The scratchings of Tel

It's a boy ........

2012-01-18T16:41:00.000+08:00

A little bit of self indulgence here - Oliver William Dunnett - our first grandchild.
Born last night at Mercy Hospital, Perth.
Mum & Dad and young Oliver doing really well ...... grandparents ecstatic !!!

Some 2012 stuff ...

2012-01-18T05:01:00.000+08:00

Here's a few commission jobs to kick off 2012 - top right is another magazine cover 'roast' I'm really trying to promote - particularly to corporate clients. It helps side step all that peripheral clutter that so many people want to load into caricatures - not only does it visually pollute the finished job - it takes so much tedious time.

Would you believe we have professional caricaturists advertising they'll put all that 'crap' in for - no charge ! Strewth they must be short of work.

Grumble over .............................

Fotoshop by Adobé !

2012-01-13T06:33:00.000+08:00

Fotoshop by Adobé from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.

....... who'd have thought eh ?

Priceless reaction....

2011-12-19T11:37:00.000+08:00

They say a picture is worth a thousand words - here's a sequence of them capturing the presentation of a caricature I did for a client in South Australia.
They seem pretty pleased ..............

Last pre Christmas posting so a very, very Merry Christmas and a great 2012 to you all !

Octoberfest wedding ....

2011-12-15T20:55:00.000+08:00

The last pre Christmas job - well almost - even though it's for a wedding in March.

A wedding celebration with a German flavour .........

'Chrissy' Collage ...

2011-12-13T07:30:00.000+08:00

A collage of bits and pieces from completed commissions for the festive season - time to kick back and have a coldie !!

Early Christmas present .....

2011-12-12T08:05:00.000+08:00

As a renown 'Machead' and devotee of all things Apple, I couldn't really see the point of the iPad.
A surfeit of Qantas FF points - and not wanting them to go the way of my Ansett one's - I lashed out and bought one with points from the Qantas shop.
What an amazing little machine - it actually hasn't been out of my hands since I got it last week.
Nola wants to try it but she's still waiting for me to put it down !
What have I achieved with it ?
Nothing - but what a top little time waster .....................

National coverage ....

2011-11-20T06:36:00.001+08:00

Now I didn't get to the Stanley's in Sydney this year - didn't even get an entry in - but The Australian ( our only national broad sheet) did an article in relation to the awards weekend. It featured cartoons and caricatures of cartoonists and included two of mine. The 'biggie' was one I did a few years ago of Roger Fletcher 'Fletch' as Torkan's Dad. Fletch has just celebrated 35 years of drawing the Torkan strip.
The other was one I did of Peter Broelman, again a few years ago.

Got a few phone calls so I bought my annual copy of the paper !!!

Sounds like it was a great weekend and a big congratulations to the brilliant Anton Emdin for taking out the 'Cartoonist of the Year' Gold Stanley - Anton, being only a young bugger, better build a big trophy cabinet. Check my links for a drool over his work !!!

1990 SS Commodore ............

2011-11-20T06:21:00.001+08:00

Final of the 'face' in the sample below - they loved it.
The car takes longer than the face - and it's always the 'bit' they're most particular about.
Gotta get my head around Adobe Illustrator since my beloved Macromedia Freehand has 'died' under OS X 10.7 'Lion'. Progress my @#$% !!

The Christmas 'pile' .......

2011-10-30T08:47:00.000+08:00

A few bits & pieces from the upcoming festive season jobs - I've closed off my website to new orders until 2012 - great range of face types. Busy but fun !!

Tom Richmond's 'Mad art of Caricature'

2011-10-27T05:53:00.002+08:00

I've got a lot of books on caricature, character design, cartooning and even animation. A lot of them get used frequently - some less so. I've just received Tom Richmond's new book ' The Mad art of Caricature'.

This is not one of those coffee table 'look what I can do' books. It is a 170 page comprehensive guide to the art of caricature that is destined to become a 'must have' for caricaturists world wide.

I can see it being close and handy in the studio for years to come. It certainly won't live in the bookcase.

If you only ever buy one caricature book - make this the one.

Congratulations and kudo's Tom.

You can order a copy HERE

..... have a view of Tom's Blog HERE - the blog, itself, is also a great reference work !

Fleetwood Mac fan ..............

2011-10-22T06:25:00.000+08:00

This a recently completed commission the client wanted the caricature, for a 40th birthday, of a country rock singer who is a big fan of Fleetwood Mac. Above is the final of her and below integrated into a modified photo of the band. The earlier quote for caricaturing all of them frightened the client off !

Friggin' Facebook !!

2011-10-12T06:58:00.002+08:00

'Here we go again' - 12 months after leaving AND requesting deletions of accounts, and assuming it was done. Whoompf !!!

They just don't get it do they ?

I'm given to understand there is an amalgamation of some of the social networking sites - they've come up with very appropriate branding .....

Happy New Zealand couple ...........

2011-10-08T11:38:00.000+08:00

An 'export job' to Christchurch in New Zealand - I'm told they were well chuffed with the
caricature.

Farewell Mr Jobs

2011-10-06T10:52:00.001+08:00

Sad day - a great visionary and world changer rests in peace.

..... thanks for all the toys - love them !

