Sunday Mailbag: Live Caricature Tools?

Q: Can you tell us what kind of pencil you are using, what it’s wrapped up in and other details on the tools you use for drawing live caricatures like the one you did on your live video?

A: Sure. Here’s the live caricature demonstration mentioned (starts at the beginning of the drawing part):

I use a soft graphite pencil for live drawing. The pencil I use is a Caran d’Ache Fixpencil 3, which is a “clutch” type mechanical pencil. A clutch pencil uses one stick of lead at a time, and has a claw-like front end on it that grips the lead. You need to press on the clutch release at the back of the pencil to release the claw grip and then feed a little more of the lead out when it gets too short. Here’s that pencil:

You can order one here or here, or several other places online.

The Fixpencil 3 holds a 3 mm lead, which is thicker than your usual clutch pencil leads (most are 2 mm). I like the thicker lead because it allows me to get a heavier, bolder line. I use a 4B lead most of the time but occasionally use a 6B, especially if I am working outside on a humid day. Caran d’Ache does not make a 3mm 4B lead so I have to get them from other manufacturers. They do make a nice 6B lead.

I don’t need to sharpen the lead when I draw live, because the act of drawing and the pressure I apply creates multiple facets and planes on the end of the lead, and I can turn the pencil to easily find sharper lines or big, thick lines. However many people do not know that the Fixpencil 3 comes with its own 3mm lead “pointer”. It’s built into the plastic button on the end. Just pull that button out and the inside of it is a sharpener/pointed for that sized lead:

I wrap the pencil in a foam wrap called “pre-wrap” or “sports wrap”. This is a thin foam that comes in a roll. You use it for wrapping sports injuries like an ankle or wrist before you then tape up the injured area.

The wrap is very light and creates a thick, cushioned grip. I press pretty hard when I draw live to get bold, dark lines, and the bigger, softer grip helps prevent blisters and just give me a better hold on the pencil. It also wicks away moisture so my hand and the pencil don’t get slippery. You can wrap it up as thick as you want to get a grip that is comfortable:

I just rubber band the end to keep it in place. You can get pre-wrap at basically any pharmacy or drugstore. It’s usually in with the first aid items.

I use a #8 blending stump for some shading effects. Also called a “tortillon” , a blending stump is just very tightly rolled up paper sanded off on the end.

You can make your own but they are pretty cheap to buy. They come with very pointy ends so Iuse an exacto knife and a sandpaper pad to round the ends off a little:

That’s it! Very versatile and gives me ink-like lines but with a softer feel.

Thanks to Paul Miller for the question. If you have a question you want answered for the mailbag about cartooning, illustration, MAD Magazine, caricature or similar, e-mail me and I’ll try and answer it here!