Thursday, June 28, 2007

June/July NCN Face-off competition

Well, the next deadline for the NCN Face-off competition asked for a more specific likeness sketch, which I came up with this morning. It's a slightly different version than from my first attempt, although it is still the same idea--a self-caricature from the perspective of the subject, just before I show them the drawing.The reference photo was taken at a gig last week by my fellow artist Patrick, who is also competing.
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Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Baseball season is in full swing now...

...especially as the Phillies are actually in the running, trying to catch up with the division-leading New York Mets. Tonight's game had lots of smile-worthy moments...
A couple I had drawn last August brought their children to get a caricature from me. I remembered them because I had taken their photo (they are on my website under Live Caricature-Couples..the Yankee fans!) and the kids were so cute. Here they are:
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Twins are always a challenge to the caricaturist, but these sisters had pink cheeks that just were their likenesses!
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Finally, when there's a rain delay, it's good for business AND I get to draw raindrops and lightning!
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Sunday, June 24, 2007

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Where did I caricature this particular day??

Acually, today found me doing complimentary caricatures for a corporate vendor at an
extreme-sports venue...that would be skateboarding, BMX biking, and video gaming! I love how I never know just where I am going to end up...but one thing is certain: people love caricatures!
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Normally, I personalize all my live drawings with the subject's name, but the noise level at this event was so overpowering that I decided not to even try. Interestingly, that's somewhat of an issue among caricaturists--some feel that a good caricature should not need a name, that the likeness should speak for itself. Others feel that a name is a embellishment that adds to the drawing. I've always enjoyed calligraphy and cool-looking fonts, so I add names when I draw live---and when I can hear!!!

Friday, June 22, 2007

Post Grad Party

Late Thursday evening and early Friday morning was spent in the company of SEVEN other artists, drawing brand-new high school graduates. We were rather cramped for space, as we were in a conference room with one glass wall so that passersby in the hallway could see what was transpiring on our easels!
Here's a few I did:
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Company Picnic

On Thursday, I spent an afternoon caricaturing with a fellow artist at a company picnic, held in a pretty leisure-park setting. The weather was absolutely perfect, everyone was mellow, we even drew in color and a lovely time was had by all...
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Picnic in the Ballpark

On Wednesday, the Phillies organization held a "Picnic in the Park" celebration for the season ticket holders and their familes (The Phillies are on a road trip at the moment). Here are three out of the oodles of kids I drew...
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Monday, June 18, 2007

Pool/birthday party!

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I helped a nine-year-old and her friends celebrate her birthday AND the end of school today! Her brother and his pals didn't get left out either.
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It's great to be able to get a photo of all the kids with their completed drawings, so that I know how many I did in two hours. I was able to complete 18 BW caricatures with bodies, ( one girl left before the photo),7 BW heads, and one full color with body drawing ( that was the birthday girl, of course!)

My work environment

Here are some photos of the crazy scene around the caricature artists on Sunday...(thanks, Bruce!)
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Happy Father's Day!

Some of my drawings were honored to go home as Father's Day gifts this year for quite a few families...Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
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Of course a gift for Dad could just be MOM and the kids...
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And some people were just there for the game!
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Thursday, June 14, 2007

June/July NCN competition

Once again, the National Caricaturist Network's forum is running a contest, helmed by Court Jones. This time to challenge is to create a self-caricature suitable for marketing us as artists. It can be a full or half figure, but hands must be shown. My first rough sketch isn't quite up to the standard I have in mind, but that's why it's called a rough sketch! I want to show the wow-factor of the moment right before the subject sees their own caricature. The two photos are of my current appearance...by myself, and with my boyfriend John. I just can't crop him out of that photo!!
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Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Ballpark faces...

This week the Phillies swept the Chicago White Sox...and there were lots of fans with great faces to draw...
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This dad, a mayor of a small town near Philadelphia, was asking all the passersby if it LOOKED LIKE HIM....!!

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This young man returned with his sister even though the last time he sat for his caricature a few weeks ago, the Phanatic almost squished him!!

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Here's a young Sox fan who endured his first Phillies game...
(see above where I mention that the Phillies SWEPT the Sox)

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Monday, June 11, 2007

Digital gift caricature

This is an unfinished digital work-in-progress, using Photoshop 6 and a Wacom Intuos 3 tablet. I don't think I will ever understand all the nooks and crannies of PS, but I am trying!
The victim is my boyfriend's brother (eventually my boyfriend will be in it too, but for now this is the scheme of things!). Here's the reference photo.
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And here is the progression...
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Sunday, June 10, 2007

Retirement-Gift caricatures...

A local school commissioned me to do some gift caricatures for their retirees...I did these today in bed, using Prismacolor markers and pencils, while watching the Phillies away-game on TV!! (They're back to another homestand tomorrow after a 17-5 whooping by the Kansas City Royals.)
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Saturday, June 9, 2007

Backyard graduation party...

Saturday evening found me at a family graduation party. Funnily enough, it was another color/clothesline display gig...It went so well they kept me on longer! Here are a few of the guests...

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These two sisters shimmied their way through the entire party, complete with tinkling Greek-coin belts, so I just had to draw bodies in their caricature...