Yeoman Warder Bill Callaghan

2011-10-05T07:56:00.002+08:00

This time last year Nola and I were on holiday in the UK and had the opportunity to visit the Tower of London for the first time since I was a kid - a long time ago. Decided to go on a guided tour led by a Beefeater - turned out to be this one - who has since become a bit of a 'YouTube' legend.
Hilarious and totally politically incorrect - the guy could work as a stand up comedian.
Well it appealed to my sense of humor anyway.
Enjoy !

Couple of happy customers ....

2011-10-03T09:56:00.000+08:00

Get these now and again - nice to see they're happily received !

Wedding live show

2011-09-24T07:54:00.002+08:00

In a determined drive to keep the old Blog active here's a few shots from a gig at a wedding last night. Performed the caricature duties with ISCA & ACA compatriot Jeremy Goodchild complete in his standard orange tea cosy.

Beautiful Caversham house by the river in the Swan Valley.

Note to myself - Photograph them BEFORE they put the caricature in the plastic enclosure.

A few more Commissions ...

2011-09-23T10:43:00.002+08:00

Here's a few more commissions that are heading out the door - the Kombi and the TukTuk ( in West Coast Eagles colours too !) were a challenge !

Face Machine .... what ?!!

2011-09-23T10:41:00.000+08:00

I've been getting a few inquiries for bulk orders for Christmas Caricatures, you know the sort of thing 'all the staff want one each' - web page doesn't really accommodate that so I made up a collage of faces as a PS template so I can to attach, as a .jpg, to the quote email.
The old a pictures worth a thousand words eh ?

Normal service has resumed !!

2011-09-08T06:22:00.000+08:00

It takes about 4 weeks to 'pick up the slack' after a period away - so full production is back to normal. Sadly I didn't get an entry into this years Stanley awards - disappointed with that - had two 'pearlers' roughed out, knowing my luck they'll be forgotten personalities by this time next year !

Live show work is going well - 7 gigs in the last month and a good list of bookings up to Christmas.

Bills to pay etc etc ...........................

Southern Rock Lobster !

2011-09-07T14:07:00.001+08:00

Better put something in !!
Doing a few commissions - had call for including illustrations of couple of Crayfish / Southern Rock Lobster - totally different beastie from the Northern Hemisphere Lobster - no big claws and tastes better too !!

Glad to be home !!

2011-08-11T06:41:00.001+08:00

Finally home, after what seemed a lot longer than six weeks away in the UK, attending to all the business of Dad's death. Despite not getting any caricature work done whilst away and a huge backlog of jobs sitting here - great to be home ! Thanks for all the kind messages, phone calls and emails - you're a magic mob.

Some observations -

The levels of unhelpful bureaucracy in the UK makes Australia almost utopia like by comparison.

Lawyers are robbing bastards on all continents.

The A380 is one hell of an aircraft - makes the London - Singapore haul nearly bearable.

I was there for the English summer - July 13th this year !

English pork sausages are bloody wonderful.

I'm no fashion icon BUT the English must be the world's worst dressers for warm (?) weather - socks with sandals is one of the better looking features. Do they have full length mirrors ?

English pubs are the best in the world.

I unintentionally lost weight over there so I think I've stumbled on a world beating diet for the male community - the Pork Pie and Kronenbourg beer diet.

Hopefully I'll get back to posting some artwork soon ..... stay tuned.

Sad times ........

2011-06-30T17:03:00.000+08:00

My apologies for the hiatus in the Blog, I'm currently in the UK as my father passed away a couple of weeks ago. He had been ill for some time so it was sort of expected but nonetheless his sudden decline came as a shock. I'll be over here for some time arranging for my mother's care.
I've an armful of commissions to fill up any quiet moments.

River cruise ....

2011-06-09T07:03:00.000+08:00

Did a five hour river cruise on the good ship Crystal Swan last week. A corporate function in which I managed to draw all the passengers bar one - took his photo and promised to send it through.

A good speed painting exercise in PS - 35 minutes.

I must get quicker on the live stuff - though I did join them all for a really nice sit down lunch - that's my excuse anyway !

Happy Birthday Nola !!

2011-06-03T07:48:00.001+08:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

I never know what to get her ............... !!!

You've gotta sell 'em !!!

2011-06-02T08:27:00.001+08:00

When I first started this business back in early 2007 I had a really minimalist web site with few samples. The inquiries I got were simply emailed the price and a few other details. Business didn't exactly boom !

I gleaned a few bits of business and marketing advice from fellow caricaturists - membership of ISCA proved invaluable for this - and gradually kept updating and upgrading my website. It's not anywhere as good as I'd like it to be, but the plans are in place for a really 'serious' one to be in place early next year.

That is once I've fathomed out RapidWeaver, to date I've used iWeb but it has limitations and Apple haven't updated it for some time.

Once I've received an inquiry, whether by email or the 'fill in a form' on the website, I endeavour to get back to the inquirer within 24 hours. I email them a comprehensive personal letter outlining my services and pricing and what I require them to supply - I have a mass of templates stored in TextEdit for this covering every type of request or scenario I've ever received. If I see the need I'll phone them as well.

I also attach a 'recent samples' sheet for them to check out. I can't, and don't, keep updating the artwork on my website that, at best, is an annual process. I do however keep a large .psd file with all my recent favourites, this is in constant update, and is sent as a .jpg along with, if necessary a larger image of a theme they're interested in.

I spend a lot of time quoting but it is worthwhile. I keep statistics when I started I was receiving commissions on less than 10% of the quotes - it's now over 50%. Usually more work than I can handle and in fact I've always got a month to 6 weeks full capacity work scheduled in and, as of now, jobs booked up to April 2012. People like the personal touch.

