Pencil Dreams

Golfer caricature

2012-01-31T11:18:00.000Z

The finished artwork!

The subject is a retired police officer, hence the copper in the bushes, who also likes horse racing and of course, plays golf, so I put a racing horse in the background!

This is painted with watercolour on 140lb acid free watercolour paper with a little pencil additions and pen and ink line work.

In total it took me about 4 hours to complete from start to finish.

Hope you like it and I really hope the guy in the picture likes it when he receives it next month for his birthday!

Golf caricature

2012-01-30T12:25:00.000Z

A commission that I am working on this week for a friend!

This is a poor picture, so sorry about that but I am at the inking stage with a couple of more things to add to the picture and then the next stage is painting the colour with my watercolours.

Once it is finished I will post a better picture of the finished caricature!

Please click the +1 Google button to 'like' and help me out! THANKS!

Caricature convention

2012-01-27T11:21:00.000Z

ISCA Convention 2011

International Society of Caricature Artists 2011 Convention from Brian Vasilik on Vimeo.

Many thanks to Brian Vasilik for putting this video together! Brian creates these every year for ISCA and he does an outstanding job! You can see Brians blog here: http://brianvasilik.blogspot.com/

Social Media buttons

2012-01-26T15:56:00.000Z

I am at the moment updating my website with buttons that let you click onto my social sites, so Facebook and Twitter and a +1 Google button too!

Here is what they look like and you can also click them on this post as they should be fully functioning:

This is fun but challenging work as html is not my strong point but I enjoy having a crack at it! I hope to have these buttons incorporated into this blog as well! So have a click and enjoy!

Newt Gingrich

2012-01-23T22:13:00.000Z

A little cartoon of Newt..... I have opinion on this subject as I am English and live in the London area. But it is interesting to watch this political 'game' play itself out from over the pond!

Wedding Caricature

2012-01-22T12:30:00.000Z

One from last nights Ruby Wedding Celebration party! As I draw we have a lot of fun kidding the guests about all kinds of stuff and they enjoy all the fun of it all!

These black and white caricatures, that I draw live on the spot, take about 6 minutes for two people in the picture like this!

A walk on the beach

2012-01-21T15:10:00.000Z

Technology is developing and changing behind closed doors with those new ideas kept as top secret, until they become a reality and available to buy in the stores.

Televisions are changing fast with smart technology that allows the Internet to become part of screens on offer services. Years ago buying a television was a walk on the beach. You could choose a brand and a screen size and that was it!

Today the variety of choice in what your television can offer you is amazing and there is rumour in the air that Apple may have a television available within the next year or two.

So television set choice is changing very fast with technology dictating how these changes shall evolve into a reality.

It's fun but also a little confusing for some of us!

I am holding back for another year before thinking of buying a new television!

Waiting time

2012-01-18T18:01:00.000Z

This past week my wife and I have enjoyed a vacation staying with our good friend Michael in Sarasota at his house.

It has been a great vacation and we have fallen in love with Sarasota!

Slowing down and relaxing has been great and it has been nice to enjoy this waiting time!

I will be back inside the shed late Thursday as I have s lot to catch up on but I am looking forward to getting lots of work done!

Sarasota sunset

2012-01-17T04:10:00.000Z

At the moment my wife and I are on vacation in Sarasota, staying with some close friends. Today we watched the sunset at Lido Beach and it was fantastic! The picture here was taken with my iPhone.

Art class

2012-01-14T21:18:00.000Z

Today I joined the art class that is held by my good friend Michael White.

The subject was drawing hands and I could not resist drawing this caricature of Michael as he is a great fun guy!

iPhone camera

2012-01-13T22:19:00.000Z

This picture was taken with my iPhone 4 two days ago in Sarasota, Florida.

I believe it shows just how good a photo you can take with an iPhone and as I understand the iPhone 4s has an even better camera!

Currently my iPhone 4 is still under contract but in May this year I will be able to upgrade. Although the rumours are starting to come out about the iPhone 5 and it's possible release this August! So maybe I will wait till then!

Anyway, I can still have fun with current iPhone and keep shooting pictures!

Howard Stern framed!

2012-01-08T21:15:00.000Z

At last I have framed my Howard Stern caricature and have 'him' hanging in my home!

Malta cartoon convention

2012-01-07T13:21:00.000Z

You do not want to miss this if your into both cartoons and caricature!

