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October 17, 2011
How do we make sure we get our caricatures from photos absolutely spot-on? Well, my view used to be that the subjective buck has to stop somewhere, and that I should simply have the final call on how the cartoonists arrive at their successful draft. I used to check the drafts of our caricatures from photos on my own, and not run them past the customer, trusting that my instinct was always right. Well guess what, I was wrong!
Sure, in most cases the caricatures from photos that were of good enough quality, if faithful to the original image and mixed together with enough entertaining fantasy on the part of the artist, would go down very well. And I would always let out a long “phiewph” at every happy response email that would come my way concerning the completed caricatures from photos.
But every so often we would get a bad surprise. “That’s not at all him!” the odd customer would say after seeing the final product. The truth was that my desire to make these caricatures from photos into wonderful surprises that customers could discover all in one go had outweighed practical reality. My vision and the vision of my associate cartoonists might be good. It might be artistic. But it might not be right. And after all, context and composition is all very well, but likeness is the single most important thing for caricatures from photos.
So since January 2011, we have run drafts of all our caricatures from photos past our customers before proceeding to the ink and paint stage. And the result? Nobody ever gets disappointed… and the surprise is still just as great!
October 15, 2011
Many cartoon caricature artists work simply with one picture in mind, and will drawn the same figure in the same context. However, here at Charlie’s Cartoons, we only draw our subject exactly how our customer wants them. So, whether your chosen subject likes football or shopping, there is always something for you. We offer many different styles of caricatures from photos as well, ranging from graduation gifts, to anniversary gifts, to more humorous and funny gifts.
Our range of caricatures is available to view on our website. We can tailor any cartoon caricature to however you want it. So, whether you are looking for your brother, for your father, or for a friend, we really can help you in every way. Most of our caricatures also have a humorous side to them, and they can also tell tales of a person’s life and past experience. We can incorporate any past experience into your caricature, and the more suggestions you give us, the more we get to play with.
The process for a caricature from photos is made simple by our experts. All you need to do is firstly contact us, just to gain further information on exactly what we can offer. The next step is generally sending a few photographs of your chosen subject to us. Now, these photographs are best when taken as a portrait, and possibly from different angles. Normally 2 or 3 photos will suffice. Once we have received these, as they say, the rest is history!
October 12, 2011
More and more companies are turning to people like us for cartoon caricatures to use as their website mugshots, rather than photos. Maybe it’s because they think we’re more flattering, maybe it’s because photographers cost so much? (Well I know we’re not exactly cheap – but £300 for a headshot? Come on!) Maybe it’s just that cartoon caricatures can convey that dynamic glint in the eye that companies want to convey… And also, when you’ve had that swanky website designed to make your company look like the hottest on the block, cartoon caricatures can be the final touch that just makes you look like you don’t take yourself too seriously.
Then there are the style choices: Do you want your cartoon caricatures to be heads only, head and shoulders only, or full body? Full body cartoon caricatures are my favourite: they enable for an element of personality to be worked in: sportiness, geekiness, any personality facet – or else the caricature can convey a hobby, a particular profession, anything.
And then, what’s great for us is that companies require continuity… So to preserve the consistent style of the website, whenever people are fired or hired, cartoon caricatures are removed and replaced. Might seem like a harsh and slightly mercenary way to look at things, but it’s a great stream of caricature business for us!
We can also be a very cheap option for businesses. As a start up, we need to get our cartoon caricatures out there into the public eye, so I’m more than ready to strike deals: cheaper cartoon caricatures in exchange for references and clickable links on the page. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours!
October 10, 2011
Christmas is fast approaching, and you always find yourself buying the same gifts for the same people. For your parents, socks and nice jumpers always suffice. For friends and family, gifts seem to centre around cds, dvds, and other such items. Whilst the thought is there, you can’t help thinking that something more unique may have meant more.
