I was inspired in my selection of this week’s SotW subject when I saw this caricature done by artist Rodney Pike on Facebook today. Rodney is a master of photo-manipulation caricature, something he is able to pull off when many people who attempt to do the same thing can’t reconcile the photo elements and the painted elements to create a cohesive whole. I posted the following comment on Rodney’s Faceboook page:

“Pope Benie is a very scary-looking man, even without the help of a caricaturist. He looks a lot like my late grandmother, and I used to cry instantly whenever she looked at me… and that’s when I was in high school.”

After seeing Rodney’s take I just had to draw Pope Benedict XVI today. I do have to chuckle a bit whenever I see a picture of him. I am sure he is a wonderful, kind, and deeply holy man—I mean, you don’t get that job without some seriously angelic qualifications—but let’s face it… he looks more like he should be playing for The Opposition. Anyway, he is a lot of fun to draw… sorry, God.