pt1. Caricature Game - subject Tom Cruise, Sept 10

[Leah-Admin]

Just for fun and as a really helpful learning tool (peer review and what not) all cartoonist forum members are invited to draw/cartoon a caricature of Tom Cruise.

There are no rules re this as freedom of expression is the name of the game. The more diversity of styles the better IMO.

If this caricature game goes well, we'll think of a character to create perhaps monthly.

Good luck and enjoy!!

Leah

[Simon Lake]

Right......bring it on!

[Dundy]

i've seen this done by another carttoonists site and it worked great. cant wait to see your charactures of Tom C.

[Kathy]

Hmmm, my first reply seems to have vanished, but if it shows up I apologize for the double post...So, I've never tried to do a cartoon that actually is recognizable as someone. Any advice?

[Simon Lake]

Just have a little study of him http://images.google.co.uk/images?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&hl=en&source=imghp&biw=1024&bih=587&q=Tom+Cruise&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= and try to do it from a photo that you deem to be typical of his features.

[Kathy]

That sounds too easy...

[Leah-Admin]

What I will do (using this fab selection Simon has sourced for us) is select a picture that for me shows off his most recogniseable features which I feel are his hooked nose, eyes and radiant smile. My plan is to incorporate a gag which will also feature something he is well known for.

I will then slightly exagerrate those features named above and just see how it turns out. It's one of those things, no idea how it'll work out till one has given it a go.

Good luck!

[Kathy]

Hey, thanks, that gives me a good idea how to get started. I'll have to give this a try!

[Dundy]

that other cartoonist site did Mark Smith the new *Dr Who*. some of them were amazing althogh some were crap. i think Tom Cruse will be a much better one becasue he is much better known and doesn't have difficult hair. i might have a go myself lol.

[Simon Lake]

Anyway, here's the thing....http://www.facebook.com/mrlakes?ref=name#!/group.php?gid=158442127502667&ref=mf

[RussCartoons]

Excellent !
The game is afoot...

Lot's of ideas to choose from with Tom...the scientology, the dwarfism, the list goes on !

Who's brave enought to post first then ?
Lol !

I'll have my version done tonight sometime.

Russ

[Simon Lake]

The way I see it is that it's never a waste of time when you know you can always use it to enhance your Portfolio/ Website at the end of the day. So let the games begin.

[RussCartoons]

Ok...here's mine !



I'll add more about how I approached the caricature tomorrow- too tired now !

As always- any criticism welcome ! I'm dedicated to caricature and I can only profit from any advice- especially negative !

Cheers !
Russ

[Simon Lake]

Wow that's a pretty tough act to follow.

[RussCartoons]

Morning all !
Thanks for the kind words, Simon !

As promised- here's how I approached Tom ( the caricature, not propositioning him in person...)

He's got kind of a non-descript facial type-neither long or "podgy" so I've gone for a strong jaw ( although he has got a slightly rounded chin ) and low forehead masculine shape.
His most obvious traits are his sheer abundance of teeth, his nose, and those eyebrows.
The smile has to be big-it's part of his iconic image, so that's an obvious starting point. His eyes are quite narrow when he smiles, so making them small will emphasise the eyebrows, which are a gift from heaven as far as I'm concerned.
His nose is beautifully curious...hooked in profile, but bulbous from the front, and surprisingly, as a caricaturist, you gotta big up the nose !
His hair changes all the time, so it's pointless keeping up with him unless you're drawing a caricature from a specific role he's played- so I've just gone for one of his default short haired pictures.

Hope this helps !