Work,work,work

I'm continuing to work hard at my portfolio (and loving it).I think the critical thing is to get my showcase work together and then launch the website.I don't see ant point in submitting a half cocked website with little or nothing to look at.Folks need a gallery to view in order to see that I catch a good likeness before they'll commission me to do work for them.

At the same time I'm trying to learn how to utilize the Internet and get me out there.People need to see my work.A very positive move yesterday was becoming a member of the National Caricature Network (NCN) I think that this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Odd thing this Internet business.A very useful tool but not of you don't know how to use it.I have a feeling that I'm talking to myself most of the time...no change there then.

Anyhow here's a couple of caricatures for you...

ELVIS

JACK NICHOLSON

Beck.

I've been playing around with all sorts of ideas to make my stuff original e.g. you always see pictures of people proudly holding up their caricature so I had an idea of having the caricature holding up the photograph or a double barrel caricature called "now and then" with two paintings of the same face on one page,one as a cutey pie kiddy and another of what that person looks like today.I don't know if I need gimmicks,just continue with good quality work.

For now I've done this painting of my youngest daughter Becky,it's a great caricature but shows how important the reference picture can be.This is a good photo,but it fails to capture the character of the subject.Beck is a loon,everything is funny to her.She is a whirlwind of giggles.This 'staged' picture fails to capture that.

More stuff...

"How to look good naked."
UK TV Fashion Guru - Gok Wan

"Sweeney Todd" - Johnny Depp

Dr Who - David Tennant

Fear and Loathing...

This was an interesting piece.It was actually a request from a guy on Deviant Art who really loves the film.I find the problem with Johnny Depp is,like myself (ahem), he is virtually perfect. Add to this the fact that he rarely looks like himself in films makes him difficult to caricature so for this one I just caricatured the whole scene.It came out well and I enjoyed doing it (thanks Mark).

As for the film "Fear and loathing in Las Vegas" I know my brother and I watched it but,as ever,illegal amounts of alcohol had been consumed and I don't have a bloody clue what it was about ... same happened with Donnie Darko (Gaz????)

Stuff to see...

OZZY OSBOURNE

MARILYN MANSON

BORAT

SAMUEL L. JACKSON

DANIEL CRAIG (JAMES BOND)

DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister)

I've just finished this one.
I loved "Life On Mars" (Jury's still out on "Ashes to Ashes" I'll reserve judgement 'til I've seen the final episode) and Gene Hunt has now become something of an icon...bring back 70's policing I say.

Winehouse

My first post went well!Kept having dips in power and my computer shut down.It was my intention to upload a couple more examples.Oh well!

Here's a caricature that I did recently using photoshop and my graphic tablet - Amy Winehouse .

I always thought that doing digital art was a bit like cheating but I finally gave in and got myself a tablet,more out of curiosity then anything else.

I love it.I've had it for roughly a month now and have taken to it like a duck to water and I've completed 13 caricatures so far the latest of which I will post later.

For those of you that don't know,there is nothing done for me by using photoshop,instead of the conventional method of painting i now pick up my digital paintbrush and dip it into my digital paints and paint on my digital paper.If you can't do it physically,you can't do it digitally.

Anyway,work to do...

Brucie bonus....

I have no idea where or how to start on my quest to become a freelance caricature artist.But the obvious starting point is to create a good quality portfolio.

I sit in awe of the talents of guys like Jason Seiler,Jan Op De Beeck,Joe Bluhm,Sebastian (wow) Krueger etc and if I can achieve half of what these guys are capable of then I will be happy. But what can a missing fingered, self taught computer illiterate do?

Well I can do this....can I introduce you to Mr Bruce Willis.