Colin Firth - Bafta winner but will he get the Oscar?

Do you think Mr Darcy sorry Colin Firth might have finally overcome typecasting?
He's been in a few films since that adaptation.
If you haven't seen "The King's Speech" I can recommend it. Colin Firth characterisation is perfect. Although you wonder how much "artistic license" they've used.

Can't quite imagine the Queen Mum sitting on his chest "in public" like that!

The film's already wowed the Bafta's and all eyes are on the forthcoming Oscars.

So Hollywood! Is this finally going to be Colin's year?
Personally, I hope so...

So finally, after some technical problems, my latest caricature of Colin. 

Joanna Lumley

Joanna Lumley first came to my attention in The New Avengers as Purdey - like the gun elegant and deadly. Beautiful, independent, smart and a woman who could take care of herself in a fight. In other words exactly what I wanted to be. Not sure how many of those I became?

But Joanna has continued to grace our screens and has proven an actress who finds character roles we have grown to love. Most celebrated would be Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous and one of my alltime favourite scenes below!

Go on admit it, did you spot her the first time you saw that scene? I didn't!

She even does Trashy with style!

I've always admired how she conducts herself personally, as well. She's a single mother but refuses to name the father and supported herself and her son. No cashing in on publicity from cheap magazines to help support herself either. She's campaigned for Gurkha rights and been the driving force behind a major policy change in their favour.


As Cab Calloway would say, "she has Class with a capital K!"

Now, I'm off to find some more Class for next week!

Soooo why does Graham Norton get everywhere?

There was a time when Graham Norton was only seen after the watershed.

And many of us would say “quite rightly so”!

But now he’s everywhere. Radio, Reality TV shows, shows to find leading cast members for Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals, taking over from Jonathan Ross… No, that’s post watershed!…

…Eurovision. Is there nothing the man won’t do? I mean Eurovision, a byword for trashy, cheesy pop songs! Has the man no shame? No taste?

Oh Hang on, if you’ve seen his night time show, you know that is a statement if fact! He delights in cheese, he delights in sleaze. Not so much as innuendo and in your face –o!

Gradually - and none too subtly - he has invaded our airspace. Even making it onto the BBC, the home of conventional morality. How did he do it? How does someone who’s presentation style is so near the knuckle manage such a conquest?

Sure, there is a difference between the toned down daytime persona and the post watershed character…but it’s not much!

I think it must be the mass of contradiction! He comes across as “nice” and caring but then makes a bitchy comment about a celebrity, does something awful to a member of the audience or shows a web link which is shocking.

Morally, I know I should disapprove of what he does. Yes, he makes you laugh, but cruelly at other people’s expense! The ultimate “Car crash TV”. You know you’ll regret what you see, but you can’t help but look!

So will I watch him now, will he be my guilty little secret?

What do you think?

Olivia Newton John’s Glee – I’m being topical, honest!

After posting last week I learnt an important lesson!

I mean, a REALLY IMPORTANT LESSON!

“And what might that be?” I hear you ask. 

I really must check my previous week’s post to see what I promised to do this week!!!!!

I confess, Organisation is not my strong point. So here’s Olivia Neutron Bomb sorry Olivia Newton John.

My humble apologies for the delay. It won’t happen again, Miss! Which reminds me! Why do old nicknames have a habit of sticking?

The most memorable seem to play on original names e.g. I was a Concannon and one of mine was “Cannonball”.

Or they’re simply humiliating! ‘S funny, I don’t feel like giving a personal example here…

Olivia’s stratospheric popularity following Grease might be why she was awarded this one.

I think I might have gone a bit OTT with the hair! Tiger stripes!!!! And yet she can carry it off, don’t some people make you green?

I was getting concerned that this caricature was “out of mode” for want of a better word. But,as you can see below, Olivia’s been in Glee recently.

I had trouble finding a good youtube video. Apparently Sony have blocked some! But I found it! Hmm, I always liked the original…

But I think this one might be better!

Makes a refreshing change to see the objectification of men! Am I bad? And she’s wearing well! Hope I look that good at her age. Think I might need to step up the exercise/diet program first though. Time to walk the dog!

Next week the Big Draw!

