Sunday Mailbag: Live vs. Studio Approach?

Q: I know that you mention the inside/out method when working on live caricatures, but I wanted to know if you still use that same method when working in studio on celebrity caricatures?

A: No, in the studio I usually start with the head shape and rough I'd the basis features, then go back in and draw it out more completely. For that final stage I do work from the eyes and interior features out and make adjustments as I go.

This is actually still the same process as what I do with live work. Even though the first thing I draw in a live caricature are the eyes, then nose and so forth I really start with the head shape and the other four basic shapes. The difference is in the studio I work those shapes and relationship/exaggeration decisions out on the paper, and when I draw live all that part is done in my head. That's what makes live caricature such a great exercise to develop your eye, it forces you to make quick observations and visualize them in instead of sketching your way to a solution.

Thanks toChristopher Tillman for the question. If you have a question you want answered for the mailbag about cartooning, illustration, MAD Magazine, caricature or similar, e-mail me and I’ll try and answer it here!