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June 17, 2011
When a friend of mine recently sent me an attachment containing a slideshow of different cartoon caricatures, I was less than excited about the prospect of flicking through yet another pointless collection of visual anecdotes, combined by some bored office worker into a “jazzy” pdf. However at the time I had nothing better to do, and although producing cartoon caricatures is what I do for a living, day in day out, I thought: Why not, this might even have a 2% chance of being quite inspiring.
When I opened the attachment however, my entire perspective changed – my expectations had been fundamentally challenged. This was not just some oddball selection of cartoon caricatures, this was a true art gallery, containing some of the finest examples of the genre that I have ever seen.
So what made these cartoon caricatures so good? It was not just the immaculate, photo-real precision with which the artists carved out every character in perfect 3D, nor even the clear technical proficiency each artist showed in their familiarity and mastery of the human physiognomy, but more the ability the artists had to distort feature to such extreme extent, to quadruple a forehead and quarter a nose proportionally, in a way which did not prevent the viewer from recognising the subject.
On the contrary, these cartoon caricatures contained more “reality” and likeness than the best photo ever could. Such is the power of the subjective artistic vision, which is at its best when it communicates with the general psyche in such a way as to make art more real than reality, to make people appear more as themselves through a more contrived medium involving more artistic intervention than the mechanistic processes which produce, say, a photograph.
I realised even more then that making cartoon caricatures is not just a frivolous bit of fun (although it certainly works well as a frivolous bit of fun), but that they sometimes, for all their non-seriousness, are a truly sublime art form. That is, when exaggerations are not gratuitous, but flights of genuine artistic fancy. Those extremes, like in any art form, when sincerely motivated, are most welcome.
June 15, 2011
Although we are used to seeing caricature cartoons in friend’s and relatives homes these days – and our own homes as well, of course – there was a time when caricature portraits were used as a means of attacking politicians and other establishment figures, rather than an amusing piece of art for us to enjoy.
Caricature cartoons became hugely popular in Britain during the 18th century when artists used them in a satirical manner. If you have ever seen these caricature portraits which feature members of the Royal Family and high ranking politicians, you would wonder how the artists managed to avoid being jailed, or worse, for drawing these cartoons.
To say they are cruel and hard-hitting is something of an understatement, which makes the fact that the artists avoided arrest all the more surprising. At a time when illiteracy levels were high, these caricature cartoons were an effective way of letting ordinary people know what their leaders were up to. Caricatures are still a powerful political weapon these days, but they are also increasingly popular when it comes to marking special occasions.
Caricature gifts are perfect for birthdays and other events, being a lasting reminder for those involved. Wedding caricatures are perfect for capturing the atmosphere of the big day, so why not think about ordering one for yourself or a friend who is about to get married? Have a look at the great selection of examples of Charlies work here on the website and order your own caricatures for any occasion.
June 9, 2011
You’ve probably seen the artists who draw caricatures in holiday resorts abroad – or tourist hotspots here in the UK – and fancied the idea of having your own caricature portraits drawn. This is not as easy as it sounds, because the people who draw these caricatures are often surrounded by a crowd which means you have to wait in line for your turn.
If you’re on your holidays abroad, you don’t want to be waiting around when you could be spending time on the beach or sightseeing, or perhaps you just don’t like the idea of sitting in a chair being drawn while a crowd looks on. So how do you find an artist who can provide you with custom caricatures? The answer is easier than you think, and here at Charlies Cartoons you can order caricatures from photos which will look great on your wall.
These cartoon caricatures also make great presents for a friend or relative, and all you have to do if you want to get caricatures for whatever reason is send a selection of photos of yourself or the person you want to send the custom caricatures to – two or three photos will be enough – along with some information about either yourself or your friend. Once you have done this, your work is over. All you have to do is wait for Charlie to work his magic, and the caricatures will be delivered to your home. Now doesn’t that sound more appealing that waiting in a queue to have your caricatures drawn?