When life gets in the way of art!

Ever wonder where you can find the time to paint?

And then when you do sit down it doesn’t turn out well.

It’s been a bit like that this week!

I had a fabulous opportunity to exhibit my art at John Lewis over the weekend. As I was focussing on the abstract and representational work, the caricatures went by the wayside. Until my son’s swimming lesson yesterday.

Found a picture of John Travolta in the Sunday magazine and set to work.

When I was  teenager John was THE pin-up after the release of Grease. Forget Olivia Newton John’s “sew yourself in them” pants, he was the sexiest thing around! She would have been trampled in the stampede if he went anywhere near my school!

So…

Heeeeere’s Johnny!

Now, if  when I get time to draw this week, I think I should do Olivia so I can have a matched pair!

Siousie Sioux

Aah Siousie Sioux.. a childhood idol of mine. You might have noticed feminist leanings in my political views. I’m all for recognition of talent! Whatever it’s origins!

Despite comments about attractiveness being a requirement for commercial success these days! I’ve always thought she was attractive! But her dress was confrontational and iconic! Like many of her era! Naturally, black was the only colour choice!

Sometimes, Sexuality seems to be the only selling point these days! Boy I sound like my mother! But it’s always been there. Mini skirts and skimpy tops have been around since the 1960’s. There’s nothing new under the sun! Just discovered anew by each generation!

Personally, I was never comfortable wearing skimpy clothes, although many of my contemporaries did!  Maybe not quite as blatantly as now, but short skirts seemed compulsory. I always felt in many situations, wearing a short skirt stops you from being taken seriously! It’s hard to hold a serious conversation with someone when all they’re looking at is you legs, or cleavage! Hollywood depictions have a lot to answer for there! But looking at Siousie here, she managed sexy, there’s more than a hint of the dominatrix in her attire. Yet she’s completely covered!

Siousie conveyed ATTITUDE in an era when women were still expected to dress “nicely”. I always felt Debbie Harry - contemporary of hers - dressed to please the men. But not Siousie, she dressed to please herself. The clothes were important but as a statement of who she was! She looked cool, aggressive, daring but still sexy. And a generation of women will always be grateful for it!

And the current young generation could learn a lot from her!

Danni Minogue… is she still on X-factor?

There’s been a big scandal this week about the use of “Autotune” on X factor!

As a singer myself the thought of using a sound technology to make up for lack of singing ability appals me! I’ve never sought a career as a singer, but I’ve always had a good singing voice. I regularly lead worship singing and I’ve never needed artificial assistance. And trust me, I’d be told if I was off key – or at least never invited to sing again! And I’ve been a regular for over 15 years.

I’ve also heard plenty of great singers live! So why would anyone who’s any good need an autotune? Surely it’s a basic that a singer MUST be able to sing in tune? Or am I missing something here?

I feel like being bitchy and saying “So that’s how all those Pretty girls (and boys) become famous when they can’t sing! The technology does it for them!” I don’t think I’m jealous. No, honest, I don’t! But is it too much to want to hear decent singers? And not pretty, half-naked, wanabees who wouldn’t know a well pitched melody line from their elbow.

And the nudity is another issue, I understand men would probably disagree! But am I the only person who wants to see female celebrities cover up more? I don’t find it in the least attractive! Less is more as they say! Although they may think that’s what they’re doing? Rolls eyes. I’m not averse to nudity, heck, I do life drawing. But there’s a time and place and I think certain types of dress prevent an artist from being taken seriously! Take Beyonce… she’s talented, she sings songs about being an independent woman! But how many men really pay attention to her voice? Honestly?

I heard a quote from Siousie Sioux  around the time of the Susan Boyle phenomenon. Siousie felt women were under more pressure to look good now than when she started her career. I fear she may be right! But what went wrong?

Musical talent should be heard…being seen is irrelevant! Why, in an age of “acceptance and equality” are we even more obsessed with image? I know, this from a visual artist! What can I say, I love music, and want to see talent not fakery!

Anyway, back to the X-factor!

Now, last time I checked Danni Minogue was an X factor judge! Which is why I chose her for my subject this week. OK, I admit it, I have a real problem keeping up with the ins and outs of the current celebrities! Maybe the link is tenuous, but hey, it’s fairly topical! And there’s something about a baby…last month!

