Steps to creating a caricature for commission

I’m dead excited! Went to a networking meeting last week.

Ok, so not exciting as such but there’s more…

This morning I had a phonecall. As a result I sold 2 abstracts and I have a commission for a caricature. With all the preparation for the Art Fair at the weekend, I haven’t done any caricatures.

Buildings 4, check

Caricatures any, no!

So, I thought it you might like to hear about the process when I’m given a commission.

1.       Information gathering. I find out what interests the subject, what items the commissioner would like to have incorporated, is there anything I need to be careful about? Etc. 

I also ask for photographs or arrange to take them, depending on the occasion.

2.       Next I make 3 or 4 rough draft sketches where I try to include all the items included on the list established in step one. These are some examples. As you can see, they’re very sketchy and there is no attempt at likeness, they are purely compositional ideas.

3.      I usually send these to the client, often via email. They then come back to me identifying which elements they like. Sometimes it will be a combination of parts of 2 or 3 pictures.

4.     Depending on time left – not all clients understand the sense of urgency for their own deadlines! Or the amount of time required to draw and paint – I will then make a final draft which is sent for approval.

5.     I start the drawing in pencil. I will then ink this in. I used to send to client prior to inking in, but if I go wrong, I’d need to redraw, so I feel it’s best to show them the inked image.

6.     Once the ink drawing is approved, I apply colour… but I’ll leave that until next week! Where I will reveal the finished painting. I’m still awaiting client approval.

Portraits and their value to the caricature artist

Although I’m a caricature artist, I’m an artist first and foremost.

Sometimes I think Caricatures are seen as cartoons and there is a general snobbery about cartoons not being “proper art”. I think the barriers are dissolving but anyone who’s ever tried to do a caricature will realise there is more to a caricature. Cartoons simplify, they are based on reality but one which has been distorted to a humorous extent. The more the distortion the greater the comedic value. But the item must be recognisable to allow the humour to work. e.g. a flying telephone wouldn’t be funny if it look like an aeroplane!

The best cartoonists know that the real skill is paring down the drawing process so that every line counts, none is superfluous. I use the example of Peanuts here – Snoopy the dog is the epitome of minimal lines of good  quality.  Another good example is Simon’s Cat

So it is with caricatures. It helps to be able to draw people and achieve a likeness, before the distortion. There is always a trade off between recognition and comic element with a caricature. I’ve always preferred to achieve a good likeness, that’s my style.

Which is why I did a portrait drawing class yesterday. So glad I did. It helps hone skills and experiment with new ideas.

Normally with drawing classes I attend we do warm up exercises to help loosen up styles and get over the initial fear of drawing in front of other people.

We started off with conventional quick sketches like this…

Then we tried a novel exercise of drawing looking at the model…but not the page. Here is the better of my attempts. There’s a bit of a Picasso Feel about the whole thing!

 

What really impressed me about this one was how there is a likeness, even though so many lines are “Wrong”

Next we did tonal drawings in charcoal and chalk. Like so!

Fairly straightforward, reassuring almost.

Finally we did colour mixing in tonal areas – concentrating on shading but not detail. The plan being to complete the details in the afternoon. However, I only did the morning – curses.

My final attempt looks a bit like The Bird’s eye man spent too long on a sunbed before applying mahogany woodstain! I might post him, when he’s finished…

BTW -The model might look familiar as he’s been an extra in quite a few T.V series and films. He mentioned Lewis and The Duchess… amongst many! Not that he was name dropping! But he was very charming.

Realistic sketching with coloured pencils - a portrait of Avril Lavigne

I’ve always admired people who can get a photorealistic finish on pencil sketching. For some time I wondered how it was achieved. Then I discovered burnishing. I knew some blending techniques but hadn’t really attempted burnishing before. (There were some serious gaps in my art education!)
This is my second serious attempt at intensive blending, Avril Lavigne. The blending and colours seem to be working well.

With any artwork I always find it best to “sit on it” for a while. Looking at a picture after a break helps you see the flaws. The errors are glaringly obvious.
Take Avril here, I thought I was finished until I scanned the picture in. But now I can see where I need some minor adjustments. But I’ll do that tomorrow I think, then add the picture with changes.
I can also see that I need to clean my scanner bed, there are marks on her chin which aren’t on the original! Ugh housework! (phtew)

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.

Playing with inktense pencils – moody sketches

It’s very late as I write and rather than defer my post I’ll complete it tonight and add the images tomorrow. I spent some time last night playing with my inktense pencils. I found this picture in the paper and loved the texture of the hood and the moody expression. So I decided to copy it as I get to grips with the pencils. It was also a chance to practice some quick, loose sketching. It’s worked quite well, just need to expand the idea to something original.

I’ve been brushing up on pencil strokes following an interesting article in Paint magazine. I may have mentioned I never studied art after A level and often feel there have been gaps in my art education which I have been endeavouring to fill in and with time should be able to address. Although I frequently wonder whether a lifetime of dedicated study with no time wasted at all would ever fully satisfy my need for artistic knowledge and development.

