How to draw a caricature

I often get asked over at www.DrawMe.com.au how I draw a caricature.

First, you need a little artistic ability and a lot of patience.

Next, you need to be creative in your output.  Think about what you are designing and try to follow basic design principles.

If you are just starting to draw caricatures then visit other caricature websites and review the work of the artists.  Each has a unique style.

You need to decide what tools you will be using to draw your caricatures.  The cheapest option is just to use a basic pencil.  You may find that a softer pencil is easier to work with and is more forgiving.

Charcoal is another option but can be somewhat messy for a beginner.

Many artists have now made the switch to digital mediums and use a digital graphics tablet such as the popular Wacom brand.

If you are going digital then consider the expense of tablet, computer, and software.

Many artists use Photoshop as their main software although some do use Illustrator or other vector based programs.

If you have used a pencil for your drawing then making the switch to digital pen/tablet should not be too difficult.

The first few weeks can be tricky when using a digital pen, especially if you have been used to using a mouse.  Stick with it.  It does get easier.  I used a mouse for many years and found it quite tricky to make the move to digital pen.  I now find it quite annoying to have to use a mouse.  I love using my pen to draw my artwork.

World Cup Fever 2014

It seems that World Cup fever has finally struck, with customers ordering their unique soccer caricatures from www.DrawMe.com.au

This caricature was drawn for a soccer fan.  In this example he is wearing his own team colours.  However, you can specify any colours you wish.

Is the man in your life a soccer nut?  Do you find difficulty finding a suitably unique gift for him?  One that he will appreciate and that no-one else will have?

I know how difficult it can be finding something for someone so passionate about their sport or who is just so fussy!

I also realise that no everyone can afford to head over to Brazil to soak up the atmosphere in person.

These soccer caricatures help capture the essence of the game, the thrill of the goal, the suspense of the penalty shoot-out, the excitement of the final.

Don't spend hours in the hustle and bustle of the shopping centres.  Simply place your order online and let me do the hard work for you.

All you need to do to create your unique soccer caricature is send me a photo of the person to be drawn and a description of the team colours (if you know them).

If you would like to include any other special items then just let me know and I'll be very happy to add them for you.  After all, the more personal items we include the more meaningful the artwork will be.

So, score a goal with your other half and order your stunning soccer caricature now.

Witches and Caricatures - a wicked brew!

Is it the Wicked Witch of the West or is it just wicked?!?

This stunning caricature was created by www.DrawMe.com.au for a group of ladies who are known as the witches coven (all in good humour of course!).

This caricature looks absolutely stunning in 24" x 36" on canvas.  Indeed, it looks simply stunning at any size!

The lovely ladies sent over their photos and a description of what they were after.  It was then up to me to cast a spell and come up with something worthy of their personalities and sense of fun.

Remember, anything can be drawn for your own caricature to turn it into a unique masterpiece that can hang on your wall for generations.

The canvas prints are produced on archival quality canvas...not that cheap stuff you get from some labs!  They really do 'pop' with colour.

With a few broomsticks, bats, full moon and cauldron this scene really is captivating.

Do you have to purchase for a birthday, wedding, Christmas, retirement, or other event soon?

I know it can be difficult finding a unique gift.  And who really wants to spend hours trekking around shops to only come up with something that anyone could buy.

With these unique caricatures you are creating a moment in time...a snapshot of the person's personality and, of course, their expression.

All you need to do is send over a photo of the victim special person in your life and tell me a little about what you would like to see.

I will then produce a unique piece of artwork for you.

There is a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  You can even buy now and pay later!

So, contact me now and let's get started on a gift that will have everyone talking.

BONUS: Mention this article to receive 5% discount.

Gone Fishing - for the over 70s

It's fantastic that some people are still healthy and active in their 70s and well beyond.  This caricature was created for one such chap...happily still fishing in his retirement years.

I have created 100s of fishing caricatures over the years at www.DrawMe.com.au.  You can order anything you want for the background. Make it as funny or as serious as you want.