I’ve heard Danni sing, but I couldn’t tell you whether she used Autotune. Let’s assume not, for legal reasons! And her older sister is Kylie! And she has to compete with her success! I would sympathise! But Danni’s not exactly struggling herself!

I think I might do Siousie Sioux next week!

Iggy Pop and getting in touch with your inner elf

Some caricatures are hard to do. I’ve no ideas and rack my brains to find the right angle!

Not so this week!

Last weekend we watched the Lord of the rings trilogy over 2 nights. Only to be leant the boxed set - with deleted scenes - by my son’s friend who can best be described as “in touch with his inner geek”! In fact he’s not so much in touch with it as he’s totally embracing it and has invited it to take over permanently!

Needless to say we’ve watched some of the deleted scenes and my brain is oozing LOTR!

This week, I decided to do Iggy Pop. And after about 4 lines, I had Elf Lord screaming at me!

Well, look at him and tell me you don’t see Elf Lord?

 

Doubt me? Well let me present my evidence!

 

I rest my case!

So here’s my Iggy Pop…

You might have noticed a hint of Wizard as well. Sobs quietly…I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself! Did I say we’ve watched the whole of the Trilogy in one weekend? That kind of exposure does things to a girl!

Now who should I try next week, a hobbit perhaps? Hmm, think I might have had enough LOTR for a while!

Steps to creating a caricature for commission – Part 2 –completing the painting.

Last week I was relating how I’d had an “Urgent” Commission.

I explained the general process. The most difficult stage is really the composition and initial drawing. Sometimes ideas pop up with each draft, the next draft can then be used to work these ideas out. movement lines are especially. There are certain rules which must be applied, such as movement lines must not touch the “moving” objects.

After inking in the pencil lines, I set the picture aside to dry before rubbing out the pencil.

Next stage is painting, which is fairly straightforward. Sometimes I will use  French ultramarine and paynes grey to under-paint the shadows on the face. Before going over them in burnt sienna, yellow ochre and a touch of Alizarin Crimson.

With a gift caricature there is always an element of subterfuge. Usually it’s the client who has to weave complex plots and distraction to facilitate the picture. This time I needed a picture inside the school, but how to do it without being spotted. I had a window of opportunity while the school was at a church service. I was a little concerned sneaking onto school premises with a camera. Fortunately it’s a small village school and people know me! Why the need? Well there is a fabulous wooden train around the back of the school and it was too good a subject not to include.

What do you think? Here is the finished caricature.…

Most subterfuge relates to communications, often in code with false appointments or arrangements. I stop short of actual lies, but sometimes I struggle, especially if the subject is well known to me.

A recent caricature I undertook was for some friends. The husband was the subject and plans were well underway. I happened to strike up a conversation during which he’d discovered I created caricature paintings. He asked if I’d be able to do one of his wife. I soooo wanted to laugh out loud at the irony. It was all I could do to contain myself! But was unable to enlighten either partner with the truth!

Fortunately such instances are part of the joy of being an artist!

Twilight at night - Kristen Stewart caricature

Is it me, or has the Twilight obsession calmed down recently?

What’s that you say?

No!

Oops! Sorry!

Sometimes I love living in a remote part of the country :-)))

 

Warning you might not wish to proceed with the rest of this blog.

Scenes of a Twilight..ish nature following.

So why am I doing Kristen Stewart?

Good question. I’ve had her picture my “to do” pile for a little while, but felt uninspired to proceed. In the wee small hours of Friday night, I decided to “do my worst”. It’s a relatively old pic of her, which is why she looks so young. Trouble is worst isn’t what I’ve achieved. I’m wondering if some batty references are required. I like subtle, but it doesn’t always succeed in caricatures.

Quite honestly she’s looking a bit too subtle! She’s a bit bland.

 

So what do you think? Should I add

1. some blood spurting from her neck?
2. 2 small dots on her neck?
3. flying rodents? Bats, I mean bats!
4. the odd fang or two?
5. longs claws on the hand?
6. Any or all of the above?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Answer _____________

Now, please tear off along the dotted lines at the bottom of you monitor and mail your answers to me!

