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Post by toonMom on Jan 29, 2004 6:57:24 GMT -5
This is something I have not tried...yet. How do you prepare yourself for your first live gig? Do you go around drawing friends and family members? Do you sit in a public place and toon people when they are not looking? or do you just dive in and do it? I have only tried drawing someone live a couple of times (kids) and I failed terribly. Anyone have any insight on this?
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Post by corky on Jan 29, 2004 18:50:15 GMT -5
i can give some insight. i've done a few gigs, and they are tough. first, you have to practise lots, with people you know...it's best to draw a caricature in under 10 minutes. people will not be willing to sit for too long. what i did before my first gig was sit down my kids and husband, and timed myself. i'll start with this tidbit; begin drawing the eyes first. they're usually the feature that most people will recognize easily. (not necessarily the most dominant, though). i draw the hair last....so, eyes first, mouth and teeth, then nose and face shape.
i can give lots of advice on tools and materials, as well as how to handle those difficult cases, if anyone wants to know.
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Post by toonMom on Jan 29, 2004 20:19:15 GMT -5
The reason I started drawing caricatures is so I could do them at church/school functions to earn my service hours for the year. I figured it would be a fun way to get my hours in (30/year). Anywho, the church festival is the beginning of August every year. This is the function I had in mind to do my first live gig. I started taking Mauri's class in July 03. This gave me 1 full year to get prepared.
Because I tend to worry about things and time passes quickly, I need to start getting things in order for my first live gig. Any advice you have on anything would be great.
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Post by corky on Jan 30, 2004 18:25:38 GMT -5
it's actually a good thing you're starting with a church function. people are more likely to enjoy themselves and let you relax, since they know you. keep your materials simple...a clipboard, some kind of sign (so people can see other examples of your stuff), pens, pencils, erasers, a sharpener, and lots of extra paper. i like to use the extra-smooth inkjet paper. it costs more, but it's got a smooth finish that really looks good. also, any business cards or flyers, for people to take. most importantly, just go there to enjoy the process of drawing. if you're cheerful, and answer people's questions with a smile and a quick answer, they'll be nice to you. most people are just really intrigued by what you're doing, so they'll ask questions. if they don't want one done, they might stand and watch, and that's okay. i always ask someone i know to pose for me, so i am drawing and people can see what i do...i'm not just sitting there waiting. i've had a few impolite people, but not too many. i find with those ones, the rude people, just be nice to them and they'll go away. people watching will see that you're being courteous and that makes you look professional.
the one question i always have a problem with: what if someone says "i don't like it...it doesn't look like me"...often that's coz they're nervous about their appearance, not your drawing. so i always say, "as an artist, i have a different view of things. perhaps, after a little while, you'll begin to see the delightful smile, or the bright eyes (or whatever) that i see. thanks very much for sitting for me." i never ever do over a drawing. the odd time or two, you'll get someone who's very rude about it, and you won't please them anyway.
another tip: draw kids like a disney cartoon, with the big eyes...i never draw them like a real caricature. i wouldn't want to hurt their feelings. mom and dad want to see their wonderful kids as cute and adorable, and they want others to see it, too. and after all, aren't all kids just wonderful and adorable anyway?
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Post by toonMom on Feb 23, 2004 14:34:53 GMT -5
What about marker types? I have Prismacolor markers and I have the 229-lf and some sharpies. They all give me a headache to use. Is there a good marker that doesn't have a strong odor?
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Post by corky on Feb 23, 2004 14:49:14 GMT -5
i use the staedtler mars graphic 3000 for the gigs. they have a pointed end, and a brush end. i like that for hair and eyebrows. you can get all colours of the markers, but when i'm doing a gig, i find it faster to use black and white. i will ad 3b pencil if i need a darker skin tone, and don't want to drag along all those colour pencils with me. a 3b derwent wash is a nice pencil to use for that.
if the person has very thin eyebrows, or a light beard and mustache, i use a pilot fineliner pen for the lighter lines. i don't know what to do about the problem of smelly markers...i encounter the same thing (i am asthmatic and have allergies to most perfumes). i find the staedtler isn't too bad, though.