Click below for all the details:

http://www.ccgb.org.uk/malta2012/Malta-2012/Welcome_.html

Howard Stern update

2012-01-05T11:01:00.001Z

I think I have finished the painting of Howard Stern!

I shall be making prints available for sale in a few weeks time and the original artwork here is also available to purchase, please email me for details if you are interested. Thank You!

Howard Stern

2012-01-03T18:15:00.000Z

Updating my caricature of Howard Stern above.

Last year I painted the Howard Stern caricature and it worked out very well and I was pleased with it.

But after having it hanging in my house for a few months, I felt there was more I could do with it.

Howard is known for his brash, up front comments, he tells it like it is or how he see's it. He takes no prisoners and thats not a bad thing.

I wanted to give a background that would give some credence to his out spoken words and red seemed like the most appropriate colour to use!

So he is the progress so far!

I may add some orange on top in places but I am not sure just yet.

As always, it is too easy to over work a painting and ruin everything that has been done.

So I will take a few more days before I make up my mind!

I hope you like the updated Howard!

I use watercolours and pen and ink to create the painting.

Flowers

2012-01-02T11:37:00.000Z

Lily flowers are my wife's favourite flowers to have in our home and I caught these we have right now on my iPhone4 today, January 2nd 2012!

This year I hope to take more photographs with my Nikon and my iPhone, so I hope you will enjoy my posts here showing my photos!

Popcorn

2012-01-01T23:08:00.000Z

Day One of 2012:

Watching movies and eating popcorn, a good start to the new year! Happy New Year!

2012 Olympics

2011-12-30T17:53:00.000Z

It just so happens that we live not far from the location of the Olympic stadium and the venue for the mountain biking event. It all happens in 2012 and will of course be the topic of conversation for the whole wide world!

The picture shown here is of Hadleigh Castle, which is the backdrop for the mountain biking competition. It is only 15 minutes by car from where I live!

The Olympics always are a major sporting event and here in the UK, preparations are under way!

Photography

2011-12-29T11:27:00.000Z

A hobby that I love is photography! I have always enjoyed taking pictures since I was a child. Today with the DSLR camera's and technologies, taking photographs has become great fun! It is much easier to take photos and the results are immediate. Coming up in 2012 I have a few trips abroad and I hope to catch highlights of these with my camera and have photos to share with you!

I hope you like my photo!

iPad caricature

2011-12-28T12:13:00.001Z

A fun try out with my iPad using the ArtStudio App, just having fun playing around...

ArtStudio is a really nice drawing App and is similar in many ways to Photoshop in that it has layers and other functions that make it easy to use, especially if you already use photoshop!

If you have an iPad and way to draw, then I can recommend the ArtStudio App to you!

Festive fun!

2011-12-27T10:16:00.000Z

My family and I trust you have had a great Christmas and are enjoying the holidays! We are having a wonderful time and I treated my wife with tickets to fly to Tampa so we can visit our friends in Sarasota. We fly out in two weeks time and are very excited! We feel do blessed that a career in drawing caricatures gives us so much!

It can be hard work drawing and entertaining at weddings and events, I always give my all to ensure guests have a great experience while I am drawing!

My customers needs are priority for me and working to ensure I meet and exceed their expectations is my goal.

I think it is paying off as I am very busy and have many customers who found out about my caricature services from others who I had drawn at a wedding or event.

Recommendations like this are great and I always enjoy booking a referral 'gig' into my diary.

I call events 'gigs' as I feel that I am performing when I am drawing the fun caricatures!

So often I receive rounds of applause from guests who really enjoy the fun of it all! I always feel humbled that people show their appreciation in this way!

Here's to another great year in 2012!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T11:34:00.000Z

On behalf of my myself and my family, we would like to Wish YOU all a Very Merry Christmas!

You can also join me on Facebook too by clicking here and please do click the 'Like' button!

Wedding fun!

2011-12-23T06:57:00.000Z

Yesterday I was talking about weddings and how caricatures can provide such great fun for all the guests!

Well here is a genuine photo shot at a wedding I was drawing at with the response shown in these lovely smiling faces to my caricature!

Providing laughter and enjoyment to guests at a wedding is so very important to me and is all part of what I do when I draw caricatures.

It is a privilege to see this reaction take place at the weddings I draw at and I still wonder at how marvellous it is to think that because of what I did, people are laughing and sometimes to a state of happy tears, along with some screams of joy form some people who think what I have drawn is just amazing!

