This week’s sketch is a quick study of “Firefly” and “Serenity” star Gina Torres. I never really watched the TV show but I did see the movie, and I find her face very fascinating… her eyes are sleepy but intense and her mouth has a perpetual pursed look to it. Lot’s of fun to draw. READ MORE
Better late than never today… I am getting bored with all the heads I’ve been doing lately so I thought I’d do something with a figure this week. This is NBA star Vince Carter, although I didn’t really work too hard on the caricature. I spent more time studying the folds and action of his uniform. These fast shutter sports action shots capture billowing clothing in very unnatural feeling “frozen” positions, so when drawing them it’s better to simplify rather than trying to duplicate every single tiny wrinkle. I went halfway between simplifying and going wrinkle-crazy. READ MORE
I thought I’d try something different this week and do a sketch while scanning in several stages to show the progression. This week’s subject is guitar legend Eddie Van Halen, circa 2007. I start out very loose and geometric, aiming to establish the head shape and placement of the features. 80% of the caricature is figured out at this point, including the exaggerations. Eddie’s forehead is very prominent these days, and his square jaw and chin. His famous goofy grin and squinty eyes are still a big part of his look. I have zero concern about superficial likeness at this stage. Now I begin fleshing… READ MORE
Have to cheat on “Sketch o’The Week” this week because I am swamped playing catch-up in the studio. This is from an old sketchbook, circa 1999. They are quick studies of cartooning legend Jeff MacNelly, of Shoe and multiple pulitzer prize winning editorial cartooning fame. He was a speaker at my very first National Cartoonist Society Reuben weekend in San Antonio in 1999, and I did these studies during his presentation. I’ve always been in awe at MacNelly’s immense talent, and it was a thrill to get to hear him speak. I remember at the time he was talking about how he was beginning to… READ MORE
Quick warm up sketch from yesterday of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles star Lena Headey. Anytime you use hard angles on a face you add masculinity to it, but she has a hard jawline and a tough look they are cultivating in this role. After seeing Monday’s second part of the premiere, I think this show is headed in the right direction. Summer Glau makes a great next gen Terminatrix, and Headey came off as a lot tougher and street smart in this episode than in the pilot. Even Thomas Dekker‘s John Conner became more interesting with his rebellious visit to his last “father figure”.… READ MORE
Sketch in progress of “30 Rock” star and “Saturday Night Live” alum Tracy Morgan. READ MORE
WIP sketch of recently deceased former talk show host Merv Griffin. This one was from a few months back, just after he passed away from a picture in one of the entertainment magazines. Obviously I never finished it so I never posted it here, but I thought it might be of interest to see an unfinished sketch or two every once and a while. You can see things like explorations of form and shape with the sketchier lines, and how the small suggestion of shadows and just the beginning of the rendering still produces a strong likeness if the initial drawing is strong. A good… READ MORE
Another quick study of a politician, this time Ohio congressman, presidential hopeful, veggie-munching, UFO spotting democrat Dennis Kucinich. READ MORE
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