FACE COOK

Alexis (50 th Commission)

2012-01-25T10:57:00.000-08:00

A commission of Alexis , the brief to not go overboard and keep it safe .!!

Happy New Year

2012-01-04T01:46:00.000-08:00

Heres a mish mash of live , commissioned and wedding stuff from over xmas, hope you enjoy .!

Recent Commission

2011-11-26T08:22:00.001-08:00

An Apology

2011-11-03T13:23:00.001-07:00

Ive been neglecting the ol' blog of late. Ive been so busy building a new website ( coming soon) and getting my VW Caricature bus ready for next years festivals. Combine that with shifts at the Fire Station, throw in some urgent DIY and thats the reason i have been blogless.....things will change...bear with me.
Heres Pat, from a charity event last week .

My other love

2011-10-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

Looking, just looking ,honest . Harebury Hall , Leeds, some beauts !!
Love the patina'd rat look on the top one . I cant wait to introduce Myrtle to the caricature scene next year.

Sting

2011-09-26T12:49:00.001-07:00

Ive been neglecting the old blog of late, im determined to post more. Heres one of sting , done in black biro!

3 recent commissions

2011-09-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

Russell Crowe

2011-08-06T11:44:00.001-07:00

Done during a quiet spell drawing at a live event !!The fiery but brilliant actor!

Doggy-cature

2011-08-02T07:27:00.001-07:00

I haven't done one of these for a while, great fun ! The lady was very pleased with it.

A complicated compilation commission

2011-07-23T12:32:00.002-07:00

A commission for my Crew Manager Mark 'Lamby 'Lamb who didnt want much. Quite a few elements involved, his horse, wife, kids, car....doddle!! Awkward git, should have charged the look-a-like Bulgarian Wrestler a lot more!!

Holiday Sketching

2011-07-18T07:05:00.000-07:00

Just returned from a lovely holiday to Crete. The intention was to do a sketch a day, however i ended up turning to my watercolours and painted more landscapes, which i must admit , was a nice change (il show a few of these later ) In the meantime , heres one i did complete ...!

A recent wedding board

2011-06-29T12:51:00.000-07:00

Quite busy at the moment , trying to squeeze the odd commission in between live work , heres a latest wedding signature board. If you want one just call to discuss, thanks !

A blustery day in Yorkshire

2011-06-20T02:16:00.000-07:00

And more.......

2011-06-09T01:15:00.001-07:00

Nothing to say really, just more of the same !

More faces

2011-05-31T03:02:00.000-07:00

Recent live work

2011-05-24T06:38:00.001-07:00

Live time...again!!

2011-05-17T10:31:00.001-07:00

Cate Blanchett

2011-05-10T03:09:00.001-07:00

Wills and Kate

2011-05-03T00:34:00.001-07:00

Too late to enter this for this weeks Caricaturama showdown as Britains moorlands are on fire, spent a knackering 4 days pissing against the wind trying to beat a 50 square mile peat fire out.
Pity as i was pleased with this one .

A Wedding Board Commission

2011-04-30T01:59:00.001-07:00

A W.I.P of Richard And Sam for their upcoming wedding, this is going to form the centre-piece of their wedding board.

Daniel Day Lewis

2011-04-19T11:53:00.000-07:00

Another ball point sketch..

Jack Palance

2011-04-10T11:44:00.001-07:00

Just for fun , Brush pen and art stix!

Michael Madsen

2011-04-06T06:40:00.001-07:00

A couple of sketches of the iconic actor for the recent Book-face caricature comp. I messed about too much with the bottom one trying mixed media on it and ended up over-working it i thought. I much preferred the sketchier version and ended up submitting that one. The awesome Jeff Stahl won with his great version , well done Jeff !

Sharon Stone (take 2)

2011-03-30T02:03:00.000-07:00

After several attempts and umpteen hours this is the piece i was happiest with , a ten minute warm up prior to a live gig. Absolutely sick of looking at the beeeatch now, time to move on .