'They will come' doesn't work.

Weddings are a very important part of my business and as such I treat them as a separate caricature type.

Here is the current sample sheet for quoting on these.

It's like a bonus !

2011-05-26T09:41:00.002+08:00

It's always nice to get messages like this ............ from the family of the gorgeous 50 year old in the collage below.
It's always good to hear - I often look at the the copies and think 'I wonder how that was received ?'

Three more ..

2011-05-23T15:57:00.000+08:00

Here's three more recent commissions minus all the paraphernalia people love to have strewn around the victims - I always reckon they look better on their own. There again - they're paying !!

A golfers 60th Birthday, a retiring ophthalmologist (eye doctor - I'm just showing off !) and a glamorous 50th Birthday caricature.

Happy victim ....

2011-05-23T15:49:00.000+08:00

This is a recent caricature I did of West Australia Vice President of the ACA (Australian Cartoonist Assoc) Mick Horne - he loved it.
I tried really hard to caricature him but, bugger me, it's a portrait !

Some new jobs ...........

2011-05-16T06:04:00.000+08:00

The Blog's not abandoned !
Been busy of late - here's a few samples including a couple of graphics for print and websites. Digital delivery in .png format.
The guy top right is a commissioned caricature of Stephen Hill of the Fremantle Dockers an up and coming young star of Australian Rules Football.
Currently I have a bundle of commissions that'll take me through to early July.
Luvely chubbly !!!

More rural work ...

2011-04-23T16:01:00.001+08:00

The farm theme has continued for a farmers 60th birthday commission - apologies to Murray Ball for borrowing the 'Dog' from my favourite cartoon strip Footrot Flats - I've got all the books but I rarely check the cartoons since it's retirement - a classic !

Rodeo 50th Birthday !

2011-04-15T09:22:00.000+08:00

This is the central part of a collage of 10 family members for a former rodeo riders 50th birthday.
One of those jobs that became bigger than Ben Hur, like every family collage I've ever done - sigh !

perthcaricatures.com.au

2011-04-12T05:10:00.000+08:00

Yesterday saw the launch of a new Caricature website in Perth - Perth Caricatures. It is an alliance between Perth's three best caricaturists ( .. we're biased !) to drive more business particularly for 'Live' work. Yours truly, Jeremy and Mick have worked together a lot at gigs and previously advertised, and quoted, against each other. By pooling our resources and sharing Adwords costs this looks like being a mutually harmonious arrangement.

Within an hour of launch the first job - a four hour gig - came in. We now have an arm wrestling competition to see who takes it !

The website is HERE

..another ACA compatriot

2011-04-10T07:21:00.001+08:00

Here's another fellow ACA member - West Australia Vice President Mick Horne - sketched it out around Christmas time and finally got around to painting it.
He knew the Navy career would come back to haunt him - everyone loves a sailor !

Poms - salt of the Earth !!

2011-04-07T16:00:00.000+08:00

One of those jobs I really enjoyed doing. It was a 'go for it' commission but I think the socks and sandals really carried off the style statement !

I will point out that I now wear Australian flag socks with my sandals.

Fellow ACA member ...

2011-04-04T12:19:00.000+08:00

This is a caricature of fellow ACA member Peter McAdam who hails from Sydney, NSW.

He asked me to do one whilst at the Stanley's in Melbourne last year - even offered money - careful what you wish for !

Had fun with the chin(s) - I know all about those problems.

Pattern stamp tool

2011-03-10T07:14:00.002+08:00

One of those really tedious jobs in Photoshop, and certainly painting traditionally, is repetitive patterns like wire fences, brick walls, paving etc. In a current commission I've got to paint a soccer goalkeeper in goal.

Up close the net is going to be prominent and painting it by hand to look good would take forever.

In comes the Pattern Stamp Tool, paint or use a photo, of a small section of the net ensuring it is symetrical (all the ends join up when put together !) - warp and a grid help this. Select the finished area, ensuring background is turned off, then go to 'define pattern' under the edit menu. Voila your goal net 'brush' is loaded grab the Pattern Stamp tool and you can paint yards of net.

The warp tool can introduce sag or a bulge of the ball hitting the net - make a gap or two, couple of knots and the client goes ' that must have taken you hours to paint !'

Here's a .png file of the net I made up just open, select and define pattern and save time if by remote possibility you have the same type of soccer commission.

GOAL NET PATTERN LINK

A few more ...

2011-03-05T08:31:00.000+08:00

Here's a few more commissions - one UK bound !

Did a live gig for Perth City Council in Murray St Mall last night and have a 40th Birthday function tonight. A 4 hour corporate show in the CBD on Thursday and - would you believe - a baby shower next Sunday - Nola's already planning spending it all another cruise !!

Facebook - been there done that !!

2011-03-05T07:53:00.001+08:00

After four years on Facebook I registered for account deletion on 6th February - we'll do it in 14 days says the message - note the date above. Don't want to let you go do they ?

A lot of people love it - my kids certainly do - and some caricaturists claim they get work from it and use it to keep in touch with their customers. I'll miss checking out Caricaturama 3000 - someone please put it on a Blog. Most of the time though it seemed like being on a long haul flight full of small kids.

Grumpy 'ol Tel has spoken ......................................

Thick and fast .....................