I have my last wedding of 2011 tomorrow on Christmas Eve and I am really looking forward to being there with the bride and groom and providing what I hope will be more laughter and fun for everyone!

Wedding Caricature

2011-12-22T11:50:00.000Z

An example of my live caricature work drawn at a wedding!

I draw in my own unique style and it is well received by people, which is really great as I love making people smile and laugh at what I have drawn! It is all about having fun with guests at events and helping them to have a great time by making them laugh and smile!

Not only weddings but also corporate events use my services in many different ways.

From entertaining clients and customers to attracting people to an exhibition stand, many businesses of all sizes have used me in such a way to help them celebrate and promote their searches and products!

I love the work I am involved in and will often travel to help meet my customers needs! So from Essex to Devon, from Cheshire to Sussex, you can be sure I can be there for your event!

It is always a pleasure to draw for a client on more than one occasion and when I am asked to come back for another event, I am humbled that my services are valued and in demand!

If your looking for a caricature artist for your event, no matter what that may be, then look no further, I can help you!

Florida

2011-12-21T12:45:00.000Z

It's four weeks since the ISCA convention took place at St.Pete's beach! I really do miss the friends I have in the organisation and of course the great weather in Florida! One really good thing about Florida is the many interesting subjects to take photographs of and the wonderful light that helps make shooting pictures so much fun! Photography is my hobby and I just love such opportunities to take photos when in Florida! We will be back in Orlando in July 2012 for a family vacation and we can't wait to be back!

Caricature fun

2011-12-20T08:23:00.000Z

A caricature that I drew last night at an event for the directors of a golf club, it was a fun night and they enjoyed the caricatures! In all I was able to draw 25 in total in just over two hours.

Fishy Christmas

2011-12-19T11:50:00.000Z

Merry Christmas from the fish!

Fish cartoon fun

2011-12-18T16:58:00.000Z

As you may know, I enjoy drawing cartoon fish! I don't know why exactly, I just do! This is another one that I created on my iPad in ArtStudio and I'm thinking that I need to put them all together sometime soon, to create a full picture of fish!

So this time next week it will be Christmas Day! I hope you are getting excited, just like I am and that you will have a great holiday season!

Christmas time

2011-12-17T09:59:00.000Z

Everyone is busy this weekend shopping for Christmas but I managed to get mine done over a week ago, so I can focus on today's wedding that I am entertaining at tonight! The ugly mug in the photo is yours truly in Harrods with the Harrods bear! Let me wish you the very best of luck if your venturing out this weekend to do your shopping!

I agree with Nick

2011-12-14T11:37:00.002Z

Again in politics we see a mix of confusion by our political leaders and yet once more we have the Labour leader agreeing with the leader of the Liberal Democrats and saying clearly on camera, "I agree with Nick"!

So if you also agree with Nick why not show your support with one of these great products that have "I agree with Nick' printed on them!

Click here to visit the I agree with Nick website

Enjoy and have fun!

Sketch as much as you can

2011-12-08T10:33:00.001Z

Getting better as drawing and art is something we all strive to do and I am constantly wanting to improve my own skills as I see so much wrong in my work. It is a healthy sign when an artist has a desire to constantly improve and I guess in truth, a real artist feels that they never achieve their final goal but the journey is where the magic and fun happens. Sure along the way there will be some frustrations and even one or two mountains that seem impossible to climb, but, it is all a part of growing as an artist and improving in the ability to draw.

One of the easiest and best ways is to sketch as much as you can, everyday if possible and then some!

Constant drawing and sketching will go towards helping you get better. Read books on art, watch television programmes on art, there are so many more now available to view, visit galleries and if possible join an association or an online community where you can 'hang out' with others and soak up the energy.

Above is a quick sketch I did in Photoshop with my Wacom Intous and I'm not completely happy with it but the idea is there and it was fun putting together!

It is sketches like this that help you move along and develop more as an artist.

As I said, I have a long way to go myself but I am really enjoying the journey and would not swap it for the world!

Happy sketching!

On my desk

2011-12-07T10:03:00.001Z

Currently on my desk I am reading ImagineFX magazine. I have a subscription to the magazine and njoy reading it each month. It is themed on Fantasy Art and using digital painting processes to achieve this.