Hilary Clinton

2011-03-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

OK, i'll be honest, i f***ked up with this one . It was supposed to be Sharon Stone for this weeks comp over at Caricaturama 3000. Half way through i thought bollocks, looks nowt like her but it looks a bit like Mrs Clinton.
So i continued and ended up with this . Granted , not the best ive seen , but viewed through vari-focals at night through the window of a 100 mile an hour inter-city express through shit- sprayed windows its more like her than Sharon Stone.
I wonder how many other artists have started out intending to draw a particular face and ended up with a different one !

Emily Blunt in pencil and Mr Fat

2011-03-15T11:56:00.000-07:00

Really enjoying sketching at moment, whether its with a pencil or the biro, got a ton of weddings and bookings coming up, so will have to get going with the marker again. Heres 2 movie stars, both of them recent subjects on Caricaturama 3000!!

One Kid, no teeth and a married couple in a camper.

2011-03-09T02:18:00.000-08:00

Rebecca has no front teeth and enjoyed this caricature of herself in copics.
Fran and John have all their own teeth but have evidently lost their marbles when they decided to tie the knot and have their honeymoon in an old vw touring New Zealand. Heres the commission they ordered..

Nick Cave

2011-02-27T11:36:00.001-08:00

Done in ball point .

Bridget Bardot

2011-02-21T12:15:00.001-08:00

I managed to get this weeks entry in at Caricaturama 3000, the iconic actress Bridget Bardot.

Tommy Lee Jones

2011-02-13T12:30:00.000-08:00

A quick ball point pen drawing of the actor. I was too late to enter it for last week Caricaturama 3000 comp, a site i have just discovered . Probably just as well, as its not one of me best .

Another commission in copic markers

2011-02-06T10:48:00.000-08:00

Ok, a commission in copic markers of a family, a white British family NOT an Indian family like my daughter thought. Ok , so the flesh tones are a bit 'orangey' but the guy liked it.
Another lesson learnt, just because it says ' flesh' on the marker , test it first lol !

Commissions

2011-02-02T11:05:00.000-08:00

A couple of recent commissions of husband and wife car lovers. Drawn with copic inks , i really must start to attempt digital media, maybe next one .

The Royal Couple

2011-01-23T04:38:00.000-08:00

I used the upcoming wedding of William and Kate to promote the sale of guest signature boards at a recent wedding fair.

Pete Postlethwaite R.I.P.

2011-01-09T01:45:00.000-08:00

My tribute to this great British actor.

Venetian Gondolas

2011-01-04T08:50:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year to all. First post of 2011, a tonal study in watercolour done from ref photos from a recent trip. Only 2 colours were used and it was a good exercise. Back to the caricatures shortly!!

A very Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T07:15:00.001-08:00

Well, another year nearly over and this will be my last post of 2010. Can i thank everyone who has viewed, commented or just browsed my work over the year, and wish you and all my fellow artists a merry, peaceful Christmas and a successful , prosperous New Year. Heres a batch of commissions to round off the year, now wheres that pint of Guinness !

Water-colour landscapes

2010-12-04T11:52:00.000-08:00

Its a nice change to try different medium and i love to try my hand at watercolour especially during winter when i'm quiet with the caricatures. The winter landscape was drawn after a days walking in the beautiful Lake District and the second was taken after a days climbing in the High Peak . The sunset was breathtaking after a late summers day out.

Brucie

2010-11-21T10:42:00.001-08:00

If its quiet like it was at a recent xmas fair i practice with a few celebs, heres one i did whilst waiting for things to pick up, Mr 'light-entertainment' himself, Bruce Forsythe.

A Wedding Caricature

2010-10-31T13:02:00.000-07:00

The Bride and Groom at a recent wedding

Dolly ..

2010-10-14T01:57:00.000-07:00

From event to event to event during the summer this is my preferred mode of transport, a 1975 california imported T2 Bay window...'Dolly'.
From next year a similar VW will be my stall on the road at festivals and my home, a Caricature bus if you like . Park up, purpose built awning out, easel up and off i draw.
Here she is plus a few recent live faces ..