2011-02-22T07:51:00.001+08:00

I've hit a rich vein of subjects that were born to be caricatured - now as caricaturists go I'm pretty kind - I shudder to think what some of my colleagues would do with folders of photographs I currently have.

The clients wishes and, more importantly, getting paid have a major controlling influence - sigh !

Damion Dunn

2011-02-19T06:43:00.003+08:00

Did a rough sketch of this guy about 12 months ago - finally got around to painting it.

Who is he - Damion has a broad range of artistic abilities from caricature through to fine art - really top quality stuff.

He is, I believe, from Los Angeles.

Check out his blog, he doesn't post too often, but it's usually worth waiting for.

DAMION'S BLOG

Few more rent payers .................

2011-02-17T17:33:00.000+08:00

Here's a few more commissions ..... you may recognise a few of the faces from further down.

The Navy one was interesting to do - nice to have a different theme !

'Live' caricature show & personal attack !!

2011-02-13T10:18:00.002+08:00

Done a few live caricature shows of late - I usually either forget the camera or don't get it out of the bag - remembered last night. A couple of shots from a Wedding at the Astral Ballroom at Burswood.

Good show - and a real hard job to 'cut the line' and get out the door.

Was one of several shows I have done over the past six months with fellow ISCA and ACA member Jeremy Goodchild - was getting to like the bloke until you see the bottom picture !

This is a picture of me holding a caricature Jeremy did of some old guy - he who laughs last etc

Keeping me awake !!

2011-02-12T11:14:00.000+08:00

Ever get those jobs where you're champing at the bit to get at the Wacom - this is one such job.

After a week of toiling over wedding caricatures - nice but tame cutietures - this is like R & R !

The bearded Julia Gillard ...

2011-02-11T17:27:00.001+08:00

Amongst the game playing in the first week of Parliament Prime Minister Julia Gillard expressed her disapproval at a couple of members who had returned from summer hols' with beards. (Story HERE)

Well curiosity got the better of me - Julia the Musketeer - I think it suits her.

Hello sailor .......

2011-02-07T08:57:00.001+08:00

One of those jobs you enjoy doing - saw the photos for a 21st caricature from Mum and Dad - and they said 'go for it' - AND - Mum enthusiastically approved !

Vinny !

2011-02-07T08:36:00.003+08:00

A bit of play in CS5 with multiply and a pencil brush on a parchment background.
A caricature of Vin Altamore an American caricaturist I have the utmost admiration for - and a nice bloke to boot !
He's the king of the cross hatch check out his stuff HERE
My unworthy attempts at emulating his style - sigh !

A belated Happy New Year !!

2011-01-20T08:17:00.001+08:00

A belated Happy New Year to my three readers - first resolution for 2011 'I must regularly update my Blog ' - Fail !!

I have, for no reason I know of, had an unprecedented upsurge in commissions - in fact it's trebled from last year - there's a switch been flicked somewhere. I turned off Google Adwords two weeks ago ( that'll do for January I thought ) and they're still coming in. I've declined eight jobs this week alone, referring them to other caricaturists. As of 1st of Jan I also put all my prices up across the board - could that be it ?
I re jigged my website a couple of months ago and it certainly seems to have helped - I mustn't complain or the 'switch' might get turned off !

Here's a few of the faces from jobs passing through - jobs booked through until next year and 'chokker' until March - you beauty !

On a more sombre note yesterday I 'celebrated' my 60th Birthday - the kids want me to apply for a role on Grumpy Old Men because I sound like - and agree with - all of them !

I promise to update again very soon .......................... but if I forget you'll know why !

New blog - 'West Coast Smirks'

2010-12-22T09:51:00.002+08:00

Well the Christmas rush is over and I've managed to put together a new blog, which I will run in conjunction with this one. Over the years I've had a go at a few local West Australian characters - union leaders, politicians, sportspersons etc.

I've always thought it would be good to keep them all together in one collection - good for business too !

It will also force me to add to it - I have a list !

Probably of little interest outside this great State but here it is anyway -

http://perthcaricatures.blogspot.com/

Roll on January ................

2010-12-13T09:12:00.002+08:00

Every time the phone rings it's " Tell them I've nearly finished it - I'll email them soon !"

Don't know why I took all these 'Chrissie' jobs but I'll be so happy when the big day has been and gone ......... merry .... baahh humbug !!

Christmas commissions ....

2010-12-07T08:05:00.002+08:00

It's that time of year again where the gift caricatures are thick and fast - with a few live shows as well - make hay while the sun shines I guess.

Here's a few of the first batch - some serious underquoting on the trail bike one. Pleased how it turned out though.

Back into it ............

I'm BACK !!!

2010-11-15T17:24:00.003+08:00

After many thousands of miles on Qantas (Rolls Royce engines 'an all !), cruise ships (without a fire in the engine rooms) and just a small dose of food poisoning in Morocco - I'm home !

Just had time before entering into a pile of commissions and live events to finally complete a total update of my website HERE.

Just wanted to get the Blog in action again ..... I'll soon bore you all with the holiday photos.

Blog hiatus ........

2010-09-13T06:46:00.003+08:00

There will be an interlude in postings on the 'ol blog as next weekend Nola and I leave on a European holiday - a 12 day cruise of the Western Mediterranean, a week in Rome and the rest of the time visiting in the UK.

With the Aussie $ at all time high's against the Euro and Pound Stg should be less damaging than the last one.