So it covers Photoshop and Painter and has some excellent advice and tutorials about using these programmes! In fact the advice can be used for any kind of art if you are using a digital process!

You can also buy the magazine to view and read on a mobile device, like an iPad!

Check out the ImagineFX website by clicking here!

The Inkling from Wacom

2011-12-01T12:35:00.001Z

Here is my Inside the Shed video of a simple how to use the Inkling from Wacom! Please post any questions you may have and I will do my very best to answer them here for you! Thanks!

Giraffe cartoon

2011-11-30T21:26:00.000Z

Trying to create more interesting drawings with structured pose and even though this is a simple cartoon, I am happy that it has a nice feel to it, even though I forgot to draw the ears! I am klutz sometimes! Anyway, hope you like it!

Wacom Inkling

2011-11-27T14:32:00.000Z

I now have a Wacom Inkling!

At the moment I have it on charge so that it will be ready for use later today!

The Inkling allows you to draw/sketch/doodle with the pen supplied, which is like a biro pen, the drawing you create with the pen is stored as a digital file in the master unit that is attached to the paper.

You can then connect the master unit to your computer via USB and download the file to either Photoshop or Illustrator.

I am sure I will love it and later this week will have a review video up for you to watch.

So keep an eye out for this later in the week!

What a month!

2011-11-26T00:21:00.000Z

November has been great! The ISCA convention was a big success and it was wonderful to meet so many artists and many friends, making many new ones too! I'm back home from Florida now and working through my jet lag! Next week I shall start blogging all about the convention and more caricature news! So please do come back soon! The caricature here was drawn at Orlando international airport, a guy called Geoff with Downs sat next to me and seemed a little sad so I drew him and he lived it! It is so nice to make people smile!

Fish cartoon

2011-11-05T11:14:00.001Z

I don't know why exactly but I really enjoy drawing and sketching fish! I find it is good practice and lots of fun making up new types of fish! Who knows, maybe there is a fish like this one somewhere in the ocean! Do you have a favourite animal or subject that you like to draw?

St.Paul's tents in London

2011-11-04T12:06:00.001Z

The protesters who have pitched up their tents outside St.Pauls cathedral in London have caused more of a problem for the church than the actual reason they are protesting for!

The church has been shown to be misguided in its response to the situation and it's christian values are in question as they have not put their faith into action, period!

The funny thing is, the church is part of the corporate greed make up that the protesters are fighting against. Yes it is true! Only two years ago the church gave around forty million pounds of its money to an investment project that bought a property in New York but the recession and market collapse meant that every penny of that was lost. The very investment was immoral as the building purchased was home to many long term residents who had lived there for many many years but they were to be evicted to allow a refurbishment of the building, which meant that any new tenants would have to apply for accommodation there with a heavily increased rent. That would have meant the existing tenants would not have been able to afford the new rental costs to continue to live where they had been for sometime.

In effect the church would them homeless! Not exactly Christian eh?

So beware the church, they are not all that they seem in their softly spoken manners!

Cartoon face

2011-11-02T10:40:00.001Z

Drawing everyday is the best practice you can have to make it easier to draw and also improve your skills. It is also great fun!

Kill Bill the cow...

2011-10-30T19:41:00.001Z

One from the past but I wanted to share this again, hope you like!

Lar DeSouza

2011-10-29T08:19:00.001Z

A little doodle of Lar drawn on my iPad in ZenBrush.

Lar is a fantastic artist and a really nice guy. I have known him for some years now and I am always pleased to catch up with him whenever I can. Lar will be giving a number of seminars at our convention next month and I know he will exceed everyone's expectations!

Fun caricature

2011-10-28T18:05:00.001Z

A bit of fun from a face that drew the other night as it got stuck in my head and I had to redraw it on my iPad to get it out of my mind!

Moo Moo

2011-10-26T22:21:00.001Z

Busy this week but here is a cow....!

Pawn Stars

2011-10-23T10:06:00.001Z

I have been watching the tv show 'Pawn Stars' that airs on the HISTORY channel and I like it!

Here is a sketch of Chumlee who works there and is a very interesting character!

I hope to draw more caricatures of the members of this cool show!

Wedding art work

2011-10-21T13:57:00.000Z

Completed for a client who has booked me to entertain on the evening of their wedding reception.