Recent commisions

2010-09-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

Recent live work

2010-09-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

An event i worked at last weekend

SOLFEST 2010

2010-09-03T00:54:00.000-07:00

Sincere apologies for the lack of posts over the past month, i have been moving from one festival to another drawing frantically and, as usual, forgetting or just being too busy to take any shots. These shots were kindly taken by Joann, a fellow stall holder and seriously talented lady
. This event was Solfest, a fantastic 3 day music and art festival on the border of the Lake District and the Solway Firth...

Wedding Boards

2010-08-10T01:12:00.001-07:00

Its been a busy few months for me drawing live at various Festivals and events around the UK and when i get chance i have some great caricatures to upload. In the meantime, heres a W.I.P of a Wedding Signature Board of Clare and Stuart. Best wishes for Saturday to them, il be drawing at their wedding..

Jan

2010-07-26T08:05:00.000-07:00

Heres Jan Ibelings, a fine Dutch caricature artist...

PRINCE

2010-07-19T10:18:00.001-07:00

A quick blog filler as i have been dead busy at the present drawing live. Its a biro effort of Prince, although im not too happy with it...

FABIO

2010-06-29T01:30:00.000-07:00

After a dismal World Cup Campaign talk is rife of his imminent dismissal. His fault?? Personally, i think he made some wrong decisions regarding formation and playing his best players out of position but , 'at the end of the day'..(notice the football cliche there), the team were woeful and simply, not good enough!

Lenny and Dawn

2010-06-11T11:13:00.001-07:00

Did this a while ago when i heard they had split up ....Lenny Henry and Dawn French.

Christian Ronaldo

2010-06-10T08:31:00.001-07:00

With the World cup looming, heres one of its obvious stars ....I did this as a warm up prior to a live gig last week.......Markettes and art stix!!

Busy, busy, busy

2010-06-07T07:51:00.000-07:00

Ive been neglecting the ol blog of late but still been busy drawing caricatures. I have had plenty of live events of late and once i get my act together i will post some faces. I have been working very hard on a new style and pushing the exaggeration somewhat with good results, so keep popping by!!!

A few young faces at a Spring Fair

2010-05-28T00:55:00.000-07:00

Alexandra, Jasper and Emma

More fellow artists

2010-05-24T12:03:00.001-07:00

A pencil sketch

2010-05-18T11:06:00.000-07:00

ISCA artist Alex Heberling

Marker Practice

2010-05-07T11:52:00.000-07:00

Just taken order of a box of lovely Markettes from the good ol' US. I have loads of live work coming up so just been getting some fluidity practice in. I spend hours just drawing shapes and features concentrating on different line weight and the Markette are 'shit-hot' for their versatility. Heres a few random faces coloured with Art -stix.Sorry for picture quality and only the one photo for you to gauge likeness!!

A Fellow I.S.C.A. artist

2010-05-01T11:36:00.001-07:00

A marker and art stix caricature of US Caricaturist Chris Berg.

Stephen Fry

2010-04-28T10:32:00.001-07:00

A late night biro session again , i love this guy...

Live Work

2010-04-22T10:56:00.001-07:00

This is Kareena, a journalism student from Hong Kong. She asked me to caricature her at a recent draw over Easter and then kindly sent me these photos . Thanks Kareena

Desmond Tutu

2010-04-12T12:00:00.001-07:00

This months contest over at E-CARICATURES !!

Photos from the other side

2010-04-08T10:42:00.000-07:00

It was great to receive these from a photographer who snapped me drawing at a wedding recently. I never usually see photos of myself from this side so it was a bit weird initially. At least you can see my set up ( although usually im on walkabout) . Click to enlarge

Robert Pattinson

2010-03-31T11:46:00.000-07:00

Adorning 90% of the surface area of my daughters bedroom are pictures of this guy, Robert Pattinson, he of 'Twilight' fame. When i asked her what she thought she said "Crap, Hes better looking than that". Everyones a critic!!