Here at Charlie’s Cartoons, we produce high quality cartoon caricatures from photos. As all of our drawings are made from photographs, you can be sure that whoever you are giving this gift to will be fully appreciative. With that extra humour added into the mixture, this is also a funny gift, and will be sure to make you smile every time you see it. So, whether you are buying for your granddad or your mother, these cartoon caricatures are an absolutely brilliant gift idea this Christmas.
The process could not be simpler. All you need to do is send us a photograph or two of the person you wish to be drawn, and we do the rest. It is important however that the photographs are good, and depict the chosen person well. It is not so good to send group photos, unless you are in need of a caricature cartoon of a group.
The cartoon caricatures can be made specifically to you, and tailored however you want it. Thinking of a Christmas present, you could always have a Santa’s hat or beard drawn on to your chosen person, or they could even be riding a reindeer! It is completely up to you!
October 7, 2011
I often get repeat customers coming back to order caricatures up to a year after their last order. The caricatures business is one that builds up a solid following, but it’s nothing quick-fire! It’s not like we’re selling doughnuts or contact lenses here. Caricatures are bought as a gift, and then if that gift goes down well, people think of the idea again a few months down the line, when the next birthday or wedding pops up.
Just this morning I had a couple of caricatures ordered for a birthday. The order was placed by a customer who had ordered a caricature for a wedding over a year ago, in August. It’s always funny when a familiar name pops up in your email list… You try to think: when did we last do caricatures for this client. You try to match a name to an idea, a composition… then , when that fails, I run a search through our caricatures archive, to put a name to a face. So, johnny@me.com, who are you… oh yes that’s right, you’re married to that woman flying through the air on a magic carpet, dressed as Princess Jasmin and holding a giant blackberry. That’s the one!
That’s when it’s fun for me to take a trip down memory lane and re-visit old orders. Every single caricatures order represents an emotional investment, so it’s always funny to go back and see these caricatures, and to wonder what those caricatures have lived through since they were made: How many people have seen them, smiled, laughed…
October 5, 2011
I got two orders today for cartoon caricatures for weddings. The funny thing is customers rarely know exactly what they want for this kind of caricature. They have the general feel that they’d like something sweet and pretty to commemorate their big day. But then the day can’t be all pretty and perfect – it shouldn’t be too serious. That’s where cartoon caricatures come in: to poke just enough fun at the characters, at the event, and to undermine any seriousness in an upbeat way. Cartoon caricatures say: “Hey, we might be dressing up, looking fancy and living a fairy tale for a day, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. Taking one of the most important steps of a lifetime doesn’t have to be done without the kind of sense of humour that a caricature can convey.”
But beyond knowing that they want to bring that feel to the event that cartoon caricatures bring, customers often don’t really know where to start. They’re often overjoyed when I explain that cartoon caricatures can kill a multitude of birds with one stone: they can be scanned and used on invites, they can be mounted and left by the marquis to sign on the day, and they can be kept forever after. With all these uses at hand, our cartoon caricatures often turn out to be pretty good sentimental and practical value for money!
On the other hand, wedding caricatures are the type of cartoon caricature for which people are, understandably, the most particular about what they want. And you can understand why: this isn’t just some funny off-the-cuff caricature gift to hand to granddad on father’s day – this is how people want to be portrayed at their prime. Cartoon caricatures, sure. Humour, absolutely. But everything in exactly the right dose, please! Wedding cartoon caricatures are drafted and re-drafted to get the balance of humour and personal charm absolutely right.
October 4, 2011
A question that many of us ask ourselves, what on Earth should I get my partner for our anniversary? We can always go for the standard gifts – chocolates, wine, flowers, but none of these things really have any meaning. If you are looking for a special and personal gift, one of our cartoon caricatures is perfect for you. Our caricatures are tailored specially to you, and we can incorporate any unique memories or traits that you wish. So whether you are a keen golfer, or love your garden, our caricatures are completely centred on what you require.