Feeling the atmosphere while sketching – more plein air drawing

Sketching plein air is far more stimulating on the senses than sketching at home.

How so?

Well, there’s a tendency for elements of the environment like water, sand and mud to be incorporated in the sketch. Take today, sketching by the river with family and 2 dogs.

Dogs are so friendly, aren’t they? Don’t you just love the way they shake themselves right by you when they’ve had a dip in the river?

Or…

Or jump in puddles right beside you! Usually splashing the water right down the back of you neck!

My sketches were wet, muddy and smeary from attempts to wipe away mud before it dried. Important note to self, you should always check the ink is dry first!

Having said that, I escaped fairly well with these pages.

These are quick sketches. Children and dogs are very unforgiving so it’s an excellent discipline. I’ll hold the verdict on my success. There’s a hit of child and dogginess, I think, here at the top left. Forced to quit the right hand one due to time.

Shark boy morphs into a Vampire – Taylor Lautner caricature

To thousands, possibly millions, Taylor Lautner will always be linked with the Twilight films! Eternally of course!

But I have children…

Children who love films…

Films with weird subjects (and low budgets.)

So to me Taylor Lautner will always be Sharkboy from the film Shark boy and Lava Girl.

It’s no use trying to persuade me otherwise. It’s a Pavlovian response. Formed by years of classical conditioning i.e. the constant playing and replaying of the film, ad nauseam!

So I give you Taylor, saying “Goodbye” to his shark friends and “Hello” to his Batty friends. Batty in more sense than one, I suspect.

To be honest I’m having trouble taking Sharkboy, I mean Taylor here seriously. I could joke about “fishy” plots or “fangs” for the memory or getting in a flap about the new Twilight release…

But I won’t ;0)!

Morphing from Shark to Vampire…

only possible in the movies…

and fiction…

Oh and caricatures!

Is is possible to caricature Lady Gaga?

I say again, is it actually possible to caricature Lady Gaga? She herself is a caricature. She’s not afraid of being bizarre, outlandish, extreme! All qualities essential in a good caricature. I have a sneaking suspicion that if I draw the most extreme outfit I could imagine, she’d be wearing it before the week was out.

No, I’m wrong! Before this post is published! Now, if I can just find the photo… I think I’ll modify something she’s already worn. I found this picture and loved the pose. But with higher heels perhaps! And a funny hat thing.

Voila!

 

I think I’ve seen those diamond/cuby things before. She’s not repeating herself is she? Oh no, they were white last time!

Silly me, how could I forget that! As my son would say “Confused face!”

She has something of a “Doe caught in the headlights” look about her here. I think that’s what appealed to me about the photograph. It was on a site with “before and after plastic surgery” photos. I won’t link to it, seems to be frequented by sad people who like nothing better than writing anonymous obscenities. Has she had surgery? Don’t know, don’t care. This is the face people recognise and that’s good enough for me!

You’ve got to admire her showmanship. Whatever you might think of her music, she gives a performance.

So, is it possible to caricature Lady Gaga?

Yes, easy really. The beauty of her style is you don’t need to worry about the facial likeness! She’s so instantly recognisable from her clothes.

Matt Smith a better caricature of Doctor Who?

Yesterday I posted a picture of Matt Smith which made me cringe more than a bit. I decided to try both options. Fiddle and redraw.

This is the fiddle, It’s improved the image a bit but it’s still not perfect! It still makes me cringe.

To hell with it, don’t like it at all

I’m going for the complete redraw…

..and I’m getting a bit bored with the joke so how about this one?

Much better, I’m really happy with the likeness. What about the joke? Hmm…

might need some colour. Something of an in-joke this! Fish fingers and custard are hard to guess unless you’ve seen the first Doctor Who episode with Matt Smith.

Liking his style already! Although David Tennant is a tough act to follow!

Matt Smith as Doctor Who, will this caricature cut the mustard?

Regular readers will know that I’m a bit of a Doctor Who fan. So, how could I resist the new Doctor, Matt Smith. With his long hair and rubbery lips he should be easy to caricature, right?

Wrong!