Manga cartooning

I went to a workshop today at Canvas art store run by Emily Brady. It was Creating Manga art using Inktense pencils. I felt a bit old to begin with, other than Emily and myself everybody else there was under 20! And Emily is not that much older herself. At least I understood some of the references about films which made me feel less old but many of the names were Greek to me. Anyway, a good time was had by all and this is my Manga creation. I can’t claim much originality, except perhaps for the hair, as I was using a book as reference. I changed the direction of the face, nose and mouth and the body was a composite, but I like it.

You can just see some of Emily’s demonstration drawing showing the principles of Manga faces in the bottom right hand corner!

Afterwards, I was planning to do some sketching in town, but needed to get home- it was later than I thought. Instead I continued to play with my Intense pencils at home. I did a quick sketch of a picture in the paper. I’ve also seen a fabulous body pose which I might have to Cartoonify for reference!

Life drawing

Last night’s life drawing class went really well, very warm, as usual. The model is normally very good and copes well with the various unflattering comments made by the tutor – admittedly about the drawing, not the model, but sometimes it’s hard to tell! However, last night, his comment that my drawing made her look like she had frogs legs resulted in a rapid change of pose. This is the revised pose. It went pretty well but I admit to neglecting the bottom right corner. (The photo’s very fuzzy so I’ll try re-photographing in natural light tomorrow –sorry if you’re looking before the switch. My lack of tripod is really frustrating sometimes. Actually I have a really good tripod, I’ve just lost the widget that attaches the camera to the tripod! I think Duck tape might be the option.)

Today has been very social with a few sketches and some more tweaking of websites and links. As I got back from dog walking the phone was ringing, did I want to meet 2 friend for coffee? That was hard – yes, of course! Got back at lunchtime and I started tweaking for a bit before doing some painting Then, just as was about to start on the “street skater”, another friend popped around and before we knew, it was school pickup time! Time flies, as they say! Still, there is still the evening left, I might have to get out the paints this evening…

Let sleeping dogs lie! Well at least in pencil sketches

Today has been busy with a gallery meeting and finalising details related to that. The plan is to go live in March so time is of the essence.
It’s not all been admin, I have managed to do some painting but it’s not dry enough yet to post. So, I’m posting yesterday’s doggy sketch. Not complete as he moved… but I’m getting more of him done before he moves!!!!

A Springer spaniel doing his third favourite activity. First running free, second eating, third sleeping!

Watch the Bird (of prey)

A practice sketch I did of an eagle from a photograph in a magazine. I felt the need to practice feathers, and given none of the birds I see around here says still long enough, this is the closest I’m going to get for a while.

I would love to try and sketch a real one, but I need to sketch faster. I managed to sketch the dog when he was asleep but didn’t manage to finish in time! I did achieve a full dog though! Maybe I’ll post that one tomorrow… hmm thinks?

Boats at sea

Many years ago, while I was on honeymoon I took some photographs around Sagres in Portugal. Always with the intention of painting the scene. This is my first attempt. The picture detail is poor as I only had a 110 camera – remember those!!!! Which has not enlarged very well and the details are a bit fuzzy. I managed a quick sketch which has worked out pretty well, despite the restrictions. Except for the sky, I got caught out a bit by the drying time of the watercolour pencils! Dipped it in first time, but didn’t pick up enough water, by the time I’d repeated the exercise I had a hard edge which I couldn’t soften. I’m planning to have another go, probably on better paper.

We have normality - a return to Heath Ledger

The children are all back at school, the snow is thawing, I’ve done a couple of quick sketches… finally some normality!

This is a sketch of Heath Ledger – it’s crude and I always feel I can do better but I’ve managed an essence of Heath I think!

I often have warring urges when drawing. My dilemma can be summed up by a story I read some years ago. A Pottery teacher divides her class into two group. The first set is told they only need to make one pot and will be graded on its quality. The other set is told that they must make as many pots as possible and will be graded only by the number of pots they make, whatever the quality.

The “Quality” set spend hours deliberating on what constitutes the best pot and ultimately produce a nice pot but it’s nothing special. The”Quantity” group spend hours industriously producing pots. Their early attempts are pretty pathetic but as time progresses the quality of the pots improves so that the end pots are equally good, if not better in quality, than the one produced by “Quality” group. Part of me naturally identifies with the “Quality” group. However, I’m trying to get my head around the fact that the best way to get quality is to produce in significant quantity.

David Bowie

I decided it was about time I tried David Bowie. Initial picture searches threw up lots of early Bowie examples, so I thought why not. He always was pretty easy on the eye when he was younger, even though he's aged quite well. I drew the line at Aladin Sane and the other face painted creations though - names escape me at the moment. So here he is.

