As promised (or threatened, depending on your point of view), here is a bonus “Sketch o’the Week” to make up for Wednesday’s shameful cop out. This one is of toad-like Comedy Central personality Lewis Black. That sunken chin and mouth remind me of Mel Torme. READ MORE
Talk about a rough sketch! I am unbelievably swamped right now with no time for personal sketching, so this is a “blast from the past”. This was about a 5 minute rough for a possible sample of Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn from Star Wars: Episode One: The Phantom Menace. You have to love that guy’s nose. I ran across it as I was scouring for sample drawing paper. I saved it as, simple as it was, I liked the expression and overall balance. I never did finish it. There will be a bonus “Sketch o’the week” this week as this one was cheating. READ MORE
A quick pencil study of “My Name is Earl” star Jason Lee. READ MORE
This week’s sketch is a quick study of “Firefly” and “Serenity” star Gina Torres. I never really watched the TV show but I did see the movie, and I find her face very fascinating… her eyes are sleepy but intense and her mouth has a perpetual pursed look to it. Lot’s of fun to draw. READ MORE
Better late than never today… I am getting bored with all the heads I’ve been doing lately so I thought I’d do something with a figure this week. This is NBA star Vince Carter, although I didn’t really work too hard on the caricature. I spent more time studying the folds and action of his uniform. These fast shutter sports action shots capture billowing clothing in very unnatural feeling “frozen” positions, so when drawing them it’s better to simplify rather than trying to duplicate every single tiny wrinkle. I went halfway between simplifying and going wrinkle-crazy. READ MORE
I thought I’d try something different this week and do a sketch while scanning in several stages to show the progression. This week’s subject is guitar legend Eddie Van Halen, circa 2007. I start out very loose and geometric, aiming to establish the head shape and placement of the features. 80% of the caricature is figured out at this point, including the exaggerations. Eddie’s forehead is very prominent these days, and his square jaw and chin. His famous goofy grin and squinty eyes are still a big part of his look. I have zero concern about superficial likeness at this stage. Now I begin fleshing… READ MORE
Have to cheat on “Sketch o’The Week” this week because I am swamped playing catch-up in the studio. This is from an old sketchbook, circa 1999. They are quick studies of cartooning legend Jeff MacNelly, of Shoe and multiple pulitzer prize winning editorial cartooning fame. He was a speaker at my very first National Cartoonist Society Reuben weekend in San Antonio in 1999, and I did these studies during his presentation. I’ve always been in awe at MacNelly’s immense talent, and it was a thrill to get to hear him speak. I remember at the time he was talking about how he was beginning to… READ MORE
Quick warm up sketch from yesterday of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles star Lena Headey. Anytime you use hard angles on a face you add masculinity to it, but she has a hard jawline and a tough look they are cultivating in this role. After seeing Monday’s second part of the premiere, I think this show is headed in the right direction. Summer Glau makes a great next gen Terminatrix, and Headey came off as a lot tougher and street smart in this episode than in the pilot. Even Thomas Dekker‘s John Conner became more interesting with his rebellious visit to his last “father figure”.… READ MORE
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