My first attempt was disastrous!

The second was done directly in ink and has more dynamism than the first. But still, I’m not happy with the likeness?

What do you think?

The jaw line isn’t quite right and he needs a bit more hair.

I’m trying to decide whether to redraw or touch up. Might try both. I need to do more quick sketches prior to the live drawing session in May. So this will be good practice.

No that I’m not practicing. I’m sketching prolifically on the boat. Just not too many caricatures, too much else to draw.

Blogging has been proving difficult though – sharing a computer with a teenager is never easy for one thing. Plus internet connection has been sporadic in places.

Back to normality tomorrow…Happy or sad? A little bit of both really! But I’ll be able to catch up with the latest Doctor Who and improve the caricature!

How to grow as an artist - daily Sketches!

To really develop an artist you must push yourself! It’s easy to do the same thing day in and day out producing work that looks “nice” but never moves beyond the comfortable. Which is why I’m on a “Sketch a Day” challenge while we’re travelling the canal.

The trouble with challenges though, is you can’t always predict where they will lead. So what did I learn from yesterday’s challenge for my sketch a day.

1. Sometimes we moor somewhere spectacular when it seems you’re spoilt for choice. Then the next day the surroundings seem really mundane. There are a lot of fields and sheep by this particular canal, so do I do lots of fields and sheep. Well…I get bored, but because I get bored I look for interesting angles. I found this stretch of fence intrigued me. It led into the canal and was a bit run down but still functional. What you can’t see from this angle is just how pristine and precise the left hand mesh fence is behind the large post. Contrast that with the old gate stuck in, presumably to fill in the huge gap between the planks. I liked the barbed wire tied in knots on the post, serving absolutely no purpose at all. I can see a farm hand trying to put it in and ending up with this mess- a bit like when Homer Simpson does DIY!
2. I had to work at speed, there was no choice other than to work quickly. We were due to move.
3. Some of the detail and scaling is wrong as a result. I’m getting more relaxed about imperfect work.Don’t you just Love artistic licence, you can use it to explain anything!
4. Living moving animals included! I put some sheep in. I’m still worried about sketching moving animals. I think the nearest one has distinct piggy tendencies and the whiskers are a real worry!

But here’s my sketch near Long Buckby.

 

Is he out of the Woods yet – Tiger Woods caricature.

Oh Tiger, how the mighty have fallen!

And yet here I am caricaturing you, which goes to show “No publicity is BAD publicity!

Now who was it who said that?

Brendan Behan!

Who he? I think it’s a case of we know the quote but the number of people who can identify the author is very small.

Don’t tell me, you’d heard of him!?

OK, let me rephrase. It just goes to show how ignorant I am that I know the quote and not the author.

So here’s Tiger Woods!

Don’t you think it’s so cute he has a monogram on his cap! Ah bless – that was on the picture, I haven’t made it up.

Wow, Brand Tiger Woods!

It’s one thing I really struggle with. Branding of the individual. My immediate question is always, Why?

And yet it’s part and parcel of the promotional machine! To be a celebrity you have to think of the brand image, be seen with the right people, look good all the time, define your “image”.

It may be un-cool, but I just don’t see the point. You are who you are, full stop, (period for you American readers)! It seems a shame that celebrities are put on pedestals. And when they fail, which they inevitably will because they are Human, yes I mean HUMAN! They are ridiculed as if they should have known better. But for heaven’s sake, he’s good at Golf, that’s it!

He isn’t superman! Like the rest of us he makes mistakes and hopes that he will be given at least a sympathetic hearing. Why is it even news?

Because Celebrity is about projecting an image and keeping that image squeaky clean. Plastering over the cracks so that any flaws cannot be seen. And because of this artifice, the caricature is so easy! And the joke?

Tiger is off his game – hence the ball going backwards.

Sketching on Holiday! – sketch a day challenge and life aboard.