More Live Work

2010-03-21T13:15:00.001-07:00

Some recent live work , hope ya like

A wedding board

2010-03-15T06:24:00.001-07:00

Sorry that posts have been a bit thin of late, home DIY has slowed things down. Im looking forward to Spring, it means that i can start to draw live again and travel to different parts of the country. Its my favourite aspect of Caricature Art and its great setting up at a new event or festival with that sense of anticipation. Meanwhile , heres a drawing for a wedding board , its not finished yet. Drawn with Copic colours

The importance of good photos

2010-02-28T10:52:00.000-08:00

Like most caricature artists i get asked to work from photos. I try and emphasise to the client how important it is to provide good close ups , preferably 3 , front on, profile and 3/4 views. Most oblige but a few say things like "this is the best i could find , do your best"
I always send a rough draft to them for them to gauge likeness etc before i continue and sometimes these same people will whinge about the likeness . I now say that if alternative photos are not provided i will not waste my time and scrub the commission. This is a recent example for a wedding guest signature board. The bride was happy with hers but not the grooms. After umpteen photo attachments this was the best they came up with ( i had to use a magnifying glass to see his features)and the rough draft i sent which they rejected.!!

John Terry

2010-02-16T07:29:00.000-08:00

Another overpaid, over-rated soccer star(IMO) who cant keep it in his pants. A cartoony one of Mr terry minus his shorts, his England captaincy, and am i glad City didnt buy him

Mr and Mrs Obama

2010-02-11T12:39:00.001-08:00

Another attempt at a watercolour caricature

James Cameron

2010-01-31T08:01:00.001-08:00

A party style sketch of the Avatar director

Dave 'Cartoonasaurus' and Rubel

2010-01-29T12:20:00.000-08:00

More quick sketches of caricaturists on various forums

Chris Evans

2010-01-25T07:25:00.000-08:00

A quick pencil sketch of the popular TV and Radio 2 presenter. I've just finished reading his autobiography and what i got out of this inspirational book was the belief that if you want something out of life, its yours if you have the drive and belief. Chris's overtly positive attitude shines through as does his ability to remain down to earth and true to his roots. His innovative, quirky approach to building up a multi million pound media empire is inspiring and yet you feel you could still have a beer and a laugh with the guy.

Live work at Tess's Birthday Party

2010-01-23T05:57:00.000-08:00

Its amazing how rusty i felt drawing live last night. Its been about a month since i last did it, but it felt strange holding a marker again. Saying that, i felt pretty happy with my work. 9 year old girls are notoriously difficult to caricature but i intentially tried to push it more than i was doing last year at similar kids parties. Heres my favourite 3 , and i apologise for the poor picture quality, once again forgot me camera so used the one on me phone! Click on image to enlarge

Tom Faraci

2010-01-19T11:50:00.001-08:00

Quick warm up sketch of an ISCA artist

Sir Terry Wogan and Jude Law

2010-01-11T07:00:00.001-08:00

My first attempt at watercolour . Not much in the way of exaggeration or likeness, but i was just getting a feel for the medium. Man is it difficult, i have done a bit of landscape but skin tones and contrast are totally different. I know i overworked it and turned it muddy and there was a tendency to put a bold outline round it , like when i work in marker. Saying that i enjoyed it and will try more. Please feel free to offer any tips or pointers ( especially my good friend Jan Baptist Neggers),

Sir Anthony Hopkins

2010-01-03T08:19:00.000-08:00

A Happy New Year one and all, time to get drawing again. Im hoping this year to experiment in different mediums, especially watercolor and acrylic, so keep an eye on my attempts. Please post a comment and say what you think, it keeps me on my toes!! Anyway, todays sketch in black biro is Hannibal Lechter himself , played by that fabulous actor,Sir Anthony Hopkins.

Adam Hanson

2009-12-23T07:38:00.000-08:00

This is going to be my last post of 2009. Its of superb Warrington based caricature artist Adam Hanson, together with a friend of his.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by, viewed or made a comment , i really do appreciate
it. I wish you all and my fellow artists a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Gordon Ramsey

2009-12-16T13:14:00.001-08:00

A sketch of the fiery chef i did for a contest on one of the Caricature Forums, i think he has a face made for caricaturing..

