Over the lead up to Christmas I've done eight 'live' caricature shows for private parties and corporate functions. Here's some samples. I really forgot to take the camera out of the bag most of the time - peak output was 16 an hour - average about 10.
Still not sure if I enjoy doing it - though the people are great ( and so's the money !!) but I'm nowhere near as comfortable with the end product as my studio work - too much of a perfectionist I guess regardless of the little voice in my head saying 'forget the portrait' I still head that way.
It's all studio work until Christmas and then some heavy practice before 2010 'live' shows.
16 comments:
Hi Terry ,great to see you do "life work" too !!!!
Jan :)
What are you using for your line work Terry? In the photos it looks like pencil. The drawing is fine, I would suggest (if you're not already doing this) lightly blocking out the head on the page with just a few hatch mark lines so it doesn't crowd the edges so much. I understand how hard it is to not go for the portrait and to do the most with the fewest lines. Especially when you are so adept at painted pieces. (Not that I am, you are!) I use a flesh color Art Stix for the block-in then go to the marker (Copic small brush tip) for the actual drawing. The flesh color Art Stix is subtle so it;s not so obvious when it's just black line, but when I color them, of course the block-in lines are covered.
Thanks Jan
Cheers Paul - great to hear from a top 'live' exponent !
I'm using Black Derwent Inktense coloured pencils - I've got Art Stix but figure they'll slow me down too much. I've also steered away from markers until I'm more comfortable with my line quality - pencils are far more forgiving.
Tips taken on board - thanks - and I'll be putting in some serous practice before 2010 jobs start.
Well we all have our preferences, don't we? For me it's the other way around...
Great to see you tried it, it's always good to search for your boundaries. You did a great job, 16 in an hour, pfewww!
Marion you 'ol guru you - thanks for dropping in - I'm very much a beginner in this field and I'm sure my preferences will shift all over the place before I settle to what I'm happy with.
Hey I've got a folder full of your sample work on my Mac to stare at in awe - ' How does she bloody do that ??'
16 drawings per hr !!!...your puttin me to shame you old bugger...good to see your out and about...great drawing too !!
Cheers Anthony - my wife went with me for one four hour show and I asked her to time me. That was 'peak' speed - they were all 'turnip heads' though LOL !!!
Great to see your live stuff Tel. Excellent likenesses! I find it helps to simplify everything when drawing live, looking for basic shapes. I also go for 3/4 views whenever possible, even if it means telling the sitter to turn in their seat.
And do you mean the drawings were 'turnip heads' or the sitters (lol)?
Hey, great to see your out and about stuff Tel. Practice makes perfect - I pity the people who got my first ones...
Just remember not to worry too much and if it's looking shit wrap it up and move on to the next victim!
Thanks Paul and Luke - I think it's good to get out my comfort zone ( ... and my hermit like existence - I'm told !! ). I'll stick with it.
Turnip heads - round / no hair !!
Great job Tel! I think Moyse said it all....no need to get too many lines happening....and remember.....keep making the females..."purdy"....they make the party!...if they're happy, the males are happy.....
Happy to see you making progress with your Live caricature work. I can relate how you feel about getting better at it. You'll get good at it in no time and give me a hard time trying to fool them Aussie tourists.
This December weekends I'm drawing at the Singapore zoo, occasionally drawing the tourist from Perth and they say they've never seen anything like it in Perth. You got a lot of people that's too easy to please mate. Go for it.
Kamal Dollah, Singapore
Cheers Kelly - make them females 'purdy' - don't you talk funny !!!
Thanks Kamal - hey I'll give you some business cards to hand out to them for when they fly home !!
Tel, kudos for going live! Taking the plunge is the only way to improve at it. They look good to me. Paul gave some good advice ( both Pauls, actually).
There'll come a day when you start to feel confident in it! :-)
Thanks Emily - I'm really a reluctant participator in this - they ring, I think of a number ( double it because I'm not really keen ) and they say OK.
I've come to the conclusion all you 'Live' caricaturists are just so wealthy !!!
I'm hanging in there ....................
Hola amigo,
Revisando tu blog, dejame felicitarte por tan preciosas caricaturas, me atrevo a pedirte una gran favor amigo no se si puedes hacer una caricatura mia seria algo que me honraria enormemente, te envio una foto luego, y te dejo mi correo electronico
guillermovizcarra@yahoo.com
espero que puedas cumplir con mi pedido, Saludos.
Por favor traduces mi mensaje, gracias por hacerlo.
Guillermo.
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