Life is busy these days with my abstract work taking over. So it was great to have the chance to return to caricatures last weekend as part of the Face of the Artist Competition in Banbury Town Hall. Even if it was working with children, I was able to create a few Self portraits to go on the advertising boards.
As I mentioned last week, I'll be exhibiting at The Mill in Banbury as part of the Wheel Art group Venue 239, hence my involvement.
It's not going to be as stressful as Bucks Open Studios. But I'm beginning to feel the pressure.
Opportunities to exhibit are always good, although they don't always come in the form you might expect. This is my self portrait for the Face of the Artist.
The competition was a promotional device for Oxford Art Weeks and was a great idea. Wonderfully diverse entries showed the range of artist's participating.
My youngest has just discovered Star Wars! And after an artist's block I thought I'd do Natalie Portman again, but with Hair! She seems to suit either!
Manga Art's popularity is increasing exponentially.
Everywhere you look there are Manga cartoons from Chibi to Shōjo. This week even my Mixed media class came in on the trend... Is there nowhere to escape!
Only kidding, we had great fun creating Manga portraits before finishing off with a Manga self portrait! I thought I'd share my results. It's a bit wrinkled due to the paper not being stretched. But I like it!
The question is, do I adopt this as my style from now on?
Have you tried any novel self-portrait styles? I'd love to see them!
So, this week it's a request. Robin Meade. You can get CNN in the UK. But I like the BBC's news on the main channels! 24 hour news broadcasting bores me to tears. You get what you need in about 10 minutes and the rest is waffle and comment!
Anyway, news is good. Especially with so much going on in the world over the last fortnight. Moubarak being ousted in Eygpt, Earthquakes in New Zealand, Uprising against Gaddafi, and so on... I pray they find a peaceful solution to their issues internally!
Sorry did I ramble on then? So, Robin Meade, I hadn't heard of her before the request. Now, having done a little research...I find she's pretty, intelligent, has a great job!
...I think I might possibly hate her!
Seriously though, I think I might on a subconscious level. Some caricatures seem to practically draw themselves. But there are some, like Robin here, I struggle with. No matter how many times I try something is wrong. (Hmm. Maybe it is jealousy?) But I need to post her today, so here she is. Flaws and all!
But she is seriously much prettier than this. And I refuse to be mean, so Robin "Sorry!!! "
I feel the need for a redraw... perhaps next week I'll get her right! ...and maybe in colour!?
Katy Price could never be described as a shrinking violet!
She's someone people either love or hate. I'm very much in the latter category. But on Saturday she did manage to attract my attention and make me smile.
A bit like car-crash TV perhaps but Katy Price 'dancing' to "I want to Break Free" in the style of the original Queen Video!
First Let me give you the original by Queen I'd be happy to stop there!
But, alas, continue I must...
So, for comparison the Katy Price's version...
Inspired. (This from a lifelong fan who hates covers) A woman playing a man dressed as a woman, with no attempt at realism! The movement was completely wrong... there were inaccuracies from the original video...
But somehow it didn't matter.
No! What struck me was...
How visually convincing she is as Freddie!
Don't believe me?
Take a closer look at my caricature of Katy...
There, told you!
So, do you have any suggestions for celebrity lookalikes?
And no cheating! They have to be celebrities who look like other celebrities!
Do you think Mr Darcy sorry Colin Firth might have finally overcome typecasting? He's been in a few films since that adaptation. If you haven't seen "The King's Speech" I can recommend it. Colin Firth characterisation is perfect. Although you wonder how much "artistic license" they've used.
Can't quite imagine the Queen Mum sitting on his chest "in public" like that!
The film's already wowed the Bafta's and all eyes are on the forthcoming Oscars.
So Hollywood! Is this finally going to be Colin's year? Personally, I hope so...
So finally, after some technical problems, my latest caricature of Colin.
The Mad Men promos suggest a dog eat dog world where ruthless men are king. Well, it is set in the 1950's- outdated values should be rife.
Such as if you're female, pretty and brazen enough... it's quite easy to become famous whilst have absolutely no talent. I'll leave you to fill in the gaps... Oh! Hang on, nothing's really changed there...except that brazen means BRAZEN!
I'm not convinced, I prefer the content marketing approach myself. But hey, I'm not trying to become a household name! Scratch that, I am trying to become a household name, but for the right reasons!
I want people to know me primarily for my work. If they need to know more about me to get that done. That's fine! But to a limit.
In an age of the reality TV celebrity, it's always refreshing to hear about real talent achieving success. There is obviously talent behind Mad Men and those associated with the success deserve the celebrity.
Of course, I may be being unintentionally ironic here, and would never know! Although, I doubt it, the show seems to be applauded.