We get back early November and then off to Melbourne for the ACA's Stanley Awards - looking forward to that - Jason Seiler et al !!

Bon Voyage ....... someone's got to do it

Weddings, weddings ........ it's Spring !

2010-09-13T06:41:00.003+08:00

It's that time of year, Spring is in the air and weddings are the business !

Collage of recent wedding commissions two of them I also attended and did live caricatures at the reception.

I really must put together a formalised package for that and promote it.

Ronnie Burns

2010-08-28T07:27:00.004+08:00

This is a commission from Tasmania for a Birthday gift for former Aussie 60's Pop star Ronnie Burns. I wasn't familiar him having grown up in the UK in the 60's where we had serious pop star overload and I think the only downunder stars to get a look in were The Easybeats and of course the BeeGees - hang on they were Poms !!

Ronnie has had a varied, but very successful career Pop star, TV host and then a builder. He settled in Tasmania and now runs Appin Hall which is a children's foundation, home and hostel for kids that have been neglected and suffer trauma.

He was a recent recipient of Tasmania's Australian of the Year.

Wayne Swan dressed down ..........

2010-08-23T05:17:00.004+08:00

We've just had an election and the incumbent Labor government may, or may not hang on, it's that close. We have a strange system of preferential voting that may allow a party that get almost half a million less votes stay in power on blocks of second hand votes from a minor party ........ but I love this.

Wayne Swan, the treasurer, who has been proudly telling us for months he has saved us from the GFC, getting a well deserved bollocking ........... 'save and Labor treasurer' in the same sentence is an oxymoron.

Found this on Jason Chatfield's blog.

Whoops .......... !!

2010-08-13T07:51:00.004+08:00

Had one of those days - the day before Friday the 13th - my wife driving to work when all the alarms went off in the car, overheated. A leak in the radiator - $515 later and a new radiator - all's OK !

Settled down to catch up on the work I hadn't done running around organising cars - over goes my coffee all over the Wacom and the keyboard ( I know no drinks near them - just like you don't !) The Wacom light flickered and then went out, opened the, case hair dryer etc - no good it won't resurrect. I thought the keyboard was OK until the Finder started getting a mind of its own - I mean opening 100 web pages at once, refusing to reboot and then also gave up the ghost.

That'll be expensive tomorrow - I'll have a quiet red to end a bad day. Opened a Shiraz, it fizzed when I poured it, smelt strange, a quick taste confirmed - yuk !! Down the sink.

Went to bed.

Sitting here wondering what today will bring after the small ceremony for the keyboard and Wacom .........................

ADDENDUM : Intuos 4 and new keyboard in place - an expensive couple of days !!

ADDENDUM 2 : put the Intuos 3 back together - one last try - it works !!

Now I'm being accused of a deliberate ploy to get a new tablet

Anyone want a pre loved Intuos 3 - smells a little of coffee ?

Case of good Shiraz will cover it.

News Ltd - who writes these headlines !!

2010-08-12T07:39:00.003+08:00

Next month I'm off to the UK in one of the new Qantas A380's - looking forward to it.

Imagine my concern when I read the headline above online in WA Now - " shit an A380 has crashed !! "

The story is, en route from LA, it had to land in Noumea to take on extra fuel because of bad weather on the Australian Eastern seaboard. A normal precautionary procedure that caused a flight delay - not news at all really.

That is 'landed' not 'down' - strewth I'm glad I no longer buy newspapers - the old adage ' never let the truth get in the way of a good story '

I will point out News Ltd has had a long term anti Qantas vendetta - I don't really know which airline Mr Murdoch wants us all to fly but it's certainly not Qantas !

Matt Preston caricature

2010-08-01T05:34:00.005+08:00

I had the misfortune to watch a couple of episodes of Masterchef during the last season - the first time to see what the fuss was about, the second because I was out of my comfort zone - ie didn't have control of the remote !!

Truly awful crass melodramatic commercial crap, the fact that it's the top rating show in the country makes me a little concerned about my fellow Australians and to make it worse both of my kids are victims too - ' ssshhh Dad - the souffle is a winner !!' - strewth.

This bloke, Matt Preston is one of the judges, they're all pompous bastards who really deserve to 'wear' a dish or two. Anyway here's my rendition of the said Mr Preston - I don't know why but my first view of him reminded me of Mr Creosote.

............ did I mention I wasn't really keen on the show !!!

For those that don't know Mr Creosote here's a clip - he's a food expert too.

'Send Off' commission ...

2010-07-30T06:31:00.002+08:00

A 'send off' caricature for a long time employee in the AV industry - they loved it.

Did a four hour corporate 'live show' on a river cruise last night - usual trick, forgot my camera and my watch and my mobile ...

Live work ....

2010-07-24T10:08:00.003+08:00

Just a couple of samples from a corporate show for a mining company at the Breakwater Tavern, Hillarys Boat Harbour - finally remembered my camera.

Worked with fellow ISCA member Jeremy Goodchild - no one was game to tell him he had a tea cosy on his head all night !!

.. another ho hum job !!

2010-07-20T14:39:00.003+08:00

I try and make a genuine effort to keep the old Blog populated with some recent stuff, but, of late it's all been fairly hum drum jobs. This one turned out well with limited input from the client - ' here's a couple of photo's, put him in a nice suit and a glass of red, oh and no background'.

They were really happy with it but you can't help feeling apprehensive when given no direction - been there before !