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Post by toonMom on Feb 23, 2004 14:58:40 GMT -5
Do you draw with the brush end or the pointed end? Most perfumes give me an instant headache, as do the markers. I am looking at getting some tombow dual end pens. I wonder how they are?
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Post by corky on Feb 23, 2004 15:17:39 GMT -5
i've never heard of the tombow pens, so i've never used them....they may not be available in canada.
i use the pointed marker end for outlining and features, the brush end for hair, brows, lashes. i use the pilot fineliner for lighter lines, and i use a ballpoint pen extra-fine to add the wrinkle lines (never add as many wrinkles as you see) and places like the lips and ears, so it isn't too heavy.
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Post by Draw4You on Feb 23, 2004 23:09:48 GMT -5
I have done two gigs, one for a high school prom and other for a company fund raiser dinner for a local charity. Both times I practice mainly by timing my self drawing photos I ran off from the internet, Google Image search and a like. I keep these on file to work with for practice. Plus I keep all the photos I get from orders from our web site. Plus I drew all of my family and friends that I could. I drew Black and white heads with Sharpie markers and shaded with a black Prismacolor Stix. and I would add for fun a star or a heart with a 18KT. gold Leafing Pen just to give it a little piazzas!
I ran off the prome theme, company logo down at the bottom with Draw4You.com on it, and I chose to pre-sign it as well. Any thing to help cut my time down. I would work with 11x14 paper and have nice plastic pockets to put the drawing in.
In think I would do it again this way it worked well. In the future I plan to bring in my laptop and drawing board for some gigs. When I get it all together the way I want.
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Post by toonMom on Feb 24, 2004 6:51:59 GMT -5
Thanks, that was very useful information. I will keep that in mind. I have been dragging my feet about doing live gigs, but now I think I need to just go for it. Well, after I practice drawing a few people live. Tell me more about these plastic sleeves you use. What kind of paper do you use?
stoontoons - do you have any pictures of the caricatures from your live gigs?
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Post by tooned on Feb 24, 2004 8:50:10 GMT -5
Doing a live gig would scare the pants of me.Its something i want to do eventually.But im a long way of that yet.
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Post by Mauri on Feb 24, 2004 11:51:58 GMT -5
Toonmom, I can't believe you said that! I am soooooo happy you are going to try drawing at a gig! I think everyone should try it at least twice. That would be great if you Scott and Grant did your first gigs this year. I love them the guest are very nice and you get paid well! Can't beat that. Most of the time the host pays you in advance so the caricatures are "free" to the guests. So how can they reject your drawing? They won't! So this is why I think most artist that have drawin gigs love it! Did I mention the pay? Here in Orlando we ask for 100 an hour with a 3 hour min. I know I have a lot to post on this site however I would love to take photos of the material I use Desk, paper etc. If a lot of you guys want me to do this just let me know and I'll make it a priority. I think if you expand your comfort zone you will grow leaps and bounds at your art!  |
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Post by toonMom on Feb 24, 2004 12:59:14 GMT -5
Thanks Mauri! I would like to do at least 1 this year. I for one, would love to see pictures of your set-up. I want to start drawing some live caricatures of my kids and other family members and friends so I can get the hang of it. I think my biggest problem is that I don't like the way the black and white marker drawings look. Therefore, I am not all that excited about drawing them.
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Post by corky on Feb 24, 2004 14:36:28 GMT -5
toonmom, i do have photos of when i was at the fringe. i just have to find them. i have a tendency to forget to load them, or lose the 35mm ones, so i'll dig for them. i'll post them soon.
good luck on your first gig.
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Post by tooned on Feb 24, 2004 18:21:31 GMT -5
Yes Mauri please post.Would love to see the setup.
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