Sunday Mailbag- Min Workshop Skill Level?

Q: I’d love to take your workshop but I am concerned I do not have enough drawing skill. I’ve been doodling my whole life but I’m not a professional and my skills are still beginner level. Can I still take your class?

A: The way I structure these workshops is what I call “style independent”, which also means “skill level independent”. What we are really concentrating on learning is how to “see” as much as how to draw. As a whole, I teach the class my approach to caricature, what I look for and how I see it. This applies to any style of caricature, from the very cartoony line-based to a highly detailed painting. Those concepts are also applicable no matter what your skill level. So, if you draw really well or if you are just a beginner, the concepts behind “seeing” and making caricature choices are the same.

That said, I do not recommend taking the class if you have never picked up a pencil or have no ability to draw at all. You should have some drawing skills, enough to draw simple objects you see and get them reasonably accurate. I work individually with everyone, so if your drawing skills need work part of what I will talk with you about is what you need to work on drawing-wise.

I usually have a lot of diversity in skill and experience in my workshops. I’ll have very experienced, professional caricaturists, rank beginners, and everywhere inbetween.

Thanks to Rich Griffin 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!