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

MY DAD LIKES MY STUFF.

While on my way to a gig in Staten Island, I got a call from my Dad while riding the Ferry.
I wasnt expecting the call, ad automatically became very anxious , thiking it was an emergency.
Instead, my Dad called to tell me that he was viewing my blog and thought the posts were hilarious and was printing them out on his computer.

He thought the "guy in the glasses" was really funny,



We talked a few minutes more , and then the Ferry got out of cell phone range so the call was cut short.

That call, and kowing that my Dad "likes my stuff"
Meant more to me than any rave Ive ever gotten from a client, fan, fellow artist, or famous artist.

My Dad likes my stuff.

No picture that illustrate that. Only the one in my mind.

and that's private.

Jert

Jeremy Townsend. Another one of the many caricature artists I admire. Jeremey, or "jert" as he likes to be called is one of those "natural" cartoonists. He draws the most outrageously cartoony live caricatures as easily as I breathe. I highly recommend you regularly visit his blogsite . I know I do.
Drawing Jert is like trying to focus on the individual components that make up a hurricane. You dont know where to look, and once you start to concentrate on one thing, you get hit over the head with something else you never saw coming. I did my best to compile a "look" fo him based on a couple of photograps. This is my first attempt.

Berto Gonzales....and "his baby"

Berto did a controversial caricature of a baby with fangs that he really got "called on the carpet" for my some members of the NCN Forum. Berto's a classy guy and took the criticism well, but i couldnt resist teasing him ONE more time about the incident. Besides, he's got such a fun face to draw I wanted another shot at it anyways.
The caricature of the baby he drew is in the background and it IS funny. Sometimes the "exaggeration monster" gets ahold of us caricature artists and we soetimes forget that the general public doesnt see the world thorough a funhouse mirror like we do!!