One of my favourites is this one which was created a couple of years ago and always draws attention when I exhibit at shows.

The creation of your caricature will begin with you sending me details about the person to be drawn and/or a list of things you would like to see in the background.  You can be as detailed as you wish.

Then send over a good quality photo of the person to be drawn.  A front on view is best and a great expression always makes for a great caricature.

Next, I will confirm everything with you and the drawing process will commence.

The finished product will be delivered to you once you have approved the artwork (if that is what you requested).

Delivery times vary depending on how busy things are although I will always try to accommodate rush orders and have been known to complete extremely urgent orders in a few hours.

So, gather your photos and place your order today over at www.DrawMe.com.au and sit back and wait for your unique artwork to arrive.  Impress your friends and family with this unique gift solution.

Wedding Caricatures

It's that time of year again when weddings are on the horizon and the thought of purchasing that unique gift may have you stumped!

Head on over to www.DrawMe.com.au for a solution to your wedding gift problem.  1000s of unique designs have been created over the years and your design can be next on the list.

The caricatures created are simply stunning and I have had numerous quotes from extremely happy customers telling me how the caricature they ordered was a huge hit at the wedding.

You can order a custom caricature and use it for 'Save the Date' cards or invitations.  You could order mini caricatures to use as table favours.  Perhaps you want a unique way to say thanks to the bridesmaids.

Anything can be drawn over at www.DrawMe.com.au.  The likeness to the photos you supply is amazing.

The difference with my caricatures is that they do not offend (not unless you really want them too).  There are no offensive exaggerated features such as big noses, huge ears etc (again, not unless you really want to). So, you can be happy that the couple will love their piece of artwork...a treasured momento to grace any wall for years to come.

Back to the Stone Age with the Flintstones

Customers are always asking for some great themes for their caricatures over at www.DrawMe.com.au and it is always a pleasure coming up with something unique.

Each caricature is drawn to exceptional detail and contains a variety of features to make each piece of art unique.

The current background that is being worked on is for a Flintstones style theme.  We have a couple sitting in the Stone Age next to a Wi-Fi hotspot using their laptop and tablet devices (is it OK to say iPad...smile!).

Behind the couple we can see a rather curious dinosaur looking at what they are doing.

Obviously this is only the first very rough draft of the caricature background and a lot more work has to be done.  However, I think you can probably tell that this is going to be an exceptionally unique design.

So, do you know someone who is still living in the Stone Age in terms of their use of technology?  This would make an ideal gift and may even prompt them to improve their skills in the use of technology.

If you have a unique request for a caricature then please contact me over at www.DrawMe.com.au to discuss your requirements.  I am always happy to accommodate the unusual!

A busy start

It has been a hectic start to 2014 at www.DrawMe.com.au with a huge volume of caricature orders, especially groups and Valentine's Day orders.

The next busy period is about to commence with many customers ordering wedding caricatures.

Over the last year I have noticed that the quality of photos being sent in has deteriorated. The proliferation of phones with cameras either means that people are just not worried about getting a good shot (as we had to when using film cameras) or the quality of the hardware is quite poor. What are your thoughts? I personally think it is a combination of the two. 

Digital cameras transformed photography. Digital cameras on phones have taken things to a whole new level. Nearly everyone carries a phone with a camera. This provides plenty of opportunity to capture moments we would have been unable to a few years ago. Unfortunately this has led to poor quality images with often blurred or out-of-focus faces. The lack of a camera flash means that images are often dark and very noisy.

As always, I try to work my magic with the images sent in. Experience allows me to often use the poorest of images. However, if you can capture a high resolution image of the face to be drawn, ensuring a good expression, then the result will often be far superior.

Many customers inform me that they want the caricature for a surprise gift. Great. I presume you would prefer to give a caricature that is of the highest quality based on a good quality image? So, take time a send over a photo that will allow me to produce an exceptional piece of artwork for you.

Please feel free to send over your images for a pre-order check. I will quickly let you know if they are suitable.

Order your caricature today from www.Drawme.com.au