Caricatures In this unit, you will be able to… ...identify the characteristics of a caricature cartoon and what makes it different from other cartoons. ...identify various professions that incorporate caricatures. ...practice exaggerating characteristics of a person to draw a caricature.
John Kascht Has been featured in the NYTimes, Rolling Stones, Entertainment Weekly, Forbes, MAD Magazine, and more. He has had a few documentaries made about him and has 2 dozen of his artwork on display in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. He is a faculty member at Marywood University’s graduate program in Illustration and Design.
Romeo Raileanu International artist from Romania Also does paintings and drawings Sells his art on-line
What is a caricature? A caricature is a picture, description, or imitation of a person or thing in which certain striking features/characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect. The difference between a caricature and a portrait of someone is the intentional distortion of the subject. http://www.learn-to-draw.com/caricature/default.shtml
How to Draw a Caricature It’s ALWAYS better to draw a caricature from life rather than a picture of the person. Study your subject. Look at their face from all angles. If you can’t draw from real life, look at multiple photographs of the person. Look for features of the person. What sets them apart or stands out to you? Receding hair line make their forehead look huge? Do they have an overbite that makes their chin look small? Do their ears stick out far from the side of their head? Do their eyes seem close together? Is their nose really big? Are their eyes an interesting color? Do they have a beauty mark on their face? Is the person a loud mouth who talks a lot? You might represent that by making their mouth large and open.
Caricature Example Draw the face in correct proportions with as few lines as possible. What makes the drawing a caricature and not a portrait? The drawing in the middle isn’t considered a full caricature, but it is more than just a portrait. Bold Lines - to help show shadows and overlap; creates the “cartoony-ness” Thick lines create shadows without having to shade it. Shadows - it’s ok to use shading to create shadows, but it shouldn’t overpower the lines. Hair - “Dumb” it down; simplify it. Don’t try to draw every follicle of hair. Go for the shape or outline of the hair instead.
Suggested Order to Draw a Caricature: The eyes tend to be the standard unit of measurement when drawing a face in proportion. Start with the eyes, and adjust the size/length of the other facial features are you draw them in accordance to what characteristics should be exaggerated. Eyes Nose Mouth Chin Sides of the head. Define the forehead. Eyebrows Outside contour of hair
Caricature Practice Grab a mirror or look at the person sitting across from you. What features stand out on that person that you could exaggerate? Practice drawing caricatures of your classmates.