Experimenting
with ChalksLately I've been experimenting drawing with chalks. They're surprisingly easy to use and you can quickly lay in the basic shapes. However if you want a more detailed picture you have to be patient and build it up layer on layer. That's not quite as easy because the chalk lifts. They're not as messy as you might think so that's a bonus. In the second drawing (Piri Weepu) I've combined several colours to get a wider tonal range. The drawing of Putin was done using one colour so it doesn't have as much depth.
Order
Your Christmas Gifts Now!It's not long til Christmas so now's the time to place your order for that special gift for a special person. It can take 4-6 weeks to do a drawing so don't leave it til the last minute. Besides which I get pretty busy around that time of year and you may miss out if you're not quick. It's not like buying any other present which is what makes it worth doing. If you're not interested in a caricature or a portrait then how about a portrait of your/their best mate? Visit my DogArt website (I also draw cats).
Christmas has come early for our dairy farmers with a record payout from Fonterra. Cows on dairy farms all over NZ are sporting antlers and red noses! Yeah right!
Thanks to everyone who came to the Caricature workshop (held in Methven on 7th and 8th January 2008). It was a fun two days and it was a real pleasure to teach such enthusiastic students. Clare Freeth, who did a marvellous job organising it all, deserves a medal. There was a great deal of interest from the local press and we even made it onto the front page of the Ashburton Guardian!
This detailed caricature of Peter Buckley, retiring president of Waikato Federated Farmers, is set to join his growing collection. Peter said that he already has a caricature that was done when he was 10 years old, and another one of his father.
The drawing was commissioned by his work colleagues and proved to be a fitting gift.
If you are thinking about commissioning a caricature then please allow enough time. Detailed drawings like this take at least 4 weeks to do and sometimes longer! That said enquiries are always welcome.
I've been invited to tutor a 2-day Caricature workshop at the Methven Summer School in 2008. Methven Mt Hutt Village is a rural service town near Mt Hutt ski field, an hour's easy drive from Christchurch.
The dates of the workshop are Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th January 2008 from 9-4pm. It will be held at Mt Hutt College.
For more information and details about how to enroll visit the Methven Summer School website or e-mail info@methvensummerschool.co.nz or call 0800 124636 to request a brochure and booking form. The Summer School has been running several years and is organised by the Methven & Mt Hutt District Promotion Association.
Newest
All Black!Our newest All Black is currently on a conditioning programme in OZ so couldn't join the guys for their game against France but he'll be watching from the comfort of his armchair, I'm sure. And by the way he loves his caricature commissioned by his friends as a birthday gift.
Want to be an All Black? You don't have to wait to be picked, just commission your own drawing and I'll do the rest.
In November I was commissioned by Wellington consulting firm AMR to draw a caricature as a thank you gift for Guy Claxton. Guy is author of the bestselling "Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind: Why Intelligence Increases When You Think Less" and AMR organised for him to speak to local businesses and Government about organisations and learning. Guy has a great sense of humour and the evening was a huge success.
Here are just two of the many happy people who have received one of my drawings. Helen (left) is holding a drawing of her border collie Sam (aka Working Trials Champion, Ditanian of Lanmora, CDX, UDX, WDX, TDX). You can see other dog drawings by me on my other website DogArt. Liz (right) is holding a caricature of herself commissioned by her colleagues. See the following item for more about this.
The
Association of Administrative Professionals
New Zealand (AAPNZ) held their AGM at Palmerston North over the weekend
(1-2 July 2006). Liz Signal stepped down from the position of National President
of the Association and was presented with a caricature of herself as a gift
(drawn by me of course!). Here's what she said about her colleagues' gesture:
"I
still can't get over your gesture to organise that wonderful caricature of
me! Simply blown away by the fact that you wanted to do this just for me-
it is so special and something I will never forget."
So if you want a memorable gift for a special person then commission a caricature!
By popular demand Daniel Carter has been voted this website's favourite All Black and as promised here's a drawing of him. You are welcome to download the drawing but please acknowledge me as the artist and of course you cannot use it for commercial purposes.
The Black
Ferns have won their third successive women's rugby World Cup title holding
out England 25-17 at Edmonton, Canada. Here's a drawing of the former Black
Ferns prop Rebecca Liua'ana holding the cup won in 2002.
Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga was recently made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to rugby. Couldn't have happened to a better guy.
No surprises there. Daniel Carter has the most votes so far in the "Vote for your favourite All Black" game. Still time to cast your vote before I announce a winner (end of September). What about that 61 metre kick - awesome.
Vote for your favourite All BlackIs this your favourite All Black? No? Well send me an e-mail before the end of September 2006 telling me which All Black you like the best and I'll put up a caricature of him on this page.
Yes you guessed it this is a caricature of Greg Sommerville.
You
may be wondering what my site is all about. I draw for a living and sometimes
that coincides with my love of rugby. That happened in 2003 when I was commissioned
to draw the All Blacks world cup team and I met the guys - Tana Umaga, Ma'a
Nonu, Jerry COllins, Rodney So'oialo and the rest. Sorry I'm not allowed to
sell the drawings (they belong to the NZ Rugby Union) but keep visiting and
I'll display them one by one for you to see starting with Ma'a.
Anyway that accounts for my website sometimes looking like a fan-site. Got a favourite team or player? What's your favourite sport? Rugby, League, football or soccer? Commission a caricature of yourself (or friend or family member) playing the game. What could be better?
The All Blacks have won the grand slam tour against Wales, Ireland, England and Scotland; NZ won the right to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the Kiwis won the Tri Nations League! Sorry about the drawing Tana. You have a wonderfully expressive face!
Then talk to me. Here's an example of a personalised gift
caricature commissioned by Agriquality (Auckland) and given as a gift to retiring
general manager Jim Bailey. Agriquality's
CEO had this to say about the occasion.
Don't forget landscape art as a gift or decoration for the
office.
Like Browser here. It gives a personality to your brand and helps customers form a bond with your product and your company. Find out more...
It's as easy as replacing photographs with drawings. So many companies resort to (stock) photos and clip art and fail to stand out from the crowd. My illustrations and caricatures are just the ticket. Want to know more?
By adding visuals such as topical cartoons and/or (humourous) illustrations. I do both.
Some of my clients:
Fonterra (Wellington)
AgriQuality (Auckland)
CentrePort (Wellington)
AMR Consulting (Wellington)
Hutt Valley Personnel
Dominion Post (Wellington)
New Solutions Ltd (Wellington)
Rose Prendeville's House of Travel (Levin)
Genki House (Christchurch)