I want one of those Gillard Goose jobs ..........

A few more commissions ............

2010-07-02T18:05:00.003+08:00

A few recent commissions - the faces anyway - just so the 'ol Blog doesn't rust up !!

All Photoshop - of course !!!

One for Queensland, one for New South Wales and the four good looking ones for West Australia - you can't work them out can you ?

Our new Prime Minister .....

2010-06-24T08:19:00.003+08:00

A historical day for Australia, we're out of the World Cup and we have our first female Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The seriously 'on the nose' Kevin Rudd has gone and Julia is now the boss - it'll be interesting to see how her very Aussie accent goes down overseas. Probably subtitles !!

This is an 'oldie' - I must start another now.

Mr Creosote preview .....

2010-06-20T16:04:00.002+08:00

Well that's not his real name, but he reminds me of him, probably wont get a chance to finish it for at least a week with a commission bubble to sort out.

Australian TV celebrity ...............

Down on the farm ...

2010-06-10T05:58:00.008+08:00

Part of a current commission, which I spent way too long on, but as a Tractor Boy, I had to give it due respect. 1962 Ford Super Dexta, for those in the know, adorned with Holden Monaro badging ........ long story !!

oh and the Staffie too ! Not very detailed but it's only in the background. Lovely dogs.

I've also got three of these, well known for their great intelligence and calm disposition - yeh right !!!

Jean Marc Borot

2010-06-04T08:45:00.002+08:00

This is a quick caricature of one of my favourite caricaturists and fellow ISCA member Jean Marc Borot - does some wonderful work check out his Blog HERE.

He has that warm 'welcome to Paris' look that you get when it's discovered you only speak English !

John Worsfold

2010-05-31T20:26:00.005+08:00

This will sail over the heads of our overseas readers but Perth has two Aussie Rules Football teams - the Fremantle Dockers and the West Coast Eagles. The Dockers - of which I'm a follower - have not had a very glorious history. That is until this year when they are joint top and the accursed Weagles are very close to the bottom.

Things can't be much better for Dockers fans, winning most weeks is great but the icing on the cake has been the Weevils fans - oh they really handle it badly. It's wonderful, my thanks to this man John Worsfold, the Eagles coach, Monday mornings can't get much better. Thanks Woosha.

Boy George, Michael Jackson and friend !

2010-05-25T09:37:00.005+08:00

I'm doing a 40th Birthday caricature for a client. The gift is for a big fan of eighties music so these two will be snuggled up to him in the final collage. Tight deadline, a couple of days for both and the birthday boy, great to have some extra celebrities to populate the new website ( I know I'll finish it one day ). I couldn't convince her to have Rudd and Abbott in similar dress as I've got them half finished.

Abbott as MJ in that pose with budgie smugglers - what a thought !

Here's the final ........... the party I'm told features a Boy George impersonator - the things people do for a crust !!

That's a big 'un !

2010-05-23T13:08:00.004+08:00

A recent commission for a fisherman's 50th birthday - the fish is a Spanish Mackerel which are caught along the Indian Ocean coast North of Perth. Great fighters and BIG !

If all that sounds like I'm an avid fishing fan you couldn't be more wrong - I catch mine with $2.00 worth of chips and a crab stick.

... and another 50th Birthday caricature for the owner of a crane hire company.

1960 was a busy year !!

Man Utd fan ..........

2010-05-08T11:14:00.003+08:00

Here's a new commission I had to be sedated for !!

I can handle the Union Jack BUT Manchester United strips should incur a double fee penalty.

Can't stand the club or Chelsea or in fact any of the greedy big money clubs that have turned the EPL into, at most, a four horse race in the last ten years. Gee and we used to joke about the Scottish League !!

Soap box session over - quite enjoyed putting it together and the client was really happy.

'Live' caricaturing .....

2010-05-05T09:19:00.005+08:00

I did a recent 'live' caricaturing job for a major bank at the Old Swan Brewery - a great location on the river - the photographer took some shots of me at work ( or play ! ). Great crowd there and I enjoyed myself , not many shots of my drawings but take it from me they were really good !

The T shirt a souvenir from the 2008 ISCA convention, my uniform, gets lots of comments. The hat - cuts down on glare !

Thanks to Peter Phoenix Photography for the shots.

The shirt is a Rock Kowulz (ISCA Member) original !
I'm amazed how many people don't know what a Proctologist is - 'Opposite to Dentist' !!

The flying mother in law !!!

2010-04-24T16:08:00.006+08:00

This client was particularly brave wanting his mother in law depicted flying on a broomstick for her 60th birthday - softened the blow by giving her a 30 year old's body !! ( I'm guessing it won't save him though !)

I've done a few of these 'march of time' picture galleries up the side of caricatures celebrating significant birthdays - cuts down on the 'clutter' clients often want to pile into a caricature !!

Just received the photo - she's over the moon !

It pays off to some times be 'nice' in caricature ........................

America's got talent - 1944 version.

2010-04-22T16:31:00.003+08:00

Nothing at all to do with caricature ... watch from about 1.00 on. These dear ladies are now in their 80's, filmed in 1944.

Amazing - I wonder if they have back problems !!

Camels and Pandas !!!

2010-04-20T08:51:00.002+08:00

A couple of new commissions - a little bit out of the ordinary - a 21st Birthday caricature for a Panda lovin' girl and a wedding job for a couple getting married in Broome.