Psychiatric nurse to comedian! I worked in the old psychiatric hospitals myself. I learned that staff and patients shared more similarities than differences! Sometimes you wondered if you were treating the right people!
So, It comes as no surprise that Jo Brand's spent 10 years as a psychiatric nurse. In that situation you have to develop a sense of humour, or quietly go insane!
I created a portrait of Jo Brand in my mixed media class last week. We were doing famous face and depicting character. I felt she needed a corresponding caricature!
Not sure I have likeness. To be honest! She's reminding me of Claire Rayner!
I admit I wasn't a fan of Jo Brand when I first saw her. But over the years she's grown on me. Her reversal of social stereotypes has been particularly refreshing.
Now all the female comedians are doing it.
I also suspect men are a bit scared of her! Mind you, she's less aggressive than she was in her youth. ...Although still as quick witted.
Art has a wonderful dimension that allows fantasy to become reality. Very quickly. Self portraits are an artist's dream. A chance to portray who we are how we would like to be seen.
In my case...? Well I'll leave that to your imagination! Might regret that later!
Why serious art can't be fun and retain it's integrity. Has often amazed me! But who says it can't?
Sometimes, I know I take life too seriously. And I've often wondered why?
Serious is seen as respectable... and yet is it? Many serious people are in chaos, struggling to survive. And many are not respectable! Fun loving people find success and respect! In abundance.
We need to get away from this attitude that in order to be significant we need to be serious! What they really mean by serious is boring! But most people who are serious about a business are having fun! Otherwise they wouldn't be doing it.
When I embarked on my art career. It struck me early on how cartoons are seen as a lesser art form! And for the life of my I cannot understand why? In order to create quality cartoons the cartoonist must spend hours honing his skill. The end product is the result of many, many hours practice! Compositions may be "played with" to work well. The cartoonist spends hours redrawing until the result is perfect! And yet these types of artwork, do not receive the same level of recognition seen in the rest of the art world! I'll let you into a secret here...looks around with raised eyebrows... No one else around? Good! Complicated art is much easier to make than simple art such as cartoons! Why? Because the fewer lines a picture has more accurate they must be! Complicated pictures can have dozens of errors because the eye will not notice them amongst the clutter. Simple lines must be precise because the eye will notice the slightest kink! I do believe it is finally changing. But not before many more cartoon artists give up their dreams and return to regular, paid work! But cartooning can teach so much? You can say surprisingly damning things in a comedic way, and no offence is taken. Humour can point out the flaws in thinking! Can make points brilliantly! In other words, cartoons are art! What do you say? Would you agree with me?
Many apologies for my absence last week. I won't bore you with excuses.. You know, about being snowed under. But if you want to know why, look here!
Last Friday Andrew and I went to the theatre! You know, the sort of things where adults where normal clothes and don't go around making strange noises or pretending to be things they're not...um! ...Hang on a minute, did I really say that?, What I mean is where people perform for adults, not children. You know Proper "Grown Up" theatre. We went to "An evening with Mark Gatiss." He's one of those people you probably know. But aren't necessarily aware you know him. His recent writing and acting credits include Doctor Who and Sherlock. The evening followed a "Chat show" format but entertaining none the less.
He confesses to be obsessed by the Edwardian era, particularly the spirit of Derring Do such as embodied in the failed Antarctic expedition lead by Robert FalconScott. His most recent TV appearance in the UK was a dramatisation on HG Wells "The first Men in the moon". One of the factors which prompted our Theatre trip.
It therefore seemed only fitting to depict him in full Edwardian Garb!
Thus! Now, who shall I do next week? Any obscure celebrity suggestions?
Pantomime season is here! Well to be honest it's been here since the Elections in May! Coalition government, U turns on policies, raised tuition fees, slashing spending where it could make a difference! I have a few teacher friends... One suggested I caricature... Michael Gove MP for Surrey. Specifically an education secretary depriving children of their books! Nasty Man! .......Boo! .......Hiss! I hadn't really seen any pictures of him before he was suggested. Imagine my delight to find he looks like a startled rabbit caught in headlights! Check is publicity shot here! Oooh Joy! He's going to be easy to caricature! I don't normally do political. But with the Tuition fees scandal and other education cuts...! I must say something. I'd never have done any further education without a grant! * Any society that skimps on education is storing up trouble for the future!
Anyway, back to Michael. At this point I feel I must confess. I watched "Shrek Forever after", with the family over Christmas. And... Rumplestiltskin is playing heavily on my mind.
I knew what I should do!
Michael Gove looking like Rumplestiltskin, juggling books! I found a suitably villainous looking photograph and it all fell into place. Voila!
But, I can't quite explain how he's turned out like a court jester? Except that in my mind they all dress the same! OK?
Whatever he might be doing, the people aren't happy!
