How to make a Caricature.

Every artists has her/his own style of making Arts. I bet most of you know or have seen quite a number of artworks produced by many Caricaturists out there. To me, caricature is one of my skills because I love drawing and painting human figures. I believe, you have to understand human's face/ head first before you can draw a caricature. Still a lot to learn though.... But today, I'd like to share the Steps that I took to produce a Caricature.

Firstly, find a good photo.

Here's a photo of my sweet-natured lil' niece, baby Jasmeen.
As you can see, not much reference of the baby's body and the whole head.
But the best thing about Art is.. you could always imagine and make it happen on a blank piece of paper.









Now, on the paper.. make a rough sketch of the head, body and the pose you imagined.

Yeah.. I imagined Jasmeen on a stroller.
A sketch doesn't have to be perfect. Make a rough one..
Get the basic shapes of the head, body and the stroller/ action you plan to do.
Just a guideline for your next step, of course.






Then, I usually start with the overall face by placing the eyes, nose and mouth. Even the body could be lightly sketched too.

At this point, I make quite a number of adjustments- just to get them almost at the right places and forms.
When doing caricature it's important to see what is the most outstanding feature of the face you're doing.
For Jasmeen's face, I thought it was important to get her beautiful eyes and the pouting lips.
My tendency is.. to make a portrait instead of making exaggeration from the outstanding features. So that's why my caricatures are not really like those funny looking faces you sometimes see in other caricatures.
Thus, my point of.. every artists has her own style of doing it :)



Next, time to sharpen the faces more and and more.. making sure everything is in place..

I had a little problem drawing the left eye.. hmmps.

well, as in many things in Life.. you can't get everything right all the time.. but you've got to try your best.
As you can see, I still haven't done much about the body and the stroller. But that part, you can have fun with it, so I save it for last.








Last but not least...

Sure.. not 100% the same as the real thing.
Most importantly, when you do caricature.. try to get the 'essence' of the character.
How I decided I got it?
Hard to explain..but you just know in your heart and mind that it's there.. and hopefully, others agree with you :) hehe.

Have fun drawing a Caricature.
If you draw a caricature, can you share your work with me?
They say you could learn so much by sharing and your knowledge would prosper too. So, let's do that.

An Old Doodle- in Watercolor

Found an old piece of paper out of a small sketchbook.
Year 2002's watercolor doodle.
What is it about?
Hmm.. I remember that time I was feeling so close to Nature. Especially that was around the year when my parents were living in Kuching, Sarawak near to the city's River. We had big trees surrounding the house. The happy sounds of birds in the morning were loud and clear.. but it got quite creepy at night.

Under my Umbrella.. ella ella ella..

Where have all the pengapits (people who are supposed to carry this umbrella..) gone?
HUBBY: Well, who cares. As long as you're with me, honey.. I'll always take care of you... You'll always be under my umbrella through rain and shine...
WIFEY: That's what we ladies hope when we got married with you guys! OK?? Bring us peace...and we'll give you pleasure ;)

Hehe. Just havin' some fun with this one. The signboard in the background was a creative way to wish the newlyweds from a thoughtful friend/ relative. Don't you think so?

When U love Someone..

..what would you give him or her for the most special day of the year..which is his/ her birthday?

I bet you'd give something very dear and special.. something that your special one would most appreciate.. something that is very very thoughtful and comes direct from your very heart.

There are some people that would give the special person some amount of money and ask the latter to buy anything that her heart desires. Hmm.. that would work too, I guess. Not everybody have the pleasure of time to search and buy things.. and perhaps, he really wants her to get something she really likes instead of buying something she'd later throw in the bin... so, yeah, it's better to give her the money.

Even without the element of 'surprise', birthdays are always celebrated with a special gesture, note or gift. It is even more special when you give someone something tangible that you can't always find any where else in the world.. something uniquely ordered, made or commissioned just for him or her.

And one of such gifts is handmade Artworks.. or Cards. These things are in many ways very precious as it is almost impossible to reproduce (which makes it one in a million).. and you can frame and hang 'em on the wall for the memory.. and if the artist someday becomes very famous such as Van Gogh or Picasso.. well, someday it will cost a lot more when she/he is dead. So, please.. never throw away any artworks of any artists you own. Who knows..? But then, that's the sad part of being an artist- sometimes, your creations are worth more when you're gone, vanished, kaput.. kicked the bucket..DEAD!. Well, that's another issue..