Broome is in the tropical North of West Australia, a popular tourist destination. Magnificent Cable beach is famous for sunset camel rides.

How will it look ?

2010-04-14T09:05:00.002+08:00

Wonder how your website will look on the iPad here's a site where you can check it out

iPadPeek

Headline shot ....

2010-04-13T09:35:00.002+08:00

Another corporate job - in this one a Sydney bound executive is portrayed in a bogus front page story in what 'could be' a well known local newspaper.

Magazine and front page 'stories' are really working as a concept - everyone I've suggested the theme to has gone with it.

You're on a winner here Tel !!

35 year anniversary !

2010-04-05T08:22:00.004+08:00

Today - April 5th - is our 35th Wedding Anniversary ( I know, I know you get less time for murder !) - Nola and I tied the knot way back in 1975. I wouldn't say never a cross word ( .. and I don't believe others that say it either ! ) but she's certainly my best friend and deserves a medal for putting up with this grumpy old bastard all those years !! Two wonderful children are testimony we did something right - now if only they'd hurry up with grandkids.

Photo was taken on a Mediterranean cruise in 2008 and we're off for another one in September - Nola reckons she wished she knew sooner that she was actually designed and put on this planet to go cruising !!

This is going to be expensive ..... sigh.

The iPad cometh .......

2010-04-05T07:41:00.005+08:00

Now anyone that knows me knows I'm a total devotee of Apple - a 'Machead' if you like - if you're going to spend all day working on a computer it might as well be a bloody good 'un !

The release of the iPad had me perplexed - I couldn't think of a reason to get one. I've got the big MacPro in the studio and a 13" MacBookPro for 'out and about'. I hide my Samsung mobile phone - let the side down there !

I've now found out now that the Sketchbook Pro iPhone App works on the iPad and ISCA compatriot Angie Jordan has been caricaturing on it on release day in the USA.

Very interesting check it out on her Blog HERE.

Release date for Australia is the end of the month.

Here's a caricature I did of Angie about 18 months ago .............

Tel - Caricature - Circa 1989

2010-04-04T20:44:00.005+08:00

This was sent to me today - a copy of a caricature I did of a workmate some 21 years ago - 1989 ( and still a good friend today - despite the caricature - all true BTW !) I've blurred out all the captions mostly personal and obscene - that was the style of the time. Rotring pens and coloured pencils as we'd never heard of Wacom's and such things.

Scanned off the original - isn't that nostalgic !

" What about the workers ? "

2010-03-30T06:56:00.003+08:00

This is a caricature of a genuine union 'heavy' - Joe McDonald of the CFMEU. An old fashioned union official who I think was brought in the Tardus from the early 70's !!

Throughly enjoyed exploring painting with textures in PS - another one for the new website.

Some cosmetic finishing off to do, I might earmark it for the Michael Collins Award later this year.

The slippers - they just seemed to suit him !!

Happy clients .....

2010-03-29T10:59:00.003+08:00

One of the great things ( over and above getting paid !) is getting feedback from clients. I love receiving photos of the presentations and hearing people saying nice things about my work ( thankfully that's the majority !!)

Beats working for a living ....................... top one a Sydney architect and the bottom one a Dentist and Dental nurse.

Photoshop CS5

2010-03-26T05:29:00.002+08:00

I'm a big Photoshop fan but some of the new features in the upcoming CS5 are really in the 'blow 'em away' category !

I'm going to have to redo all my panoramas.

Stunning stuff.

Peter Collier

2010-03-25T07:45:00.003+08:00

It's great to have the opportunity to do some 'me' work. This is a shot at Peter Collier, the West Australian Minister for Energy. Responsible for a massive jump in electricity bills - really popular guy !

I've got about ten of these to do, all WA personalities, to populate my new website.

Next one is Alannah MacTiernan - who has just left State politics to aim for Canberra. She has a face that screams half a bottle of Chardonnay !!

Chatfield 2 ....

2010-03-24T12:08:00.003+08:00

Wasn't really happy with the first rendition of Ginger Meggs 'carer' - Jason Chatfield. I thought it too complimentary this was confirmed when Jason told me it was really 'nice' and he was going to give a copy to his mum !!

Revisited it and erased any 'Brad Pitt' elements to give a far more accurate rendition - what do you reckon ?

Chatfield .....

2010-03-15T08:53:00.006+08:00

I've had photos of Jason Chatfield to do a caricature from for a few years - messing around with some new brushes in PS put this together. He may have had an image change since the photos were taken but here it is anyway.

Jason, formerly from Perth, is now Melbourne based and is the cartoonist responsible for the Ginger Meggs strip. He still dabbles in a bit of caricaturing, particularly live stuff.

There's a link to his Blog to the right. Check it out, confuses the crap out of me, be warned read it too much you lose the will to live. Please someone blutac the lense to his phone camera !

Mates rates ......

2010-03-12T06:03:00.003+08:00

Too bloody hot to lay limestone walls so completed a caricature for a friend. Slim's as Aussie as they come. A renowned local country western singer who owns an EK Holden and a Bully X with three legs ( ... I didn't forget it !). As he says 'even bloody Poms are useful sometimes !'

This is the framed A3 size now we've got to rejig it for a CD cover.

Welcome aboard ....