Steve Jobs sketch

2011-10-20T14:45:00.003Z

This sketch is now at auction, please message me to make a bid on the auction of this sketch and the highest bidder wins - the auction closes Saturday 22nd October at midday GMT. Payment via PayPal and the the sketch will be mailed to the lucky winner! Good luck!

The Collectors artwork

2011-10-19T09:16:00.000Z

An update to the original artwork that I was commissioned for by the band, now including the keyboard player and final line up of the band!

I also did a special version just for the keyboard player:

Dog cartoon

2011-10-18T12:32:00.000Z

Completed today for a client who was very pleaded with the illustration come cartoon of her dogs!

Cartoon face

2011-10-17T02:47:00.001Z

Silly cartoon face drawn on my iPad just for fun!

Fish cartoon

2011-10-16T16:25:00.001Z

Little fish cartoon as I love drawing these! Apologies for the lack of posts this week, yet again both work and family life have kept me very busy and I just have not had time to update, sorry!

More Wedding feedback

2011-10-11T10:55:00.002Z

Another wedding message sent from a recent wedding last month:

Hi Steve, this is Jessica. You did the caricatures for us for our wedding on Friday the 16th, at The Manor.

I just wanted to say thank you very much, everyone loved their caricatures and it really made our day extra special!
We will definately recommend you.

Thanks again,

Jessica and Anthony Tobin.x

Wedding feedback

2011-10-10T14:44:00.003Z

This arrived in my inbox...

Hi Steve,

Just an email to say a massive thank you for your entertainment at our wedding on the 2nd October. We booked you to ensure our guests didn't get bored while we were having photos taken and you certainly didn't disappoint! Everyone is still talking about you and their caricatures even now, over a week later!

As you can imagine, we didn't get a chance to see everyone's caricatures on the day, but as we are visiting our family and friends, the first thing they do is bring out their caricatures, and all of them are truly brilliant! No one could quite believe how quickly you could draw them either, with so much detail and likeness to each person!

We really can't thank you enough for adding such a memorable and fun element to our wedding day- we're sorry if we didn't get a chance to tell you face to face how happy we were with all your brilliant work! We would have absolutely no problems recommending you to anyone!!!

Thank you!!!!

Mr and Mrs Grothier

Always uplifting and great to receive such sweet feedback for my services!

Howard Stern

2011-10-07T08:38:00.000Z

Added some shading and I now think it is finished! Really enjoyed creating this caricature!

Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T10:03:00.002Z

Very sad news of the loss of a great man who's vision and work impacted the whole world. Not many can make that claim but Steve did because he delivered his dream that improved our lives and continues to do so today.

Thank you Steve for everything you have given us, you will live on in so many ways.

Howard Stern

2011-10-02T09:50:00.000Z

Caricature of Howard Stern in watercolour now complete! I really enjoyed painting this one and as always, discovered some new things about using watercolour as I went along! It's a great medium to work with! Hope you like the finished caricature!

Jack Black Layout idea

2011-10-01T21:54:00.000Z

This is a pre sketch for an idea I have for a new Jack Black caricature. Based on the Kung Fu movie that he worked with as the voice of the lead character. The idea is to have Jack balanced on a bamboo stick. So this is my first rough for the idea.

Howard Stern Caricature

2011-09-30T11:47:00.000Z

Almost finished!

Wip

2011-09-29T09:06:00.000Z

More painting additions

2011-09-28T11:27:00.000Z

Slow progress

2011-09-27T13:29:00.000Z

Update to wip as I start to do more with the hair!

Big nose

2011-09-26T18:42:00.000Z

A doodle in Zen Brush on my iPad to show a really big nose!

WIP slow progress

2011-09-24T10:24:00.000Z

Getting more done slowly in-between everything else! But it's fun!

ISCA convention NEWS!

2011-09-22T10:13:00.002Z

Time is flying past and we are getting closer to the convention this coming November!

Starting on Sunday November 13th for registration and our icebreaker event, it will be six days of pure caricature and art! You DO NOT want to miss this event!

Artists from all over the world get together to compete, learn, be inspired and make friendships that last for ever!

It is a unique event that has been taking place for the past 20 years and every year the convention sets new heights of excellence!

Click here to find out more, join ISCA and register for the convention!

You will not be disappointed if you can come, seminars taking place include such established speakers/artists as Tom Richmond, David O'Keefe, Lar DeSouza and Drew Friedman, plus others!

I really hope you can make it to our convention and I look forward to seeing you there in person!

