The iPad cometh .......

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 .............

NCN Convention - Raleigh North Carolina

The wonderful work  of caricaturing superstar and Golden Nosey winner - Jason Seiler
The incomparable Court Jones shows his versatility with this selection
Paul Moyse turned himself into a monk for the week churning out these works and earning a place amongst the gurus .... hate the bloke !
Fred Harpers 'wall' - I've never come across his work before - amazing stuff.

Could do with a haircut though !

This digital malarkey !!!

People often ask - 'how do you do this digital painting stuff ?'. 

Well where do you start, I follow a conventional path, I sketch the face out on paper, with a 'real'  pencil, scan in and paint usually all on one layer. My weapon of choice is Photoshop CS3, there is other software, some much, much cheaper, but, they always seem to have 'bits' missing.

Once I'm in Photoshop, that's where I stay from 'first brush stroke to print'. 

The lovely young lady above was a recent commission if you look closely you can see the strokes - I mainly use the dark and light pastel brushes, particularly to finish off, it gives a more chalky/grainy effect, more realistic. A lot of digital paintings I see have that highly glazed look - like china dolls. I spend ages with a small chalky brush 'finishing' off - if anything I need someone else to walk in and say ' Oi, it's done - PRINT IT !!!'

The top picture is one I'm working on at the moment, for yet another 50th birthday, you can see I started from the jaw working my way up, big brushes to start with small, ones to finish.

I really love doing the faces, the little bodies and accessories are something the clients want and really irritate me. I often have three or four finished faces and avoid adding the rest until I feel like it. A body bottleneck. 

I've just got a commission for four faces, yep just the faces, and 'make 'em ugly' they say - now that's a real job.

... yet another wedding

Hey I know you've seen this pose and theme before - but - it's popular and clients love it right down to the footy sock down the front of the lycra suit !!!  A lovely couple that have married as they both head into retirement.

More commissions

Here's a few jobs from last week - there's a lot of 'in jokes' in the wedding caricature, a 4oth Birthday caricature for a Texan living in West Australia and a 60th Birthday for a rugby loving Kiwi. Time for some golf before this beautiful autumn weather goes ........

.... another couple of fifties !!

50 - the big five zero - that time in life where you've got most of the stuff you want and caricatures make great presents - for the man ( or woman) who has everything ! (... and a lot more memorable than ties and socks ..... or a health club membership - yeh right, what are they telling you !)

A fisherman bought by his wife and an Eagles fan, bought by his mates, who really wanted 'the business' on him. Love those !

The Cobra & others ......

It's been a busy Christmas - and this isn't all of them by a long chalk - couple more to finish and it's into the turkey. New year resolution is to be more organised next year !!

Couple of newies.......

Just finished a couple of new commissions that turned out nicely - I really must get the time to do some celebrity shots. I have a Julie Gillard that's busting to get out !!

Recent samples

Here are a few samples of work I've completed over the last 12 months. In truth I've just been playing in Photobucket and seeing what it does - not sure if I really like this one !!!