A collection of doodles with a bit of commentary by RICK GREEN - your cartooning friend

Saturday, February 16, 2008

One Big Circus Act!

This project had my attention for some time.

Kim, a friend from several years back, saw my blog and contacted me about drawing an illustration of her daughter's school class. This drawing is suppose to be auctioned off as a fund raiser or something for the school.

When I told her how much I would have to charge to draw it (even with the long-time-friends discount), I actually thought she would decide not to go through with it - which, honestly, was fine with me because I knew it would take me a while to get it done. But, lo and behold, Kim talked it over with some of the parents and they decided that they wanted me to make it happen. So, I was committed.

Again, this one took some time! 23 little faces and the teacher to boot - lots of time staring at all those faces. The circus theme was my idea. I thought it gave me a chance for some fun creativity. I also spent some time looking at photos of circus acts on the web - trying to come up with ideas to draw each little clown student doing something different. Just fitting them all in was a real task. I had to draw this project at a larger size than I normally do - 14x17. This is actually a photo that I took of the drawing. It was too large to fit onto the face of my scanner.

I would post the class photo that Kim sent me, but that probably wouldn't be appreciated by the parents, especially since the photo includes their last names and stuff. (What a shame that we have to worry about such things for our children - don't you agree?) I wish you could see the photo so that you could compare the faces with the illustration.

Children are so much harder than adults for me to illustrate. Their faces are too smooth and stuff. Adults often have an ugliness that easy to capture in a caricature. Give me an ugly face to draw and I'm happy.

BTW:If you're someone that I've already drawn, I'll leave it to your imagination as to whether or not your face made me happy. In all fairness, my face would be a project that would normally make me giddy - if it weren't for the fact that it's my eye-balls that are looking at it when I pass by a mirror.

Thanks Kim for making contact again, and for choosing me. I hope that it raises a lot of money for the school.

21 comments:

Mum-me said...

The picture looks great - you are certainly very talented (but I suppose you hear that a lot.) I bet the students were pushing and shoving to try and find their own caricature in the circus act. Yes I agree it is terrible that we have to be so carfeul as to not publish names on the internet, or even untitled photos, because of the sickos out there who may take advantage of it.

Sila Lumenn said...

I absolutely adore this picture! You may not like drawing children as much as adults, but you do it beautifully. It makes me want a drawing of my own rugrat. ^_^

It is a shame you can't share the class picture. I'd love to match up the real kids with their characatures. But, alas, such is the world in which we live today.

Keep up the great work!

Laura ~Peach~ said...

TOTALLY AWESOME !!!! i bet they will raise alot of money with that drawing what a cool idea teacher person!
From experience i know without a doubt the kids look like their pictures :-) and how about mr eggy LOL love his top hat!
hey rick please remember us little folk out here when you are big time famous ok ?
Big Grins!
Laura

Brenda said...

That is adorable. And I'm glad you drew my husband not me!

Anonymous said...

You'll have to be careful now when you tell people "I'd love to draw you".

This is another FAB picture Rick and It will all be for a great cause no doubt.

Gail

Karen said...

I think it`s an interesting article, pleasse write more about it

Flea said...

Oh what fun! Twenty three kids. Don't envy you one bit. :)

Julie said...

Great drawing! I think the kids are all adorable.

Brandi said...

I love the picture, and would love to find out about getting one for myself. Not this one, but one of my own crazy clan...lol.

roseys madhouse said...

That is as Peach said"Totally Awesome"
Well done I love the circus theme, Im sure the classroom is like a circus lol.

debi9kids said...

LOVE this drawing! It turned out beautifully!

Anonymous said...

I have to admit the picture really looks great!!!

Anonymous said...

How fun!!! You can bet they are going to raise some serious money auctioning that off! I know that if it was one of my kid's classes... I would want it... BAD! What a great idea, too! Those are some smart parents!

Okay Mister... about that ugly statement... I sure hope my caricature made you miserable and unhappy and crampy!

Andrea said...

That was such a great idea!great drawing! It is so sad that there are so many sickos out there. It makes me want to lock my kids in their rooms and never let them out again.

Rick said...

To Kelly Jean: Your face made me miserable for weeks!!

To Andrea: Yes, that is too bad, but then locking our kids away would turn them into sickos.

SuddenlySouthernCyndi said...

Hey Rick! Cute stuff here--I so would have hired you to do my blog graphic had it not been for a family member doing it. And thanks for your comment on my blog-- I actually enjoy reading your wisecrack blog comments & have been hoping for one from you on my blog one of these days! ;-)

Diane Meyer said...

The kids must have loved that seriously. What an awesome talent! God has sure gifted you. I'll go have some coffee now and swallow it and my bitter jealously of your talent at the same time.
Just kidding. It looks very cool!
Diane

IamDerby said...

What a great drawing! I love to draw but I cant do caricature at all. I did love portrait class... and you are right, wrinkled, older faces are so much easier to draw. Thanks for the comment on my blog... hope you stop by again

Anonymous said...

Love your work mate...keep it up, everyone's right when they say you are very talented!

Congrats and keep up the good work! I shall show your work to my son as he likes to draw to especially manga, I believe..

Cheers and regards!

Btw, thanks for visiting my page/post, I joined here before my surgery and then only started bogging here again just a few days ago...so you made my day!

G'day from your new mate from Sydney!

nataliestegman said...

Rick, nice work. It is very lively and the inclusion of personal touch creates a warm persona. Thanks for commenting on my blog perhaps you will have the chance to check out my work as I begin to post it.

pedalpower said...

What a big project...it turned out great! Love your work. Thanks for stopping by my blog!