ISCA convention

2011-09-21T23:20:00.000Z

From last year where artists hung out in da 'zone' producing fantastic art!

Work in Progress

2011-09-21T14:55:00.001Z

Watercolour of Howard Stern in process.

Tom Richmond

2011-09-20T17:47:00.001Z

I am really pleased to share with you that Tom Richmond is running the Poolside Sketch Club at our upcoming ISCA convention in Florida this November!

Tom will be on hand to answer questions, give advice and encouragement to the group as we gather around the pool to sketch, learn and have fun!

Another very good reason why you should join us at the ISCA convention in November!

Click here to stop by the ISCA website for more details and to sign up for membership and the convention itself (you have to be an ISCA member to attend the convention)

Tom also has a new book out next month on how to draw caricatures and it is will be fantastic and must have for any caricature bookshelf! We have been waiting for this book for some time and it is great that it is out soon but you can pre order by stopping by the Richmond website by clicking here

If you want to know how to draw caricatures then this IS the book for you! Buy a copy NOW!

Come to the convention and meet Tom in person and partake in the sketch club to get some first hand teaching from Tom, based on his book as reference!

Hope to see you there!

Wedding Caricature

2011-09-19T09:19:00.000Z

An example of my caricature drawings completed in under ten minutes on the spot at a wedding!

Caricature fun!

2011-09-18T21:46:00.001Z

One from today!

iPad app caricature style!

2011-09-17T10:12:00.001Z

There is now available a fantastic app that has been created by the wonderful artist John Kascht!

If you have an iPad this is a must buy app to have!

Click here to see the app preview on John's website

Click here to visit John's website

John has produced a body of work that is simply outstanding and he is a master of caricature! Working in water-colours and inks, he produces some beautiful art that I know you will love!

Not only has he mastered the medium of water-colour but he produces caricatures that exceed your expectations. His work is truly lovely to look at and also a joy to explore the caricature of the subject.

So enjoy John's website and buy his app now!

Caricature nose

2011-09-16T14:07:00.000Z

Make that nose real big.....!

Rugby

2011-09-15T19:21:00.000Z

A doodle based on the Rugby World Cup that is taking place in New Zealand at the moment.

Howard Stern

2011-09-14T17:22:00.000Z

Controversy follow this guy where ever he goes, it must be Howard Stern!

Mike Carlon

2011-09-13T12:19:00.000Z

My good friend Mike Carlon who just happens to be a great caricaturist and really nice guy, fun to hang out with! A doodle sketch in ZenBrush on my iPad.

Guess the golfer?

2011-09-10T11:17:00.001Z

A rough sketch of who?

Odd cartoon!

2011-09-09T12:29:00.000Z

Just a bit of fun playing around with a cartoon style!

House update

2011-09-08T17:05:00.004Z

An updated version of my House caricature

The character still has a dark side to him...

Abe Lincoln

2011-09-07T09:17:00.000Z

A little doodle on the iPad in ZenBrush of Abe Lincoln.

Gaddafi yet to be found?

2011-09-06T13:27:00.001Z

An update to my Gaddafi caricature in this on going situation to find him and bring him to justice!

Influence in my life

2011-09-05T17:15:00.003Z

Music has been a big part to my life and ever since growing up in the 1960's and 1970's, I had the joy to experience and hear so many new aspects to both pop and rock.

As an artist in waiting back then, I was attracted to certain record sleeves while spending hours looking through records in the local record store.

It was the art on the record sleeve, also know as an LP, that would catch my attention and at the early age of about 12 or 13, I saved up and purchased Tales From Topographic Ocean by Yes, because of the Roger Dean artwork on the LP. I had no idea what the music would sound like but I just had to have that LP sleeve!

Well that took me into a relationship with the music of Yes and more so with the singer, Jon Anderson.

His music both with Yes and on his solo projects, struck a cord with my heart, should and mind and ever since I have had to include the music in my life. I could not see life without it!

Jon Anderson also connected via his lyrics to my soul searching spiritual questions that I had. As a creative personality, spiritual matters were important to me and in the music is where I found solace.

Here is a YouTube link to a new piece of Jon Anderson music that I love:

http://youtu.be/K8nyL5ksJqs

Here is another YouTube Jon Anderson song that I really love and play to support my soul when I feel down:

http://youtu.be/5B2yQFUtbQE

I have to say that I enjoy many types of music and have many favourites that include classical, Jazz, Folk and New World. Music is a magical gift that we often take for granted!