I’ve always found a sketch helps me remember a place or location far more clearly and in much more detail than photographs. More so the with the advent of digital imagery.
We regularly travel on a canal boat and, on a trip last year, I set myself a challenge.To do a sketch a day in my Moleskine.
After a rocky start I settled into the routine. Those pictures were the unlocking of a key. I can’t quite describe how significant they are but I’ll try. I remember details about the weather, which way the wind was blowing, moments when I realised a shape was a roof or a pile of boats, where the errors are, which colours I chose, where I was sitting on the boat. I look at these sketches and I’m back where I was when I was drawing them. I’d finally mastered the concept of the quick sketch.
This year I set myself the challenge again. On Monday, we set off and are currently heading North on the Grand Union Canal. But what to sketch? It was too dark to sketch outside by the time things we’d stopped. So the bottle of beer I was holding became my subject. I’m not sure the quality really lives up to my standard. But quality has a tendency to decline the more beer is imbibed! Hic!

Yesterday morning I was surprised at breakfast by a swan appearing at the side hatch. I considered for a nanosecond I could sketch him…
But, he was looking for food and more than a little bit scary! You try eating you porridge with a swan’s head craning over the hatch opening - a hungry one at that… Beak at ear level! Who just happens to be testing everything to see if it’s food…Believe me you’ll appreciate my dilemma!
A photo opportunity seemed a safer option. I present the Evil Swan! (Pronounced Eeeevil as in Austin Powers Dr Evil!
 
I know, I’m a wimp but he reminded me of that sinister looking penguin in Nick Park’s “The Wrong Trousers” It’s the eye, it’s always the eyes AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!
So I wimped out and produced this little sketch! Sitting on the roof as the children climbed up and down. I spent most of the time expecting to hear a splash as one of them fell in. Several false alarms later I was finished.

Though looking at it now, I think I just stopped! It’s the same thing isn’t it?
What do you mean “NO!”

Quick caricaturing Robert Pattinson– Going live again in May

Does the thought of sketching in front of a crowd scare you? Guess what, it terrifies me. So, why, oh why, oh why did I decide to do some more live caricaturing for a school Summer fete? My artistic efforts have been focussed in other areas so it’s about time I dug out those pens and got sketching.

I’ve routed out the Drawing Caricatures book by Doug Eyre – my caricaturing bible! All I’ve got to do is find some people to practice on. Oh, and continue with more “celebrities”, I tend to download them off the internet and print them off as large as I dare.

My biggest problem is deciding who to caricature. If you’ve any suggestions? I would love to hear them!

The next problem is usually if I don’t know them. Shocking though it may seem, I’m not familiar with many “celebrities” a distinct disadvantage when trying to caricature them.

Take Robert Pattinson here.

I’ve had a real struggle to not call him Dan Patterson! (What can I say I love “Mock the Week!”) So, to make the caricature appropriate I need to link it to his fame or personality. If I don’t know them it can be hard. Still after a little research I think I might have an appropriate image of Dan, oops I mean Robert! He’s from that Twiglet zone* thingy, right?

 

Ohhhhhh “Twilight”, silly me!

He’s supposed to be a “nice” Vampire, yes? Isn’t that an oxymoron? How can he be nice if he’s a vampire? (Ow, my brain’s hurting just thinking how that could be possible!) Anyway, plot synopses are wonderful things if they’re accurate.

So, do I feel more prepared, slightly. But it’s time for the daily caricaturing challenge to resurface

Now who on earth shall I do next?

Help me please!!!!!!!!

*yes, I know Twiglet’s are snacks, we always called it that!

Ben Kingsley – Ghandi or The Hood, which is better?

There’s only one way to find out Fight. Sadly it’s not one Harry Hill has ever done! Someone suggest it to him will you!

As someone who enjoys films, Ben Kingsley is someone I’m familiar with, as an actor with kudos! Like many I’ve seen Ghandi, a superb performance! No problems there!

But I’m more familiar with his role as The Hood in Thunderbirds. The live action remake of the Superb Gerry Anderson Puppet series from the 1960’s. An enjoyable film but pandered too much to a juvenile audience so lost a lot of die-hard Anderson fans of more mature years. OK so I have geek tendencies! I do caricatures! Deal with it!

Back to dear Ben! A man of stature who plays powerful, noble roles… respected…admired..a knight of the realm no less. And to pay my respects

Dramatic Pause.

how can I not emphasise that wonderful

Drum role…

NOSE!