May 10, 2011
Caricature portraits are considered a fun thing these days, especially personalised caricatures which focus on a persons traits and characteristics which are enhanced in the portrait. But if you look at the history of caricatures they were often used in a more serious way, when satirists drew personalised caricatures of politicians and members of the Royal Family.
These were more than often grotesque images which were used to attack individuals whose actions and policies were hated by the masses. They are still used in this way today, particulary by cartoonists such as Steve Bell, who has spent the last thirty years mocking British politicians from all parties, as well as other public figures, in the Guardian newspaper.
Some of his most popular work has been family caricatures depicting the Queen and her offspring, and it has been said that if Bell were around two hundred years ago he would have been hanged for treason due to the nature of some of his caricature portraits.
While this form of art is still a powerful tool for satirists, many people like to give personalised caricatures from photos as presents for friends and family, and if you are thinking of doing this, then you should look at the examples on the Charlie’s Cartoons website.
Whatever the occasion may be, either a birthday, wedding or an anniversary, caricatures make the perfect gift as they are unique to the person who will receive them. They are also a fun way to capture your own family, so why not consider having family caricatures drawn by an expert artist?
May 2, 2011
We all know what it is like when we are stuck for ideas for a birthday present for a friend. We think about all the usual things and then dismiss them for one reason or another, usually because the friend in question already has the item you were thinking about giving them.
If this sounds familiar, then why not consider something which is different from the norm and is guaranteed to be a welcome gift? All you will need is a photo of your friend, and you are on the way to presenting them with a caricature of themselves, drawn by a professional artist which will delight your friend when they receive it. If you like this idea, you may want to take it further and have caricatures of yourself and your family and once again, all you have to do is supply the pictures and the artist will be able to draw a caricature from photos of your family members.
Caricature cartoons are also popular when it comes to portraying your favourite pop stars or actors, in fact, when it comes to caricature gifts you can let your imagination run riot and have just about anyone or anything portrayed in caricatures.
If you like the idea of humorous caricature gifts, have a look at the Charlies Cartoons website and see for yourself the fantastic scope for this unique present. Whatever the occasion, birthdays, wedding, anniversaries, caricature cartoons will make the day that little bit more special. And if it is a last minute present, it’s possible to recieve your caricatures within 48 hours!
April 28, 2011
If you are like most people, you will sometimes struggle to think of good gift ideas for your friends and family members. After all, occasions like birthdays and anniversaries come around year in year out and so finding new and original offerings to hand over can be tough. And there is nothing more frustrating than spending your hard-earned cash on presents that appear thoughtless and you know will not be appreciated.
Well, that is where we come in here at Charlie’s Cartoons. By getting in touch with us using our simple ordering system, you can purchase a truly novel and fantastic gift for your loved one that is almost certainly unlike anything they have been given before.
We specialise in the creation of caricature cartoons and all we need to make these personalised images is a couple of photos of the individual in question and some information about them. The facts you supply determine the nature of the composition and you get to have full say in the final product, meaning you are bound to be more than satisfied.
Caricature pictures can be both amusing and sentimental and they can encapsulate the essence of the subject, or can represent a particular event or series of events in their lives.
Another advantage of getting custom caricatures as a present is the fact it is so easy. Once you have seen a scanned copy of the creation, we will mount and frame it according to your specific requirements and the process is complete. So, with personalised caricatures, present buying can take a whole new direction.
April 21, 2011
The family holiday. It is a long standing tradition that many people still manage to uphold, despite the chaotic and busy nature of modern life. After all, such occasions represent one of the few chances for people to get together and spend some quality time with one another.
Often, plenty of photographs are taken of these events. Indeed, whole albums might be filled with shots of dad looking sunburned, children splashing around in the pool and mum desperately trying to get some rest and relaxation.
However, often these all-important snaps are put away in drawers only to be taken out every once in a while. Indeed, these days the images are sometimes not printed out at all but rather uploaded to albums on computers instead.
