Mailbag
August 29th, 2021 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: If a client just has a low budget, do you sometimes offer to draw with a “lower” quality? I mean, are you maybe accepting a lower wage, if you can in return reduce the amount of work like maybe fewer sketches or less worked out coloring? A: No. I would not intentionally do something with less effort or lesser quality in order to justify accepting a lower rate. If what a client wants me to do and what they are offering to pay for it don’t equate, I just won’t accept the job. My name is still on the art, and I don’t want… READ MORE
August 22nd, 2021 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: How do you determine which job solicitation is worth pursuing? I’ve inquired about jobs to a few artists I liked, only to be told they didn’t accept any freelance jobs or they were too busy, etc… never getting to a price. How do you know which job is worthy? Is it the initial approach of the potential client? A: Sounds to me like you might be a little frustrated that you cannot find an artist to take on whatever project you are looking to have done. I can understand that. I don’t know the specifics of what you are looking for but I can… READ MORE
August 8th, 2021 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: When not dictated by the script, how do you decide the positioning/gestures of hands? As comics are a visual medium, I’d assume static hands with no play make it a dull panel, but I would also assume too many wacky gestures would distract from the tone. Needless to say, when the focus of a panel is some dialogue without action, where do you draw the line? A: Actually the position/gestures of hands are almost always dictated by the script. Not directly, where the script says “have the speaker waving hands frantically”, but by the dialogue and the emotion the character is supposed to be… READ MORE
August 1st, 2021 | Posted in MAD Magazine
Q: I have been using the principles in your book for theme park style caricatures. So far I feel I’ve improved on drawing caricatures head on but I really struggle to draw them at 3/4 angle. How important is it for a theme park style caricature artists to be able to draw front AND 3/4 angle caricatures? A: A theme park (or any live style) caricaturist need not ever draw the face at any angle they don’t wish to. You can do full face caricatures forever. Profile caricaturists can do the same. However being able to draw 3/4 faces gives you another option and keeps… READ MORE
July 18th, 2021 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: Congrats of your artwork for the CNN series! I’ve seen it everywhere. How did CNN find you to do that job? In fact, what’s the most effective way you market yourself to clients today? A: Thanks! I have been very surprised at how much CNN has used the art I did. It’s been fun to see it so many places. I try to remember to ask clients where they found me, just so I can track what is the most effective way potential clients run across my work. In CNN’s case, it was via Instragram. The art director searched for hashtags like #caricature and… READ MORE
July 11th, 2021 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: Hey Tom, What kind of art tools do you use for your work? Are you 100% digital or do you use any traditional media? Note: This was actually a question asked for our “Ask Des & Tom!” feature on our CLAPTRAP Indiegogo page, but I thought it would be good to also answer here. Before I answer this, if you are expecting a debate about which is better, traditional art or digital art, you are about to be disappointed. Neither is better or worse than the other, they are simply both tools for creating. Now, on to the answer: A: Ah. The age old… READ MORE
June 27th, 2021 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: How was your first day on the job doing live caricatures in the theme park? Was nerves an issue at first? Was it weird or uncomfortable having crowds behind you looking at you draw and how long did it take before it became the norm? Is there any advice you can you give for someone wanting to get into live work that may be anxious about the whole process? A: Honestly I never had any problem drawing in front of people. I know many artists for whom that is a big issue, but for me it was always easy. When I was a kid I… READ MORE
June 13th, 2021 | Posted in Mailbag
Q: Did Quentin Tarantino request a sketch of himself after you illustrated 2 covers for his film “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood”? Who are some well known celebrities who have commissioned you? A: No, Quentin didn’t ask me to draw him after I did those prop covers… I just did it for fun for my “Sketch o’the Week”. I haven’t had all that many celebrities commission me to do art for them. It’s much more frequent to have celebrities, particularly writers, producers, and directors, contact me about the art I did of their show or movie in MAD. However I have had a few… READ MORE
