketch with facial details that the security photo did not show. Case pending. |
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Sketch of attempted abduction suspect after interviewing witness. |
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Sketch of abduction and attempted sexual assault suspect after interviewing witness. |
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Sketch of armed robbery and attempted murder suspect after interviewing witness. |
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My partner with Face Wise, our facial recognition training program, is John Demand, President and CEO of Observation on Demand. John has over 30 years law enforcement experience and his company is dedicated to providing cutting edge training programs that make you safer and more effective when dealing with adversaries.
My brother, Mark and his wife Stephanie have an excellent take-out restaurant and catering business located in Spotsylvania, Virginia: Tarheel Pig Pickers. They specialize in North Carolina style barbecue, which in my opinion is the best there is! Forget Texas, Western N.C., Memphis, Kansas City or Virginia --- Eastern N.C. barbecue has them all beat! Please check out their new website and if you are in the N.C., Virginia or Maryland area, consider them for your catering, party, wedding and special event needs. Their customer service is second to none and their food is always first class.I use Derwent pencils, made by the Cumberland Pencil Company in Workington, Cumbria, UK, since 1832. They are simply the best! Derwent pencils are easily purchased from most craft and art supply stores in the U.S. However, you can also purchase them from their U.S. Distributor, derwentpencils@colartusa.com, 1-800-445-4278 (Option 4).I work with the organizing committee on this excellent law enforcement training conference: www.aastnletc.org |
My friend, Carla Aguiar is a genius web designer and my webmaster, please visit her website and galleryMy friend, Harry Sklaroff is the best marketing products promoter in the business, please visit his website.Having worked in their marketing department for over 5 years, I wholeheartedly recommend Crowell & Moring LLP. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity. Crowell & Moring has offices in Washington, DC, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, Anchorage, London, and Brussels. Please visit their website.The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is the nation’s monument to law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Located in Washington, D.C., the memorial was dedicated on October 15, 1991. It honors federal, state and local law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and protection of our nation and its people. I wholeheartedly support this noble cause and urge you to visit their website and contribute what you can. |
Appearing in an upcoming episode of The Dead FilesSpring, 2012  |
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Featured in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-StarNovember 20, 2011 |
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