Natalie aka "Hippie-artist"

2009-12-14T10:45:00.001-08:00

This is Natalie, a caricature artist and ISCA member from Ohio. This is from the "firing Squad" , a section from the ISCA forum where members put up their mugs for other members to re-arrange

2 Pencil sketches

2009-12-10T06:33:00.001-08:00

Billy Connolly and Jeff Bridges

A Few Faces

2009-12-01T11:38:00.001-08:00

Typical that i come down with the flu when i have several comms to finish. I ve been in bed since Sunday and i have not been able to lift a pencil, so its been proper flu, not man flu !! At least ive not smoked a fag for 3 days which is a blessing, lets hope i can quit for good!! Heres a few i did before i started coughing up bits of alveoli and wind-pipe

Safina

2009-11-24T07:11:00.000-08:00

I drew live at a small Art market near my home town last week end. Although i was busy and was drawing quite well i only managed to snap this one as usual, an Indian girl called Safina

JESS ENNIS

2009-11-23T11:41:00.000-08:00

quick biro sketch of Jessica Ennis , gold medal Decathlete with gold medal body

More LIVE ones

2009-11-09T12:08:00.000-08:00

After a lull, the live events are picking up again on the run up to Xmas which makes me happy! This is the discipline of caricature i enjoy the most. Ive even missed drawing kids!!

Ant and Dec

2009-11-04T01:29:00.000-08:00

A quick biro sketch of the popular Geordie presenters. They ve been off our screens for a while now but are due back soon

CHERYL" GHOUL"

2009-10-31T13:01:00.000-07:00

Its Halloween and im watching the X-Factor. Cheryl Cole cant put a foot wrong at the mo, topping the music charts and appearing in this shite, although popular , tv series. I started to ball point her ( in my dreams) and ended up zombie-fying her and , yes, thats a maggott coming out of her canyon like dimple.

EM

2009-10-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

Some sketches i did of superb artist Em

A Friends Kids

2009-10-28T12:05:00.001-07:00

A gift for a friends kids

A Friends 40th

2009-10-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

A commission for a friend. Tommy owns his own road construction company and this is him in the foreground with several mates. Many faults mainly with the composition and months of just drawing faces made drawing bodies and hands difficult, and an area i realise i need to practice on. Likenesses are pretty good tho, and it should raise a laugh when i give it him tomorrow. Drawn with pentel brush and prismacolour pencils

More "live" work

2009-10-12T06:49:00.001-07:00

A few more youngsters at a small event over the weekend

Practicing the exaggeration

2009-10-09T12:31:00.000-07:00

Just messing about with exaggeration in my live work.

A couple of sketches

2009-10-06T02:31:00.001-07:00

Robert Carlyle and Usain Bolt

Katy Perrie

2009-09-29T01:49:00.001-07:00

My attempt at the singer for the monthly contest over at E- Caricatures site

Doug

2009-09-26T02:18:00.001-07:00

A quick warm up sketch of fellow artist Doug from E-Caricatures

Live work

2009-09-21T07:07:00.001-07:00

Melanie Griffiths and Tim Burton

2009-09-11T09:04:00.001-07:00

Some Black Biro sketching....

Caroline and Richard

2009-09-02T08:33:00.000-07:00

Heres the happy couple , with some guests below

Caroline and Richards Wedding

2009-09-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

A recent Party

2009-09-01T05:58:00.001-07:00

A few more cuteys from a recent birthday party

Patrick Swayze

2009-08-24T03:05:00.001-07:00

This is the "dirty dancing " star before he became ill. He made some great movies and i wish him well

Bill Clinton

2009-08-20T11:28:00.001-07:00

Quick biro session of the "dress stainer"

Dirk, Don, Jeff and Yuta,

2009-08-18T12:46:00.000-07:00

4 fellow caricature artists, ive drawn Dirk before, but thought id give him a little colour this time

Dustin Hoffman

2009-08-18T00:45:00.001-07:00

Another ball point drawing...

Robert de Niro

2009-08-17T10:38:00.000-07:00