Rant Alert! *Excuse my indulgence but it's a topic that's important to me! I know my circumstances were not the worst, but I feel some explanation is required.
In order to go through occupational therapy training... I'd have had to work full time to earn enough to cover living costs and tuition fees. Assuming I could get a job in a record unemployment situation. My course was full time, with placements during the day. At one point I was doing night shifts. I moved town every 3 months during my second year! My evenings were spent on coursework and studying. I did not lead a decadent life! And I struggled to get through as it was! In short, any more pressure and I would have failed! And no money equals pressure!
When could I have worked? What employer would have taken me on with those circumstances? When there were plenty of others with my level of skills willing and able to work to suit the employer? I was in Oxford, a small city with a large University.
My parents were unable to help financially! I'd just lost my father after a long illness. With years on Sickness Benefits prior to that. My mother had been his primary carer! Going back to work during a period of record unemployment with no recent work history...she couldn't get a job!
The wealthy know the value of education and will spend on it. Even still, I had a friend who's wealthy parents refused to pay for her upkeep at university! Why? Due to a petty argument the night before she left! I have another who was holding down 2 jobs because his funding was cut. He failed his coursework and had to drop out because he was too tired to study! He finally finished his studies 3 years ago some 10 years later!
Those who don't have money may see the benefit of further education, but are more terrified of the debt! It's not just the money but the psychological effect on a population who already feel they won't amount to much! Why, because it's reinforced by their subculture. A study into the rich/poor divide was published by the BBC last week! Says it all really! In other words, It's not just that they won't go, they can't go!
In my experience the lazy and disruptive university students were the oneswhose parents could bail them out!I did mention that I studied in Oxford didn't I...? Although not at the University. Those of us who had no fallback support knuckled down and appreciated what an opportunity and privilege we had!
I believe every child/teenager has the right to good education and that poor students with ability should have enough financial backing so they can experience further education. We pay more in the long term. Both financially and through lost benefits to society. Can we really afford that? Alan Bennett, for example has already said he'd never have gone to university in the current climate! The poorest countries are those with the poorest education provision for the poor... and that's no coincidence! EDUCATION benefits EVERYBODY!
Last week I promised Prince William and here he is!
2010 Cathy Read- Prince William
But so much for him being topical! In a week where interest in the Royal wedding is increasing. Suddenly his Dad's the hot topic. What idiot thought it was a good idea to drive them through a student protest. Especially in light of violent events the previous week. Students protesting against tuition fee increases being confronted with one of the most privileged couples in the country. A recipe for disaster by any stretch of the imagination. One thinks heads will roll!
With the sad news of Leslie Nielson's death, I thought I should pay tribute to a man who has brought laughter to millions. Someone who had a long established career of serious acting...
Which he threw down the toilet to appear in a comedy film, Airplane.
But what an icon he became. So many moments of that film and his other spoofs are now classics. Many more famous, or should I say infamous, than the originals they parodied!
No?
Tell me, do you actually remember anything from the Airport films? And that means without doing a Google search! I'll wait...
Exactly! I rest my case!
The seventies were a period where practically every film was a Disaster movie. Hollywood seemed to think that everybody wanted to see the same movie (What's changed there?!?). Chruning them out with only the slightest variations in cosmetic details. Such as setting (airport, cruise ship, tower block... substitute you idea here).
But basically they all had the same plot and characters.
The authority figure who knows he's heading for the scrap heap,
The hero who will be battling some major trauma from his past. Which you just know he must overcome, if he's to become the hero again! Sullen and antisocial with a distinct death wish.
The hero's love interest who will begin by despising him but eventually realise he is "The ONE". There will be some point when all but the bare minimum of her clothes fall/are torn off. And....Cue Cupid Stunts (sorry for poor quality of video but Kenny illustrates the point so well!)
The couple who are heading for divorce but really love each other. The crisis will help them to realise that they "Have each other" (pass me the sick bucket)
Hero's best friend who may or may not make it to the end of the film!
The comic light relief! The cute child/animal that will be in peril but saved from certain death.
And other various characters created with all the dimensions of cardboard!
Following the release of Airplane, film makers no longer take that particular genre of film seriously! I suspect the viewing public had come to that conclusion years before!
Now, what other Cliche characters are there? If you can think of any, please describe them in the comments section. Try to use no more than 2 lines! They are "cardboard" characters after all!
One thing I love about caricatures. Stereotypes work! Take Rupert Grint here! How many years is it since he did the spider scene, and yet it's still so funny!
Will he be allowed to forget it? Not for a while, at least!