If you are keen to break the trend and create a proper memory from your trip, you might want to consider caricature cartoons. These fantastic creations are able to encapsulate many elements of your break all in one picture. The details of the composition are up to you and they depend on the photos and information you supply us with.
By having family caricatures of you all on holiday, you are ensuring the most important memories from your adventure are not forgotten. Indeed, when mounted and framed, these personalised caricatures make great features in living rooms and other places in your home.
We all know that children grow up far too fast and having caricature pictures of them on holiday is one way of immortalising particular stages of their development, and of keeping a record of the activities you did together.
April 9, 2011
Attending the wedding of friends or family members can be a fantastic experience. These romantic occasions often have a magical feel about them and you get to share in one of the happy couple’s most memorable days.
However, you might sometimes find yourself in a panic ahead of such events because you are unsure what to get as a gift for the pair. This can be particularly tricky if there is no list for you to choose from. In such circumstances, you might benefit from considering personalised caricatures.
These are truly original and thoughtful offerings that will almost certainly be unlike anything else the newlyweds receive. The great thing about these wedding caricatures is that unlike the official photo album that will just focus on the big day itself, such custom caricatures can incorporate details from events stretching back in time.
You might choose to include references to how and where the pair first met and certain important parts of their journey from this point to their decision to get hitched.
All you need to do is supply a couple of photos and the information you want us to focus on – then simply let our imaginations get to work creating your caricature from photos.
You might well find that the present you give to the bride and groom ends up taking pride of place in their home. Surely that’s better than handing them a toaster! To find out more about our caricature cartoons simply browse our website or get in touch. You might be surprised by how straightforward the process is.
April 4, 2011
We live in the age of the digital camera. Snaps taken in this way can be great, but there is something slightly impersonal about many of them. Not only this, but often these images are kept on computers rather than being printed out and physically stored.
When it comes to special occasions, this can be a great shame. So, if you are in the process of organising an event such as an important birthday, an anniversary or anything else you think deserves extra attention, you might want to think about commissioning cartoon caricatures. Indeed, you can take advantage of such services even if the occasion has already been and gone.
All you need to have your ideal custom caricatures made is a couple of pictures from the big day. By sending these into us here at Charlie’s Cartoons, along with some information about the people involved and the day itself, you can rest assured you will get a composition that more than does the event justice.
Personalised caricatures are ideal as a way of marking these episodes in life because of their ability to get so much detail into a relatively small space. They can encapsulate something of the personalities of the subjects, as well as the occurrences of the day. This is something other types of image simply cannot achieve.
To find out more about caricature pictures, have a look around our website or get in touch. You might be surprised by what can be achieved using a little talent, imagination and of course ink.
March 28, 2011
Retirement is bittersweet. On one hand it’s a time to celebrate the successes of a long career and look forward to more relaxing times ahead, but on the other, retirement does mean leaving. Few people leave their workplace – all the friends and colleagues, all the projects as yet unfinished- without ever looking back.
The perfect present should show your appreciation for the retiring workmate and express sorrow that they’re leaving, but without getting too maudlin. You’ll want something that is precious yet light-hearted, more interesting than the traditional clock or watch, and something that will remind the recipient of the good times they had at work. Caricature portraits are perfect on all counts.
It’s quite possible to create an excellent caricature from photos so there is no need to ruin the surprise. Caricature gifts are a little unusual and even if they do spot a paper-wrapped rectangle that looks like a portrait, they’ll never suspect that the contents are much more fun than an everyday photograph.
Group caricatures make some of the best retirement presents because they provide a reminder of the friends that will be left behind. They also show that nobody in the cartoon is taking themselves too seriously. Not even the most sensitive ego could be bruised by appearing in a funny and well executed group cartoon.
Whether you’d like to know more about group caricatures or order an individual portrait, get in touch today. We’ll make sure that your departing friend gets a brilliant, heart-warming retirement gift.
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