Anyway, today is a special day for a special someone of someone else. Err.. I mean, today is my client's hubby's birthday and my shy and beautiful client has asked me to do a custom-made Birthday Card.

 

Because of privacy, I've been asked to blurred the faces (good, that means I've drawn a very look alike faces- hehe).

The special thing about this card is that I've used watercolor & ink on textured watercolor paper as my media. Really had fun doing this and glad that my client is happy with the outcome.

It is always like that... When you love someone, you'd simply want to make him/ her happy ;).

A Gorgeous Family!

I simply love this recent commission by my sweet client. Each of them has his and her own character. The parents are smiling widely.. and their little one..? Well, she's busy chewing a candy with her innocent eyes staring back at you.. teheehee. Look at her pouting lips.. she's so adorable. This is a lovely gift for her b-day :). Happy Belated Birthday Lil' Mia!! Especially from auntie ET.

The Sign of ET.

Hi.. I've juz signed and finished off a new caricature. It's a lovely family pic! I'll show you once my client has given her approval. 

Nothin' much to say..
   I'll post another day..
            come what may..
don't let your heart gone astray..

Enjoy your comin' weekend, dearest bloggers & surfers. God bless.

U make me HAPPY :)

There's a new kid in my caricature gallery and when I first received her picture, I thought I was looking at one of the happiest faces I've ever seen in my life.  U make my day, kiddo!

For everyone who has a child (or more..?) out there.. I'm pretty sure that whenever you're feeling down..or lonely.., your pain will be less painful when you watch your child's innocent happy face. Remember when we were young? The happiness, the pain, the world.. are all the same- they don't affect us the same way they do when we've grown up. Those were the days when all you need to do was crying in order to get anyone did things for you (hehe). Now, when you cry.. it's just plain ugly (hehe again).

Just look into a little child's eyes..
what do you see?
no anger..
no hate..
no pain..
just two wide eyes..
looking back at you..
as if sucking out your troubles away..
as if soothing your nerves in a hot day..
as if saying that everything will be OK.

Just look into a little child's eyes..
what do you see?
perhaps you could tell me..
for i am only imagining..
of my baby's eyes..
which were tightly closed..
when he was in my arms..
just in a short while.

P/S: I love u, Umar Arief.
Sometimes, I wish you were here but I know you're in a much better place :) and that, makes me happy.

Wedding Here..Wedding There..

It's a long school break and a good time to bring the kids and adults (who are most likely forced to take leave) together in events such as weddings. I just came back from Terengganu attending a couple of beautiful weddings of my relatives. For them and so many more out there... CONGRATULATIONS on your wedding! May God Bless all of you... and may you live happily ever after. Seriously, is it really possible to live happily ever after? Perhaps it is... IF you are a SHREK! haha.

Well, the reality is hard to predict. Happiness is too vague to define... The important thing is.. to have FAITH.. and always PRAY & HOPE for the BEST... and please..please do not take each other for granted. God willing, we will all be fine :). IF things are not as fine as you wished for.. hmmm.. i suggest you run as fast as you could and when you're tired, take a rest! You'll learn that you're still on earth and there's no where else to go and hide but.. back to where you came from. Then, you'll have to move on. Yup.. that's the way it goes..or so..I've heard.

Anyway, apart from all the bell ringings around me.. Arenim, (one of my favorite clients)..has ordered 2 caricatures for her good buddies' weddings. I managed to finish them on time (phew!).. and with her own ideas on how she would like them to be (..with names and dates and the themes..), I think, both caricatures looked brilliant. Yet another definitely COOL GIFT for the memorable days of the brides&grooms.

I have also got my gift ready for the next wedding I'm attending. If you have read my previous entry on a custom made wedding card with hand drawn portraits in front of it... I've framed them up and I really hope they'll like it as well :)..

So.. for those who will do or are doing sum traveling for the events, have a safe trip. For those who are busy preparing the nitty-gritty stuff, cooking, decorating and all for the events, be patient.. it'll be over soon, get a good rest afterward. For those who are actually getting married, again I'd like to congratulate you & wish you da' best of luck.