Spotlight on Steckley!

One of the greatest things about my job is that ot only do I have fun everytime I go to work, but that I get to see some of my favorite artists, like Ed Steckley, here, do their stuff. Ed and I worked the same gig recently at the M&M's headquarters on W 49th street and Broadway this week. At the end of the gig I managed to snap off a few shots of Steckley slamming his last victim of the day. Ed drew with such speed ad cofidence that I barely had time to catch everything on film without interrupting his flow. Ed draws with the rattiest looking pencil imaginable! LOL its literally wrapped up in rubberbands and tape which just goes to prove it aint the tool, its the ARTIST! As Ive mentioned in other places in this blog, Ed is instrumental, along with Kenly Dillard for getting me inspired to draw the great pencil sketches you've come to know and love here on the surfer blogsite.


Steckley can be found HERE;
http://www.edsteckley.com/

Brooklyn Party Gig!

While most people were inside thankful for air conditioning, I was sweating it out in the hundred degree heat drawing caricatures for the folks in Brooklyn at a corporate event. These three minutes sketches were wearing me out!!

I've noticed that although, "good" I'm NOT getting the level of exaggeration I want on these drawings. Perhaps its the time factor. I feel a need to get "everyone done" so I have a tendency to speed up my process and just get the essential details down when doing a party sketch.

When doing party sketches Its really important that the person being drawn LIKES your rendition of them .You're being paid (quite well, I might add) to make the guests HAPPY, so you really have to resist the urge to "go for it" like you normally would drawing on your own. (thank God for my subway sketches! its a way to let the exaggeration demon loose.) I've actually been at events where I've put up my exaggerated caricatures on a sign and had people smile ad walk by refusing to get done. Do this long enough and people wont be calling you to do their party....

Knowing me I will probably revisit some of these faces too.

Caricature in Bryant Park

I was walking to the subway after coming from a gig at Deb's Family Disco, when i saw this lady swinging two objects called POI, around her body and head. If you dont know what Poi is, just imagine a two large balls attached to a long elastic cord traveling hundreds of miles per hour as you sing them in figure eight patterns around your body and head. This lady was obviously an expert at it and i stopped to watch, mesmerized. After she was done, I asked her why she was doing this and where she was from. She was from England on holiday, and wanted to take advantage of the ice weather, and attract attention, which she did, since we were talking. I asked her if she wanted a souvenir that people paid hudreds for and she agreed.

This is a three minute sketch.

The M&M gig

drew this exec at a recent gig where I had the pleasure of working with Ed Steckley, Garrett Bender, and Alison Gelbman. We had the task of drawing people like M&M Candy pieces! This guy had such a bland expression I couldnt resist drawing a normal picture of him as well as an M&M. My M&M shots didnt come out! AAAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!

Mocca Fest Madness!!

Ive been soooooo busy the past couple of days drawing at gigs and special events that Ive completely forgotten to upload some of the great stuff Ive been doing!
On Sunday I braved the 100 degree heat and dragged myself down to the Puck Bldg in the village to attend the one, the only MOCCA FEST !
I was invited by fellow caricature artist, Mark Zman, who Ive worked many gigs at Sardi's to help him at his table. Mark is one of those artists who wears a dozen and one hats. He's a caricature artist, a panter, a comic book creator, eve a clock maker, and had all of his wares on the table ready for the eager buyers. We were offering a free caricature to anyone who made a five dollar purchase.I took the liberty of also drawing a few of the great faces that were jammed packed into the place.

Mocca Fest is a veue that truely lets the indy artist creators shine. It's exciting to be in an aenvironment where you are surrounded by so much creative talent. Ive been a fan of small press for years ad really canot resist browsing and buying work by indy artists. It doesnt even matter to be if the work isnt quote "polished" thats the whole beauty of it. CREATIVE EXPRESSION!! artists doing it for themselves! and with techhology being so affordable these days, anyone who so desires can become a player! i gotta get my own table next year!

He wanted directions......

"which train do I take to go to Canarsie?" He asked in his broken English clutching a subway map. " I dont want to get lost," he added. I happily advised him to take the A train into Broadway Junction where he could transfer to the downtown L train straight to Canarsie. Sit right there, I motioned to a seat, and I'll tell you exactly when to get off.
I put him in perfect three quarter postion for this caricature. One of the best Ive done all week.

He reminded me of Jay Z

I stopped this guy on the street and asked him to pose. There was something in his face that reminded me of Jay Z. He thought the caricature was extreme. I thought it was pretty normal.

Prom nite at The Sands In Long Beach

Had a great time last night drawing kids at the prom in Long Beach NY. Didnt have the time to do reaaallly outrageous exaggerations as the line was mega long, but managed to snap a few shots of my fave drawings.

Caricature of big lips man

This is a party guest who REALLLLY wanted to get his picture doe. I noticed that one side of his mouth came up a couple of seconds before the other side did and captured that. He loved it. This guy had mega sized lips also. This is one of the things that make for a great caricature. When a person has a really outstanding facial feature it just makes drawing humorously a breeze

There are some African Americans who are very sensitive about a drawing like this. The tendency of some is to label such a depiction as "racist" and hint that it is reminiscent of how Black people were portrayed in film, comics, and animation years ago. While there exists certainly cartoon depictions that are in fact derogatory and demeaning, the question needs to be asked about the intent if the artist.

In the case of this pictures context, it is nothing more than an exaggerated amplification of a facial feature that is observable and measurable. My intent, always , is caricature. Pure and simple. Unlike political caricature, when I draw party caricature, I stay away from extreme exaggeration as it has a tendency to embarrass people, and make them the target of jokes by their fellow party guests! I never want to sacrifice Antibes self esteem, or ruin a party atmosphere, and I don't. BUT THERE ARE THOSE TIMES WHEN EXAGGERATION IS REQUESTED AND WELCOMED as in this case.

Overall, I've found that if people have issues with exaggeration it has a lot to do with their personal esteem body facial issues, and emotional associations. No artist can please everyone.

Junior

I promised Junior, the Medical records, Physicians assistant who makes my doctors appointments that Id do this sketch of him. I'll let you know if ye likes it...

Caricature of Canarsie train female wit long forehead

drew this on the L train....
Been struggling lately with my party stylewhich is generic stiff ad formulatic, and my subwaystyle which is more exciting and loose.
Going to a prom today ad will try again. Id love my drawins to look more like THIS

Pissed off girl on the train

she sure was pissed about something! i could resist trying to draw that expression though!

Memorial weekend Mugs

Cautht these mugs on the n32 bus this weekend.

boye with the braids

he's chillin....

Caricature Artist Angie Jordan

Fellow caricature artist, the beautiful and talented Angie Jordan.

Shocked! ... and maybe a little... angry too....

She was actually shocked to be drawn. She was carrying a portfolio and I figured she was an artist too. She looked over at me and SURPRISE!!! GOTCHA!!

Making fun of myself ... again

Feel free folks to make fun of my face as much as possible, but know this: NONE of you will ever make more fun of me than I do of myself!

Subwaysurfer Bashing

Hilarious Picture of me one of the readers sent in!!
This was drawn by The Invincible J, aka Jeremiah Carstarphen. You can check him out at www.cartoonsbyj.com

S46 Bus Staten Island Beauty

Did this woman on the S46 Bus as part of my warmup on the way to my gig at the Staten Island Hilton.

My gurl wuz "big Pimpin'" sporting her "terminator" shades