Calm down Tel !

One of those jobs where you go 'you beauty' but then realise you've got to restrain yourself and not follow natural tendencies. It's a 21st Birthday presentation caricature and a cool response was requested. I shook !!!

Happy clients .....

One of the marvellous things about being a caricaturist is some of the great people you draw and deal with. Here are some photos of recipients with the final framed caricature. All smiles - great to see.

As a general rule I've found my customers, people who order their friends or family a caricature as a gift, are almost all fun people and great to meet. They may put me 'through the hoops' during the commission but then again my proofing system invites that. The great thing is they come back for another one - three of these are from returning clients. Worth going the extra yard I guess.

Mrs Slocombe

A speed painting exercise that I probably couldn't have picked a more difficult subject for. Caricaturing a caricature. Mrs Slocombe is the role that Mollie Sugden made part of British TV folklore in the very dated 'Are you being served'. Mollie died this week aged 86.

She had more 'pussy' one liners than most blue stand up comedians !

In a week when the world is grief stricken over the death of a talented but very strange man, who you would have wanted under Police surveillance if he lived in your street, Mollie and a couple of others got overlooked.

Not at all happy with it BTW - but there you go !!

Little Un's ...

Something I've not really done many of is child caricatures - these are from a recent commission. I found them really difficult - you can get away with a slip or two on an adults face but it screams at you if you do it on a kids face.

We, caricaturists that is, often struggle with beautiful women. When doing children, particularly when the clients are the parents, is even harder.

After a bit of tweaking they loved them !

Just a wee caricature !

This is a caricature of Rowly, a caricature artist from the Highlands of Scotland. I spent way too long on it but was experimenting with some 'Seiler' effects. I really need more smudge / blur effects - it's no good I'll have to do the course !!

Should post a few more this next week or so I've been driven from the TV - can't help it I'm just not a tennis follower and my dear wife is a huge fan - roll on the end of Wimbledon. ( I've only just survived the French Open !)

I had grave fears she was watching porno the other evening from the sounds coming from the women players !!!!!

Why is there such a huge long void until the European Football season starts again .......

Kim Jong II caricature ......

Now this is different, I made an effort to add to my 'celebrity' file. Kim Jong II North Korea's crackpot leader.

This is the only smiley reference I could find and it's a few years ago. Have you seen the state of his teeth I wouldn't be heading to Pyongyang for any cheap dental work. Unless you really like green !

I have it on good authority they're building a Halitosis bomb - true !!

Ford Mustang Dragster !!

This is yet another vehicle caricature, but a fun one to do. This is the driver and engineer of a drag car race team, you'll note the drivers on the wrong side, no wonder those American car companies are going broke they've been building them back to front !!!

I've just lashed out buying Adobe Illustrator CS4 with the influx I've had of vehicle drawings. It makes a far superior job on producing cars, boats, trucks - all manner of mechanical devices. You can always bring it back into PS to put in all those little embellishments that finish off a job so well.

I paid the extra for the manual, as a former Freehand user, I'll need it.

Mr Justa AKA Tony Mac

This is Tony Mac from Gloucester in the UK, a keen caricaturist and visitor to this blog (gotta look after your readers !). Got lazy finishing off around the neck - I'll fix that Tony !

Something completely different ...

Part of a commission I'm doing for the 40th Anniversary of a large transport company - this is the backdrop to the five caricatures of the family who own it.

Faces are certainly easier !!

Commission & Chris Wahl's Brushes !

Part of a new commission, a speedway driver, nothing particularly different about that, I do a lot of them. What is different is I used new brushes. I regularly check on the Blog's of fellow caricaturists and 'earwig' anything new.

Chris Wahl of Sydney posts some great stuff on his. He, very generously, put up some of his Photoshop brushes for download, and, I thought 'must try them !'

Well the above caricature was the result using Chris's 'paint texture 6' and 'Hair 1'. The hair brush in particular makes a lovely job.

If you're a Photoshopper they're HERE - enjoy !!

'Voluptuous' 50th commission ....

Now I know I said I wasn't going to bore you with commissions but I'm not getting a chance to do much else of late so here's a fiftieth birthday that's just gone out the door.

Eric and Ernie !!

May 28th is the 25th Anniversary of the death of Eric Morcambe in 1984. Twenty five years strewth where did they go - little known outside of the UK and probably to most people under 35. Eric was a brilliant natural comedian remembered with deep affection by those that grew up with him and his 'straight man' sidekick Ernie Wise. Sadly little Ernie passed away a few years ago too.

I had every intention of doing a caricature - that's the problem with good intentions.

A short clip - there's a ton more on YouTube.

'Flats' AKA Paul Flatley .....

Catching up on arrears of caricaturists caricatures ( .. try saying that quickly !) - this is Paul Flatley a fellow member of ISCA who hails from 'Oop North' in England.

Tried a few different ways of doing this - about 3 hours all up.

Birthday collage ...

This was a biggie framed commission which came off OK after lots of adjustments by the clients. A real estate company that specialise in developing industrial properties - the CEO's 50th birthday.

I can come up for air for a few days and do a couple of 'ME' jobs and an entry for the Michael Collins Caricature award - just one this year - 'mixed media' is the buzz just don't mention Digital !!!

Yesnomaybe !!

Quick - well quick for me - speedpainting exercise of a budding Perth caricaturist .......... who hides under the tag of , would you believe, yesnomaybe !!

Fun practice !!

Fore ..... then the' ol' onion bag !'

Another, rush job, commission I've just finished for a golf playing, soccer loving, M&M eating, Weeties King .... a Birthday gift from his staff. Oh he eats dry Weetbix for breakfast too !!

.... well this all changed. I was really pleased with the golf one - the clients didn't like it ( though it was their requested theme ) so we went to a soccer theme. On proofing they often want a few minor modifications - first time a whole new body has been requested. The quote form has been adjusted so if that happens again I get adequately paid.

'The ol' onion bag' - goal net - an expression used by an Irish commentator Tommy Smyth on ESPN (possibly the worst soccer commentator in the world !!)

60th Birthday Commission .....

This is a 60th Birthday commission for a rock & roll fan who loves to barbecue.

Leather jacket and the tight jeans and Elvis pose.

Trying to keep pace with the productivity of Dominic Philibert's Blog - no chance whatsoever really !!

On the catwalk ....

Just finished this one, commissioned by the family, to celebrate her graduation as a fashion designer. Pleased how it turned out and enjoyed a nice play in Photoshop - too much hair though !

Scribble, scribble, scribble ......

No I haven't retired - been away for a short relaxing break in Busselton - great !

Here's some of the latest commissions just to stop the Blog healing up !!

I'm the victim again .......

I realise now why I grew a beard !

The above rendition of yours truly was done by fellow ISCA member Paul Flatley - Flats - from Lancashire, England. Thanks mate - I think !