As all of our caricature cartoons are individual, you can be sure of receiving a completely individual gift. Drawn by only professionals, these caricatures are great framed and hung on the wall. With different sizes available, these unique gifts can be made completely to your specification.
With that extra dollop of humour incorporated into every cartoon caricature, these gifts are sure to make you smile every time you look at them. Our caricatures from photos are also very realistic and picturesque, giving that extra bit of personality to each and every one. Our process to making these great caricatures from photos is extremely simple. All you need to do is get in contact with our team and send some photos across. Two or three photos will normally be enough, but occasionally we may ask for more. Photos are easiest to portray when they are portrait photos, so any portrait photograph of your partner will be fine.
September 24, 2011
Do you have a boss who is retiring or moving on to something else? If you have a well loved boss, why not give him or her something special for a leaving present? Cartoon caricatures make fun and memorable leaving gifts for a well loved boss.
Most people have some amusing or crazy stories about their bosses that could be incorporated into a caricature from photos. Why not ask around the office (or wherever it is that you work) to get some stories and ideas from your co-workers.
Others might also be able to supply photos, so don’t hesitate to get others involved in the project. Chances are, if it’s a gift from everyone, they will all be chipping in to pay for it anyway.
You may also want to ask your boss’s family for some ideas. They might be able to supply information that will make the gift more personal, as well as assist you in avoiding any stories or incidents that might embarrass them too much to include.
After you have gathered some stories and photos, send us the information via the contact form. Just click on the Order Your Cartoon tab to get started.
When we get the information from you we will immediately start thinking about how the caricature from photos should look.
We have done caricatures from a photo before as leaving gifts, such as the one we did for Francis Baron, former CEO of the Rugby Football Union, which you can view in our portfolio.
September 18, 2011
Sometimes grandparents are hard to buy for. So, why not get a personalized gift that will show your affection as well as your sense of humour?
Caricatures make great gifts for people of all ages. But perhaps grandparents will most enjoy seeing happy memories from their lives transposed into cartoon form. After all, what better way to remember the past in an uplifting light than to do it while smiling or laughing?
A cartoon caricature specifically for your grandparents could be a picture of your grandfather and grandmother in a familiar scene or from a favourite memory—like their wedding day, a perfect vacation, or sitting in lawn chairs in front of their house.
Or, you could order a caricature from photos that featured your grandparents in the forefront with their grandchildren in the background.
Send us some information about your grandparents along with the photos. Tell us who they are and what they like to do. You may even want to collaborate with some of your cousins to get more perspective on what your grand parents are like, and how the picture should look.
Once you have some photos and ideas, send them off to us via the contact form found under the Order Your Cartoon tab. Prices start at only £90 for A4 caricatures from photos. Please place your order well in advance of the day it’s required.
September 14, 2011
Looking for a unique and fun birthday gift for a friend or relative? How about a humorous caricature? Cartoon caricatures of the people you know and love make wonderful, amusing gifts that are sure to be treasured for years to come. Here’s how you can order a caricature from us for a birthday gift.
We love humor, so the more you can tell us about the person’s hobbies, interests, work, and family life, the more we can incorporate into the drawing. Tell us what makes this person tick.
Some ideas you might want to include are favourite leisure activities, memorable vacations, pets, life accomplishments, and goals for the future.
For a birthday specific caricature from photos, you could also tell us a bit about what kind of party they are having. What will the cake look like? Is there a theme for the party, and who else will be there?
Once you have some ideas put together and have chosen some photos of the person (two or three will suffice,) click on the Order Your Cartoon tab at the top of our web site, and then fill in the contact form.
After we receive your information and photos, we’ll brainstorm to get a basic concept for the cartoon we plan to draw. We’ll then get back to you with our ideas within 24 hours. You’ll have the chance to let us know what you think and make any suggestions for changes.
The finished caricature from a photo is sure to be a delightfully amusing gift for anyone’s birthday.
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