Caricaturing .Browne Willis without a picture…or subject

OK, so it sounds daft, impossible even! But it can be done, as I’m finding out. I’ve been commissioned to complete a caricature of a Browne Willis, who died in the mid 1700’s. To celebrate 25 years of the “Old Gaol historical trust”. I have a sketchy portrait c1700 and a display model in his likeness. And that’s it!

It could be worse, I could just have a description, or nothing at all! But I have this picture in which he looks quite smart! Trouble is the description has him as being something of scruff-bag who was often mistaken for a tramp!

I also had to give him full costumes and shabby boots!

The boots are important! His nickname was “Ol’ Wrinkly boots”! I have no idea what colour his eyes were,… or his skin tone,…

or his hair colour… Thank goodness he wore a wig!

So who was this guy, this Browne Willis?

MP for Buckingham and the main force behind the building of the Old Gaol, a major landmark in Buckingham! He was apparently a very wealthy man…who disliked spending money on his appearance!

And here is my caricature of him!

 

Sorry,  you didn’t need me to say that did you? It’s just like when you’re showing someone around your house when it’s up for sale. This is the kitchen… you get the picture!

Having struggled with the dead, I’m going to concentrate on the living. Maybe John Travolta? Hmmm…

 

Newsflash! I had a phone call on Wednesday to say I’ve been selected to exhibit work at John Lewis in High Wycombe. They want 3 local artists to exhibit and demonstrate what we do! I’m feeling elation and panic in equal measures! I’ve got until Thursday to sort myself out!

I did mention it’s this weekend, didn’t I?

Headless chicken time!!!!!! Too many pieces of work unframed. Not enough frames… etc, etc!

Will let you know how I fare next week?

Unless, of course, you come on down to High Wycombe to see me in action! In which case, I’ll see you there.

Oh BTW, apparently someone called Heston Blumenthal is signing books there as well!

More Barack Obama, this time a pencil sketch

I started the day determined to be far more productive than yesterday, a good night’s sleep always helps. The morning was so so but by the afternoon I was back on track. I used some self-levelling gel on my canvas abstract and spent ages using acrylic inks and a cocktail stick creating a lovely pattern in yellow, gold, silver, orange and red. As I was able to apply some texture to another area without touching the gel I decided to crack on. Everything was beginning to come together and I decided to take the colour over the edge of the canvas. That would have been fine had I not tilted the canvas to a 45 degree angle. I realised what I’d done quickly enough to prevent the entire gel ending up on the table, but not before the pattern had morphed into something else. I tweaked it as best I could but it’s not what it was, sigh. Note to self engage brain before and during painting. On arriving home Ewan couldn’t resist touching it so it now has added texture. Such a helpful boy!!!

Whilst waiting for Ewan to finish his swimming lesson, I managed a sketch of Barack Obama. It took slightly less than an hour. The skin tones are better than my last attempt so overall I’m a happy bunny.

This evening was life drawing class. My quick studies were much better than the detailed one today. Coincidentally I heard an interesting debate on Premier Christian radio about whether Christians should do life drawing. I’d never thought of it as an issue, but for some it apparently is! The topic came up this evening because the art school is moving to using a church hall and they want to continue to offer life drawing, but need to check permissions before they can make arrangements.

Barack Obama – the world in his hands Caricature

Yesterday I started this caricature drawing of Barack Obama. It was progressing well, until I decided to use grey pen for his skin. I know, I know, I’ve said this before, when will I ever learn. I should have used a Copic marker pen, not a pigment pen, sigh…

Anyway here’s Barack, the skin tone is too dark, I know, but it was that or leave him even more blotchy – I didn’t like that option!

As I haven’t done a caricature for a while, I thought I’d post him. I’ve also finished my abstracts. Two have worked really well but the third is so-so. Still debating the Summer exhibition entry, no decision yet. I can have a maximum of 2 entries, so they need to be right. I suspect they need to be fairly traditional but looking at the judges that might not be the case. Don’t you wish you could read minds sometimes?