Taka Watanabe

Here's my shot at Taka Watanabe - one of the top Japanese caricaturists who produces some amazing stuff ( check out his Blog in my links). I met Taka, a fellow NCN member in Tokyo last year and will catch up again at the NCN convention in Raleigh, North Carolina in November.

Shall do everything in my power to get him to caricature me ..... hint, hint !!!

George Malek

Before I head off on my 'world tour' clearing up a few shots at fellow caricaturists. This is George Malek a fellow NCN member from the US of A.

Actually used the pencil for this one and was amazed how quick those things work on paper - no undo's though !

Car commissions ...

Couple of birthday gifts for car enthusiasts - separate jobs just popped together for convenience sake. The left one is for a 30th Birthday - Holden Sandman panel van - the other for a 50th Birthday - a  four letter word beginning with 'F' !!!  

The kids say Hi ...

Don't think I've ever put my kid's up on the blog before but I got this greeting on my email this morning so I thought I'd introduce them - Joanne and Michael ( .. that's his best smile BTW ! )

This was taken at a winery in Margaret River where they were celebrating Jo's 26th Birthday with twenty or more friends. Mum & Dad weren't invited ( being teetotallers  !) but we are looking forward to taking her out to a nice restaurant this weekend. 

Don't tell 'em but we're both pretty pleased how they turned out !! 

A biggie .....

Now here's a whopper - lots of faces I can't remember how many but the novelty had worn off long before I finished it. Printed on canvas and framed 1.2 x 1.2 metres.

I underquoted but learned a lot about tackling jobs this size - and doing all the small faces achieved some good 'live' caricature practice. 

Michael Collins Caricature Award ...

Final day rush - yet again - but I got my entries into the Michael Collins Caricature Award at the last knock. I always promise myself to do them through the year but I never seem to get around to it. Sadly I've really not done many celebrity caricatures with all the commission work going on.

The 'Looney Tunes' theme is of our leaders Rudd, Gillard and Swan and the portrait is a redraw of Jim McGinty  the former State Attorney General.

I've managed to get a highly commended the last two years - I must take more time for the loot though  - and perhaps move away from digital. ( I've got a perception of a little bias against the medium from the purists ). Fingers crossed.

The competition website is HERE.

.... more weddings

... just love these wedding commissions. Two more for A2 signing boards and the graphics for use on invites, labels and stubby holders. 

Sunset on South Perth foreshore and the Twenties gangster theme.

New commission work ....

Here's a couple more caricature jobs that help keep the wolf from the door - a mining industry metallurgist and a long retired police officer who always wanted one. ( Incidentally dressed as a Police Officer should be, not the sad semi SWAT team 'tat' the current guys wear !! )

Currently I've got a pile of commissions on hand, in fact I've put the 'full up' sign on my website, one of which is a corporate job of huge proportions - sadly I  underquoted. All part of the learning curve. 

Lots of work, really busy, turning jobs away and I'm not rich - I can smell a price rise on the horizon !

Melbourne's Anthony Pascoe

One of the fun things about being a caricaturist is receiving lots of renditions of yourself - and of course - having a go at other caricature artists without the restriction of client instructions.

This is Melbourne based caricature artist, Anthony Pascoe. Yep I've had a little fun with him, but as most West Aussies will agree, when you get a chance always give it to a Victorian !

BTW Anthony does some stunning work - check out his site here.

Wedding Bells .... .. again !!

These are a couple of my favourite people - currently living in England but coming back to Perth to get married in November. This graphic is for the invites and a framed A3 original for the house. It's my wedding present to them ... a rare freebie !!!!

Bowlers & Footy coaches ...

Here's a couple of new ones that - after the car - were fun to do !

A junior 'footy' coach ( Aussie Rules),  the big clip board is for all the players to sign, and a lawn bowls fan commissioned by his family for his 70th birthday.

T shirt graphic ...

I once used to do badge and logo designs and found them such a hassle I decided to exclusively do caricatures - the only other artwork I do is for me ! Took this job on for a T shirt graphic for a car racing club, thought that should be simple. How wrong was that.

It took ages with lots of changes for the client - THEN - we get to the printer and all the changes to the format for CMYK processes etc.

Lesson re learned !

A bit of self indulgence ...

Football nuts of the world rejoice !!

This Saturday, the 16th, the famine is finally over the English Premier League kicks off for another season ....... for an indication of the passion just check out the Liverpool Kop in action - probably the best male voice choir in the world, certainly the biggest, I had the privilege of standing on it in the old terracing days - a noise that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up - awesome in the true sense of the word.

Where's my scarf and rattle - the Olympics - humbug !!

More Weddings .....

Here's a couple more wedding commissions that I've just completed both are A2 size - for our North American friends that's 16.5" x 24" ( I grew up with that system it seems so archaic now ... when are you going to change ? ). Weddings really push through a lovely steady stream of work and there are four more in transit through the 'workshop' at the moment.

'Purple Haze' Rockers 30th ......

Here's a new commission, well away from my normal 'comfort zone' a 30th Birthday caricature for a guy that plays in a rock band. It ended up OK, the pose  (if it looks familiar) is based on a famous statue of Jimi Hendrix. 

Is this fame ? Addendum !

Well, well - my Kevin Rudd caricature has been removed from the online advertising of our cyber friends. No apology, payment or communication occurred but it is noted that no expense was spared in bringing in a top line caricaturist to do the replacement. Makes you smile ........ 

I thanks my friends from the ACA and Viscopy for their help.

Is this 'fame' ?

Dead easy isn't it, a quick 'copy & paste' and add it to your website graphic. I did this caricature of Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister, about 12 months ago, I wasn't really happy with it. It isn't on my website just on this blog.

Along come a shady mob that hide behind 'www.getyourcrush.com' selling some sort of dubious mobile phone service. There aren't many caricatures of Rudd around, they found mine. This will do to snare a few punters from Australia to do their 'IQ test' . Did they drop me a courteous email 'can we use it' offering some sort of payment. Not on your life - lets just take it.  

Hello - I do caricatures for a living, you want to use it you ask.

I've sent them an email to their 'support' address, the only email I could find, the domain is registered in Canada with no physical real address. 

I'll see what I can do - I'm not too hopeful.

I'd steer clear of the IQ tests if you come across them.

Bearded Tel ...

A quick rework of my self caricature - had some business cards to print and 'the shaven one' is no longer and is unlikely to make a return in the near future. I grew the beard from the end of 2006 and after getting approval from 'she who must be obeyed' it's here for good.

I should have really done a complete new one but I really haven't the time - that's my excuse.

Farm themes .....

Couple of new commissions with a farm theme - it's the Tractor Boy's 30th Birthday and the 'Pig and the Princess' was for a wedding anniversary - didn't really get too involved in the background to theme - 'I just draw 'em !!"

Beardless Bob .....

My good mate Bob Bischoff from Florida reckons it's just too damned hot in the summer so he shaved his beard off - not so sure Bob, but I guess you know what you're doing !!!!