I also have a knack to play drums, not that good as it has been on and off for many years and I have never dedicated myself to learning more and improving but I can knock out a good beat and often received some sweet words of encouragement about my drum playing!

Art is my priority but music is my rock that I lean upon.

Art and music together have influenced me in so many ways and continue to do so today and will do so, tomorrow and beyond!

I hope you enjoy Jon Anderson's music as much as I do and if this is the first time you have heard him, then you will be in for a treat!

Japan

2011-09-04T08:41:00.001Z

One of my favourite cities that I have visited! Wonderful people and amazing artists who often lead the way! Many of our ISCA members are from Japan and they attend the convention each year in America. I look forward to seeing them there as many are friends and I really enjoy hanging out with them!

Start a drawing

2011-09-03T12:09:00.001Z

Here is a drawing I started in ArtStudio on my iPad. Need to get it finished but why don't you download and finish it for me and let's see what you come up with? Should be fun!

iPad drawing

2011-09-02T07:27:00.001Z

The doodle today was drawn on my iPad using the Zen Brush App. As you can see the background is a lovely brown shade. Zen Brush gives a range of choices for the background and this is something I really like about the app, as well as being very easy to use and fun to sketch with!

Yesterday I ordered the new Wacom Inkling pen. It is a pen that you use as any other pen to draw with and as in a normal situation, you sketch or draw on paper using the pen and it records your every stoker and line. You then upload it to photoshop or illustrator and hey presto, your sketch is there on the computer! Once I have the pen I will of course show you more here and pictures of how it works but you can visit www.wacom.com to see more about the Inkling Pen!

Caricature

2011-09-01T06:07:00.000Z

I'm back! After a very busy summer, I now have a normal busy level on my calendar, that will allow me to blog every day, sorry for the gap folks!
The picture shows a project I did at the beginning of the summer for a bank in London. They liked the result!
It's good to be back after a gap! Hope to have lots of interesting things for you here each day!

Please stop by again!

Trashcancature!

2011-08-31T17:39:00.000Z

On a roll drawing on all kinds of objects! I wonder what will be next?

Wedding couple

2011-08-30T09:36:00.000Z

The happy couple on their wedding day where I was entertaining with my fun caricatures!

Wedding Thank You

2011-08-30T09:33:00.000Z

From a couple who had me at their wedding on July 16th this year. Always good to get these thank you cards!

Banana cartoon

2011-08-29T23:54:00.000Z

More fun with a banana and a cartoon face! Drawing on fruit is fun!

Bannacature!

2011-08-29T22:27:00.000Z

Draw on a banana and have some fun!

Riot England?

2011-08-14T13:24:00.003Z

Shameful and criminal with not only arson but murder carried out by these people, form all types of backgrounds and age groups, is disgusting. I am very angry about these idiots!

Wedding Caricature example

2011-07-25T12:04:00.001Z

After drawing at two weddings this past weekend and having lots of great fun, I had the chance to draw some interesting faces.

Her eis one that I have drawn again in CS5 from memory. It is similar to the original I drew the other evening at a wedding!

I have added some grey shading here to show his hair. He did look like this with this hair style that was heavy on one side and almost covered one eye.

It was fun and he really liked what I drew of him!

Caricature artist

2011-07-21T09:42:00.000Z

I wanted to share with you an artist who is simply amazing. His work is outstanding and I am sure we shall here more about him in the future.

His name is Xi Ding, a chinese artist living in Austria and studying physics!

Xi is a great guy as well as a truly fantastic artist!

Above is a picture of him in Spain at the Girona minicon.

This is one aspect of this work that I love, meeting so many talented artists from around the world!

Caricatures at a wedding

2011-07-20T16:58:00.001Z

A photo from a wedding I did last week for a lovely couple..

The photographer was Steve Fryer of FSM photography: www.fsmphotography.com

I can highly recommend Steve to anyone who is thinking of getting married and who needs an excellent, professional and friendly photographer! Steve is one of the best!

I like these photographs as it shows an angle that I do not see when I am drawing away at a wedding!

It was a really fun night and everyone loved their caricatures!

