Caricature Cinema

Caricature Cinema is where I work as manager on Fremont Street in Las Vegas. The Cinema itself is state-of-the-art with cameras filming the artists drawing and fed to our website LIVE. The design is a cutting-edge blend of techno and retro art - just like Vegas herself. And we are one of the very few year-round caricature concessions around.

We encourage artists to come and be our guest for as long as you stay in Vegas. We don't have room in the winter, however call or email me in the spring, we'd be happy to have you. Previous guest artists include Sam Gorrie, Sean Garner and Chris Chua.

Drawing in Vegas is always interesting, but drawing on FREMONT STREET? Well, that takes the cake. You'll never see a more motley collection of drooling drunks, camera-happy tourists, "desert" bums (as opposed to beach bums), kooky costumed characters, and non-plussed employees who just roll their eyes and say "that's Vegas for ya."  It's FABULOUS for people watching!

So next time you're in Vegas, come join us down on Fremont Street in front of the four queens casino. There's a new zip line downtown which is cheaper if you go before 6PM, lots of food, bands, shopping, gambling, and FUN!

A few recent live sketches... and one corny cartoon :)

I worked a gig last month at a greek-themed party.
They made me wear a toga.
It was cold.
It was see-through.
And I was wearing black underwear.

Needless to say, this was not one of my favorite gigs.

(Note to Agents: If you make the talent dress up
like trained monkeys, we will despise you.)

From the "toga party" I had to work a few weeks ago.
At least there were a lot of cool people
to draw.

From the "toga party"

the Victim

A waiter I drew at Macaroni Grill. The
Captions were hilarious at the time.
Now I cant read them or remember what they said.

                            

this is one of my faves. I started using a 3/4 view to help me improve. Check out my blog www.caricaturebizguru.blogspot.com to see more tips on how to get better. This ONE THING improved my work TREMENDOUSLY. Hard to draw "canned" when you don't have a formula!

A drawing I did of my husband Buddy.
It looks just like him.
I think he hates it.

My husband actually YELLED at me for this drawing,
evi\dently because I made myself
"too goofy."

Pong, my co-worker

Sean Garner, who worked at out stand this summer.
I liked the drawing. He "forgot" it :(

Following are a few sketches I did over the Spring and Summer as I was tryign to learn to exaggerate more.

These (above) are so old I don't remember when I did them, I just happened to have a few pics. Nice to see how far I've come.

Jersey Shore.

I hate these people.

                        AN D... the promised corny cartoon :)   You may need to enlarge...

Working on getting better: Part 2

A few years ago I went through a spurt of doing everything within my power to get better. I know a lot of people recommend that you do exercises every single day, and I have small kids so I dont normally do that. But this summer and into the fall, I started up with the learning curve again. I set my sights on drawing one good piece a week. And I did a lot of other stuff you can check out at www.caricaturebizguru.blogspot.com.

So here are a few of the pieces: hope you "like!"

Brad Pitt. Captions read:  "Brad Pitt: Millionaire Playboy by day.... Millionaire Playboy by Night", and in speech bubble "I may be useless, but at least I'm PURDY!"

Did I mention that I loathe Brad Pitt?

I did this as a study to emulate Ben Burgraff's style and see how he did certain things, like the glasses. Ben was my friend and coworker and he passed away this summer. Yes, I know it's not REALLY a caricature. But you know what? If it was OK for Ben, it's OK for me. Ben had a bigger following of the PUBLIC than any artist I've ever seen (not just other artists). Seriously, He was a Rock Star. There's a reason they have both the ACADEMY awards AND The People's choice Awards. Both kinds of art have their place.

Jodi Foster. Captions read: "President Obama is in the audience... No sign of John Hinkley, Jr.... Robert DeNiro's on location in Europe... THE COAST IS CLEAR.   ..... I hope."  Then, across the bottom, "Perils of the Rich and Famous."

This was done as a challenge online on face book, a group called "Wittyography, the caricature community." Each week the winner of the previous weeks challenge picks a new challenge. As usual, I missed the deadline.

But I did have fun.

I was trying my hand at making her look Zombie-like.

I was thinking about this poor woman and what she's been through in her life. I mean, a guy SHOT THE PRESIDENT because of her! Still, she's done pretty good for herself. I actually really like her, so I hope if she ever sees this she knows I was doing it for a challenge, not just to mess her up. I think she'd be the kind of gal I'd like as a friend. No-nonsense. I like that.

If you don't know who this is (above) I'm shooting myself.

I'd never tried to draw him before so I challenged myself. Every drawing I'd ever seen of him exaggerated the hair. I thought I'd go for the nose. And try to catch that expression.

This was for another challenge online. And of course.... I missed the deadline.

Anyway, this is Hugo Weaving. He's the guy who played Mr. Smith in The Matrix, and the elf king Elrond in Lord of the Rings. Interestingly, he also was the voice of V in V for Vendetta.

When I first read the challenge, all I could think of was when he played a drag queen in Priscilla the Queen of the Desert. Fabulous little movie. And I DO mean, FABULOUS!!!

I was pretty pleased with how this turned out. My best friend Ami Hardig, a portrait artist and badass five-foot Jodi Foster look-alike from Detroit, said she wants to hang this in her house. I'm glad, cuz I know my husband ain't havin' it.