2010-03-11T05:12:00.003+08:00

A corporate commission with a difference. This is a 'welcome aboard' poster of the hosts for a 4 hour river cruise next week. Yours truly is also doing live caricatures of the guests throughout the journey on the Swan River from Perth to Fremantle and back.

Should be fun - they've been brilliant clients - would you believe paid up front on the quote !

That's a first ......................

Another magazine cover !

2010-03-08T07:22:00.004+08:00

This is another bogus magazine cover based on a major Australian financial magazine and featuring the subject , a local businessman for his 40th Birthday, depicted as Mr Money Bags from the Monopoly board game.

The punters seem to like the idea ............

Busy, busy ......

2010-03-06T10:51:00.002+08:00

I've been steadily moving through commissions - here's a few samples - and I know the Aussie flag shouldn't be attached that side it just didn't look right blowing in reverse.

A 40th Birthday caricature, a 50th and a caricature to celebrate a cricketers 300 games !

Did a couple of 'live' shows in the last week - a wedding and a corporate function at the OLd Swan Brewery. A stunning location on the bank of the Swan River. Awaiting shots from the official photographer which I'll post here.

The weather has cooled and I'm going to have a break - 3 tonnes of limestone and a cement mixer beckon. After that I must finish my new website, play golf and maybe time for a celebrity caricature or two .......

Magazine style caricature ...

2010-02-15T13:10:00.005+08:00

Here's a caricature format I've been toying with for a while - the bogus magazine cover.

It's a great platform for those clients that want to 'hang' that little bit extra on. It's very versatile in that the client has direct input and seems to nullify the need for all the artifacts that detract from some caricatures - and are the bane of most caricaturists.

They certainly look classy framed up and the first two clients that received them were really pleased with the end result.

More weddings ......

2010-02-04T15:41:00.003+08:00

Just finished this one - with all the cropped / no background extras for wedding paraphernalia.

They loved it - I most admit wedding caricatures are heading for 50% of the business these days.

You've gotta luv 'em !!!

The final collage is a compilation of all the 'bits' on individual layers. For a wedding commission I supply, in addition to the main 'final' (either framed or made into an A2 guest signing board ), an image of the couple with no background for invites, thankyou notes and table signs. Two 'Facebook' avatars and often the artwork, with titling, for stubbie holders and what's been popular a sepia tone version for wine labels.

In this instance I also get a '59 Cadillac convertible for my clip art library !

( ... do that in acrylic .... :0) !!)

The big CAT ...

2010-02-04T06:32:00.010+08:00

This is the backdrop to a current commission I'm working on. A Caterpillar 793D one of those big beasties that keep the mining industry in this state churning along producing the $ !!! ( so their employees can keep buying caricatures )

It took a lot longer to do than the actual job justified but I can reuse it for similar jobs - I can hear the purists mumbling already - I know.

It's business my boy !

It doesn't look so 'pretty' up close - the original was done as a large 300dpi in PS4. I have bought Illustrator to do these, but, I still haven't got around to learning how to drive it yet !

Bali wedding ......

2010-01-26T12:48:00.002+08:00

Weddings are really good 'bread & butter' work ( as most caricaturists will tell you !) - just finished this for a couple that got married in Bali 12 months ago - this is to commemorate their anniversary.

My neighbours work ..

2010-01-22T08:16:00.006+08:00

I live in a beautiful part of the Darling range hills to the East of Perth, it's a semi rural area with lots of bushland. That has it's own worries with the recent heatwaves.

My immediate neighbours are Lorita and Andre Schmitz. Lorita is an acknowledged wildlife painter specialising in the local flora and fauna. Here are a few samples of her work and her website can be found HERE.

We regularly swap notes, though I'm not sure she really approves of that 'digital stuff'. A lovely lady who at the moment, surprisingly struggles to get commissions. I think the traditional painter has difficulty identifying and fitting in a niche to stand out from the thousands of websites out there. They get lost.

I'm introducing her to Google Adwords and going to get her blogging, we'll see how it goes, in the meantime check out her work I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

More commission work ....

2010-01-22T08:09:00.003+08:00

Well 2010 is up and running and the jobs are trickling in, it's a bit slow, but that has it's blessings, I've caught up on a few of those things I wanted to do including some golf. Half way through doing a new website but it may be some time before I upload it. I just want it a bit slicker and quicker to load. I monitor the site and note quite a few leave the first page waiting for it to load - a big 'No,No' I'm told.

Nurse, Nurse - I've finished !!

2009-12-17T18:11:00.004+08:00

The joy and exuberance of finally finishing the heap of commissions I had lined up in mid November has lead to another post ! ( well there is one that's still hanging about but that's the client not me ..... )

I've done a series of caricatures for a chain of medical centres (hence the nurses !), Queensland Ironman competitors and Dad and the dogs amongst quite a few others.

This is a collage of the one's I liked the best - though there's a Saturday Night Fever themed one that I really liked that is sitting all framed up to be collected - I can't seem to find the digital original - wait until you get old.

Now a fortnight off ( I love saying that my North American friends haven't a clue what that is !)

Merry Christmas.

Christmas Robot !!

2009-12-13T13:06:00.002+08:00

This is a commission with a difference the client wanted her partner depicted as a robot - actually it was fun to do and no one can challenge the proportions and how good the hands are !

If I don't post again before the big day - I wish a brilliant Christmas to all of my three readers and their families !

Enjoy !

Tel 'live' - well there's a pulse anyway !!

2009-12-07T04:58:00.005+08:00

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.