Debbie Harry revisited

I seem to have lost the plot recently. I think it's pre Christmas stress, or something to do with far too many school activities and Christmas shopping. Anyway, I did this sketch of Debbie Harry the other day, last week, from a picture I found online. It was meant to be the start of an attempt at a quick sketch a day... that didn't happen. Looks at toes in the uncomfortable way you do when you haven't done your homework and the teacher wants to know why.
I didn't get any work accepted by the Royal Society of British Artist. Need to keep pluggin away at that.
I know have a picture on display in Body Matters in Well Street in Buckingham. It's not in the best place- the toilet- but at least it will be seen. There has to be some Freudian comment there but I'm not going to denegate my artwork (Trying to exercise some positive thinking here) so you'll have to fill in the blank....
I've been working on some abstracts. Christmas has taken over otherwise, carol services, we have snow...only an inch, but it's snow!

Wednesday already, where did the week go?

What have I been doing? You know, I'm not sure! How come so long has passed without a post? Let's see. Saturday I went to the wonderful MK Printmakers it's a small place which is part of Artworks-MK On the way back I went shopping and did a littl sketch of the Christmas decoration on the table when I had coffee!Then the evening we had Christmas tree lighting up in the village. Dominic went to a frineds for a sleepover so we had a "Grown up" evening!
On Sunday I battled with my biography for the Buckingham Arts trail trial. (That looks so weird!)
On Monday I had a sick child - lots of sitting cuddling- but I was able to looks trhough some new books I've just bought. I was able to select 3 pictures and email those with the biography to the lady coordinating the trial. Here's hoping.
Tuesday - shopping and housework, yuk. Had a meeting with a client about the ongoing caricature, and finally picked up a paintbrush.
Now, I'm off to paint.

Michael Jackson, portrait

This is the second attempt at a pencil portrait of Michael. The first was a good likeness but I'd not placed him correctly. This one is much better.

I've been a bit distracted the last few days, I'm doing a Christmas craft fair later on today. Generally selling any artwork I can, but I'm also going to try some live caricaturing again. I'm not sure how it will go, but I won't know until I've tried, will I? So, I must off and carry on preparing.

Back to basics

Still not feeling uninspired and very unfocussed today so thought I'd return to some basics, drawing objects I tend to avoid, just to try and push myself into action. Did a cup, natural sponge and a basket as well as a couple of quick sketches of Siobhan reading. Nothing too exciting.

Last night I played with the watercolour pencils and came up with this. Not sure whether I like it - it's colourful... that's all I can say.

Duchess of York

This sketch was done from the cover of the telegraph magazine. I was quite pleased with it earlier on but now I think it needs more work. The essential likeness is there but the shading's wrong. I often find when I return to pictures, I see things that don't look right. I might get around to tweaking it tonight and I'll place the picture below.

I need to start work on a commission now - caricature for a 40th birthday.

A load of Rubbish!

If this looks like a pile of rubbish than that's because it is! I found this interesting discussion on procrastination (the fact I was reading it speaks volumes - although, in my defence, it had led from a search for a good book on using sketchbooks - something I feel I need to improve on! Are you impressed? The true procrastinator always has a good excuse!!!!!!) Anyway it lead to this webpage and facebook group called "Everyday Matters"! On the facebook page there's a daily challenge.

Today's was to "draw your junk drawer" - as I'm British I felt it really ought to be a rubbish drawer! Although strictly speaking it's the drawer that contains the spare light bulbs, string and bin bags - they are there peeking out in the bottom corner- and fuses...! Anyway, it was fun to do, could be worked on more but it's a sketch! We have a baptismal font that IS full of rubbish (I live in a converted chapel and - before you get excited - it's only a little font like an urn you can pick up) , maybe I should do that next...

End of an Era

Today I went on my last playgroup outing with my youngest - he starts school in September - I have mixed feelings about that. We went to Mead Open Farm. So, after a moderate drive I got to watch him play on an adventure playground, reluctantly pet animals, wield a golf-club on the crazy golf and slide from dizzying height in the indoor play area. I did manage a little bit of sketching. Not my best picture, and one I would have preferred to spend more time on, but sometimes you have to "go with the flow!". It has a certain naive charm, but it's not winning any awards. I've left the springs on the image, I like them.

Drew Barrymore portrait

Well, I did the car boot. I sold one card... to Andrew. Not what you'd call a staggering commercial success! (Did you see what I did there? Sarcasm, it might be the lowest form of wit but it makes me feel better.) I did give out business cards and a few people did seem genuinely and not just politely taking the cards in order not to offend my 8 year old assistant. Andrew also pointed out that at £8 a pitch it was cheap advertising. Only time will tell if it was worth it. It was a usefull exercise in ironing out problems such as how to display my cards and I need to find a better way of showing the paintings. I really need to look at craft fairs though. Most people at car boots are not looking for fine art, unless it's seeking a bargain to show at the "Antiques Roadshow"
Not that I'm a cynic you understand.

So, onto todays post. This one's another attempt to get Drew Barrymore, but a portrait this time. I'm still not 100% happy with the left eye, when am I ever but her eyebrow really was that bushy compared to the left, probably just an optical illusion caused by the shadows.
I also had some other ideas following the car boot. I haven't done a Bond yet and loads of people asked for Michael Jackson, so when I've got some printer ink, I'll try him. I can't decide what era though, probably the Thriller/Off the Wall period.