A very young Marilyn. I inherited a book of Marilyn photos, many of which I'd never seen (and I'm a HUGE fan), so I did a LOT of Marilyn's over the summer. I won't bore you with all of them. This was the best.  Again, a portrait, not a caricature. And :P if you don't like it.

I also was trying to switch it up any way I could, I used charcoal and charcoal pencil here.

Bogie, Iteration 2

(The first iteration made him look 20 lbs heavier.)

I was trying to do this like a graphic novel, with only three shades: black, white and a medium grey tone. This was done exclusively with Art Stix.

This is Biggie (I think. I don't much care for rap. To give you an idea of how much the opposite my taste in music is, my all-time favorite musicians are Van Morisson, Frank Sinatra and Enya.)

Anyway this was the last one in the series of trying to get better. I think it worked. Check out my other blog at www.caricaturebizguru.com for more tips on how to improve your art!

new post - how to get great art!

I plan on updating this old blog regularly now. Since I've started blogging on my other new sites (about the psychology and business of caricature, and about visiting vegas with kids, since you asked), it just seems natural to want to blog more on my own art page. Duh! Plus workign in Las vegas is WAYyyyyyyyy more interesting than anyplace else I've ever drawn. This place has some SERIOUS weirdoes. Dontcha love it?

Here's some of my very favorite peices done of me over the years. I GOT almost ALL of this great art at the NCN conventioin! The NCN has morphed into an international  organization known as the International Society of Caricature Artists. Their website, www.caricature.org, is what got me started on the path in life that I'm on now. I was a caricaturist before. Now I'm a fanatic. It's like, a religion. I mean, I eat, breathe, think and even SLEEP caricature. (Does anyone know a good therapist?)

Actually, more precisely, I eat breathe sleep and what-have-you the psychology of caricature. With a minor in improving my art ;)

Anyway, if you AREN'T a member and are a professional caricaturist, PLEASE JOIN! It changed my life. I met hundreds of like-minded artists. My craft improved exponentially from exposure to all of the other amazing artists that attend the conventions. I got lots of free art that'll be worth beaucoup bucks one day (I hope.), AND if that WASN'T enough, I met my husband at one of the conventions. Art, career, true love. You can't beat it.

And the Convention is coming up! In LESS THAN A WEEK! SO go to www.caricature.org and sign UP, people! Oh and BTW you dont have to be a caricaturist to join, just an enthusiast :) its only 50$ a year and they'll prorate your membership. :) Happy sketching!

my old faves:

me by Adam Pate. I just love the simplicity of this

I think this was Gabe Hunts but I'm not positive. Feel free to correct me.

 Me in anime. A little Japanese artist came up and asked my name at my first con, I regret I didn't know who it was. No signature.

 Buddy did this as a sketch when we were sitting around tearing each other up one night. It's my favorite he's done of me :)

 Ben Burgraffs. One of many. Don't know where it wound up when we moved back in July.

 I think this was Dinos...

                                 I WISH I knew who did this one. (above) Love it!!!

 I pride myself on not getting offended by the most insulting of caricatures of myself, I mean, come ON... we can give it but we can't take it??? But I gotta admit, this one I actually got insulted by. LOLOL! I find that very funny now. The drawing too. It's now one of my faves :)

 A bunch of guys (and me, bottom right) drawn by Grigor Eftomov at my first con. They raffled it off.   I didn't win,

 Me by Emily Anthony, another Philly filly. THanks sweetie! I do love it!

 Me by Elgin BOllings, the infamous SUBWAYSURFER. He's evidently embroiled in some legal suit involving someone misquoting him. Ah, ELgin. He really helped me when I was just starting out. Which I kind of considerto be when I joined the NCN (Now the ISCA). DId I mention I was a caricaturist for nearly ten YEARS before I joined the NCN? This is why my work sucks lol.

 I think this ties for first place for my very faves. I think is was Tankana that did it. THank you!!! It's BEAUTIFUL. I asked what the marble eye meant - he said "The third eye." Ho ho, so true. He must have a third eye as well.

 My daughter gracie by Sam Gorrie. I don't know why but another one by her did'nt load properly. I'll put it in my next post.

                              Roger Hurtado, who still won't speak to me to this day. Ask him why.

                                      
                               Justin Galloway, who I think I never actually met.

                                                                       Mituki

                              Adam Pate. I love this one. I DO have perennial bags under me eyes!

                                                               Amazing Anonymous

                                                                         Sean Garner

Ed Steckley. He thought I didn't like it when he gave it to me. Truth is, I was speechless. Thanks Ed!

My all-time fave above (Bryan Oakes)

my new fave below (Ryan Belko)

If anyone knows the artists missing help me out!

Havent posted in a LONG time. I've worked hard at getting better over this summer in particular but in general, that's what we do as caricaturists, isn't it? Here's a few of my more recent works. I like tothink I was inspired by Ben Burgraff, my friend and co-worker who passed away this summer. You were a good friend, Ben, and a great artist. We'll all miss you.

Kramer

(in case you couldnt tell)

Just one of the many I did these past few months when I challenged myself to draw one peice a week. I stopped doing it when I got my new Iphone. Pathetic, huh?



 ...more to come...

From the last few weeks at my stand in Peddler's Village