The venue the wedding was held at was Cooling Castle in Kent, a lovely venue and for music fans, next door lives the one and only Jools Holland! You can visit the Castles website by clicking here

This summer is very busy for weddings and that is wonderful! I am looking forward to meeting so many nice folks and entertaining them!

I may even bump into Steve from FSM photography again! I do hope so!

Wired Magazine

2011-07-20T00:00:00.000Z

The article ties in the latest in facial recognition technology with the way caricature artists "see" people. The author visited the 2010 International Society of Caricature Artists convention for research, and many of my ISCA peeps like Robert Bauer, Steve Silver, Jason Selier, Roger Hurtado, Court Jones, Brian Oakes, Al Lopez, Steve Dorris, Beejay Hawn and others were featured.
I highly recommend picking up the latest Wired Magazine to check out the article, or you can read it online (cheater) right here:

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/07/ff_caricature/

Caricature of me!

2011-07-18T16:03:00.002Z

A new cartoon caricature of myself that I put together last week! Hope you like it!

Drawn and painted in CS5, I wanted to keep it clean and crisp, if you get my meaning!

What do you think? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Caricatures from a wedding!

2011-07-05T11:02:00.000Z

These pictures were kindly sent to m by the Bride and Groom, Lin and Paddy, whose wedding I had the pleasure to draw at back in May this year!

The wedding was lots of great fun and everyone enjoyed the caricatures!

Business cards!

2011-06-27T10:39:00.000Z

I have a new business card design that is being printed up this week!

I hope you like the new design!

At the moment I am very very busy with both work for entertaining at events and weddings and also in the role of President of ISCA.

This means that for the foreseeable future, this blog will be updated when I have time but I doubt it will be everyday.

I do apologise for this as I was really trying to get a post out everyday but with my current work load, it is just not possible and something needs to take a back seat for a while.

Once I get through the summer I aim to be back posting on a daily basis and with more deeper content.

So I really hope you will stick with me here and continue to stop by!

This week I have 7 gigs in 4 days!

I can handle the work but it just does not give me time to blog as I would like too!

So keep an eye out here for there will be the post from time to time!

THANK YOU for your support!

Wedding Thank You

2011-06-22T09:39:00.000Z

It is always so nice to receive cards and notes of THANKS from couples whose weddings I have drawn and entertained at. Today in the post I received this lovely card:

The inside reads:

Dear Steve,
Just a little note to Thank You for making our wedding one to remember! Everyone loved you, and still telling us what a true professional.
Highly recommended!
Thank you once again
Karen and Alan Meager x
(Wedding 11th June 2011)

What can I say? This is super and I really appreciate the effort people go to in sending me such a card.

It makes me proud to be a caricaturist!

Caricature sketch

2011-06-21T09:35:00.000Z

Here is a sketch that I drew on my iPad using Zen Brush, I was at a railway station yesterday and say this guy waiting for his train and he had a very interesting face to draw.

So this is the sketch in Zen Brush:

Today I brought the Zen Brush sketch you see above, into photoshop and added some colour:

I hope you can see how good it is to sketch with the iPad and then do some post editing to a sketch after.

This allows quick sketches to be done on the iPad and it is a lot of fun!

There are many sketching apps available and all a very good to use and cheap to buy!

I prefer Zen Brush but others are as good, it just comes down to personal preference.

Caricature is king

2011-06-18T09:31:00.000Z

The art of caricature is more than just a funny drawing of a face.

The origins of caricature centred around making a statement and political caricature is a powerful force, just look at Gerald Scarfe and his famous caricature of Margaret Thatcher!

But it also has the entertainment element associated with it and rightly so. Caricature entertainment is a really great way to have fun and leave people with a unique memento!

One very interesting aspect of caricature is how you can have so many different versions of one face but they all look like the person who has been drawn!

Above are a number of caricatures of my ugly mug and as you can see, a variety of different drawings but all looking like me! Scary!

That is why for me, Caricature is KIng!

Hadleigh Castle

2011-06-14T14:01:00.001Z

The location for the 2012 Olympic Mountain Biking, Hadleigh Castle dates back as far as the 12th Century!

Here is some of my photography of the CAstle from today!

Next year when the Olympics take place, this area will be filled with hundreds, if not thousands of people who will visit for the Olympic event. It will be interesting how Hadleigh copes with all this as it is a very small town and the road network is only designed for local low level traffic. In normal day to day conditions the road network struggle at peak times, so I am not sure how it will hold up when the Olympics are in town!