Bless his little cotton socks. I believe once they saw him do "Frightened" they decided he needed to be "frightened" in more scenes! Where's child protection when you need them? But I thought he should learn to deal with his fears now! They are battling Lord Voldemort after all! Hence the smile :-)
I did wonder about Thunderpants which is a favourite with my children. Although it wasn't Rupert who played the title role! Also, it's not such a visual gag... or is it? Maybe I'll leave that one to your imagination, shall I...?
So, the penultimate Harry Potter film hits the screens, with the Preview in London last weekend. To carry on the spirit, I thought Emma Watson would be fitting. And what else could she be but a witch! With her beloved books. I wonder if she will ever manage to shake off the Hermione association?
And look how she's grown. Weren't they just adorable, so cute! But like all children, they become adults. It's a strange thing watching child stars grow up. There is that sense of the child next door. You know them by sight, but not necessarily very well.
Now should I do Rupert Grint next week? Or wait until the final film in the Summer? What do you think?
Joanna Lumley first came to my attention in The New Avengers as Purdey - like the gun elegant and deadly. Beautiful, independent, smart and a woman who could take care of herself in a fight. In other words exactly what I wanted to be. Not sure how many of those I became?
But Joanna has continued to grace our screens and has proven an actress who finds character roles we have grown to love. Most celebrated would be Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous and one of my alltime favourite scenes below!
Go on admit it, did you spot her the first time you saw that scene? I didn't!
She even does Trashy with style!
I've always admired how she conducts herself personally, as well. She's a single mother but refuses to name the father and supported herself and her son. No cashing in on publicity from cheap magazines to help support herself either. She's campaigned for Gurkha rights and been the driving force behind a major policy change in their favour.
As Cab Calloway would say, "she has Class with a capital K!"
Now, I'm off to find some more Class for next week!
There was a time when Graham Norton was only seen after the watershed.
And many of us would say “quite rightly so”!
But now he’s everywhere. Radio, Reality TV shows, shows to find leading cast members for Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals, taking over from Jonathan Ross… No, that’s post watershed!…
…Eurovision. Is there nothing the man won’t do? I mean Eurovision, a byword for trashy, cheesy pop songs! Has the man no shame? No taste?
Oh Hang on, if you’ve seen his night time show, you know that is a statement if fact! He delights in cheese, he delights in sleaze. Not so much as innuendo and in your face –o!
Gradually - and none too subtly - he has invaded our airspace. Even making it onto the BBC, the home of conventional morality. How did he do it? How does someone who’s presentation style is so near the knuckle manage such a conquest?
Sure, there is a difference between the toned down daytime persona and the post watershed character…but it’s not much!
I think it must be the mass of contradiction! He comes across as “nice” and caring but then makes a bitchy comment about a celebrity, does something awful to a member of the audience or shows a web link which is shocking.
Morally, I know I should disapprove of what he does. Yes, he makes you laugh, but cruelly at other people’s expense! The ultimate “Car crash TV”. You know you’ll regret what you see, but you can’t help but look!
So will I watch him now, will he be my guilty little secret?
After posting last week I learnt an important lesson!
I mean, a REALLY IMPORTANT LESSON!
“And what might that be?” I hear you ask.
I really must check my previous week’s post to see what I promised to do this week!!!!!
I confess, Organisation is not my strong point. So here’s Olivia Neutron Bomb sorry Olivia Newton John.
My humble apologies for the delay. It won’t happen again, Miss! Which reminds me! Why do old nicknames have a habit of sticking?
The most memorable seem to play on original names e.g. I was a Concannon and one of mine was “Cannonball”.
Or they’re simply humiliating! ‘S funny, I don’t feel like giving a personal example here…
Olivia’s stratospheric popularity following Grease might be why she was awarded this one.
I think I might have gone a bit OTT with the hair! Tiger stripes!!!! And yet she can carry it off, don’t some people make you green?
I was getting concerned that this caricature was “out of mode” for want of a better word. But,as you can see below, Olivia’s been in Glee recently.
I had trouble finding a good youtube video. Apparently Sony have blocked some! But I found it! Hmm, I always liked the original…
But I think this one might be better!
Makes a refreshing change to see the objectification of men! Am I bad? And she’s wearing well! Hope I look that good at her age. Think I might need to step up the exercise/diet program first though. Time to walk the dog!
And then when you do sit down it doesn’t turn out well.
It’s been a bit like that this week!
I had a fabulous opportunity to exhibit my art at John Lewis over the weekend. As I was focussing on the abstract and representational work, the caricatures went by the wayside. Until my son’s swimming lesson yesterday.
When I was teenager John was THE pin-up after the release of Grease. Forget Olivia Newton John’s “sew yourself in them” pants, he was the sexiest thing around! She would have been trampled in the stampede if he went anywhere near my school!
So…
Heeeeere’s Johnny!
Now, if when I get time to draw this week, I think I should do Olivia so I can have a matched pair!
