| |
December 22, 2010
Finding the right gift for friends or family is usually very easy at first. But as time goes on it can be very easy to find yourself running out of ideas, or simply just getting into a rut, buying them similar things year in, year out.
So, if you want to get something a little bit different this year, there are two things to think about: do your research and get personal.
The first, research, which is easy enough. If you know their hobbies or interests, it’s time to start thinking outside the box when it comes to getting a present. Searching the internet for the chosen interest can throw up things that neither you nor they might have even known existed.
One of the other great ways to do something different is to get something that is extremely personal. Something quirky that bears their name or a picture of them is a great way to show that you have gone that extra mile and not just plumped for something generic or ordinary.
One such item that is growing in popularity as a present is cartoon caricatures. Caricatures are a fun way to say something very personal, and whilst they may be associated with holidays and a man with a funny hat sitting by an easel, buying cartoon caricatures that involve their interests or a special occasion will be much more special than those acquired by the beach by a man who has spent two minutes on them.
Whether it is a birthday present or something to commemorate an anniversary, caricatures are not only something extremely unique but by personalising them even more with and using a great artist, you can ensure you get in things that really mean something to the recipient, meaning they are not only fun, but truly special.
December 18, 2010
Caricatures have been used for generations for a variety of purposes and caricature art is a powerful and potent artistic genre. It has been used to make serious satirical and political comment on contemporary current affairs in an incisive and humorous fashion. It can be used to inform, provoke, entertain, honour or celebrate any subject and is sure to never go out of fashion. All caricature portraits involve some form of exaggeration; whether of the subject’s physical features or personal habits, passions or hobbies.
Charlie is proud to be a part of this unique artistic tradition and utilised all the skills and talent of the greatest caricature artists in order to create caricature from photos, personal recollections, family histories and biographical details. Thus, the wonderful caricature gifts which he creates for his satisfied customers are a microcosm of the subject’s life, and are guaranteed to raise smiles of recognition on the faces of all who see them. Caricatures can be created for individuals or groups and Charlie always manages to capture a fantastic energy in his group caricatures. He has the special ability to find what is particularly unique and memorable about any subject.
Caricature gifts excite and amuse all who receive them and often, the person who is giving the gift becomes as excited as the recipient is sure to be. The act of giving a gift becomes extremely enjoyable when you order custom caricatures, because you can witness your artwork coming to life before your very eyes, Charlie will consult and advise you on your proposed project before completing his commission with trademark skill, flair and nonchalance. Caricature as artistic expression is here to stay and Charlie affords you the unique opportunity of owning or donating a unique piece of art to your loved ones. Charlie ensures that you can have a unique piece of art which is a part of a proud artistic tradition.
November 25, 2010
It can be very difficult to find something that people of all ages and personalities will like. Caricature pictures are sure to get people talking and laughing. Whether you are looking for caricature gifts for your friend’s birthday or want to entertain your guests by having wedding caricatures drawn, you are sure to provide a unique and enjoyable experience.
As caricature gifts can be drawn from photos or with a person sitting right in front of the artist, they will always be totally unique and you will not be able to buy the same pictures from anywhere else. They can capture a person’s personality and interests in no more than a few brush strokes, making it a perfect gift for both people young and old. It will also be something they will be able to keep hold of for the rest of their lives.
Wedding caricatures will help capture moments from the happiest day of your life in a unique way.
The caricatures will be different from photos or videos as they will express more than what you can simply see in front of you. There will be more feeling and personality drawn in to the pictures, making them more sentimental and more valuable to those who have attended the event. As the artist walks around on the day speaking to guests and drawing their portraits everyone can get involved making it a more memorable experience. They can also take their caricatures home with them as a cherished memento of the special day.
November 20, 2010
The Danish Foreign Minister has made an attempt to defuse some of the tension that was caused by caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed which offended many Muslims.
After meeting with a top Egyptian cleric, the Foreign Minister said she had found the cartoon caricatures “very regrettable.”
Lene Espersen was speaking after a book was published with caricatures denoting Mohammed under the heading, ‘The Tyranny of Silence.’
These caricature cartoons were published five years ago in the Jyllands-Postens newspaper which led to rioting and massive demonstrations in a number of Muslim countries. It also led to the death of a number of people in Nigeria in 2006.
Although the book has not printed copies of the pictures individually, it does show the front page of the newspaper in which the pictures had appeared.
Speaking at a press conference in Cairo, Ms Expersen stated that she recognised the pain felt by many Muslims when the pictures were published five years ago.
She said: “I would just like to make it clear that this was something we found very regrettable and didn’t wish to see it repeated. The Danish government respects all religious creeds and communities and condemns any attempt to demonise groups of people on the basis of religion or their ethnic background.”
The pictures sparked a lot of controversy and outrage when they were initially published as they depicted the Prophet Mohammed with a lit bomb in his turban.
A violent response ensued and an Iraqi Kurd was arrested in Norway as part of a plan to commit an attack on the Jyllands-Posten newspaper headquarters.
Dia Rashwan, from the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies has claimed that the actions of the Danish Foreign Minister would, “play a large role in calming tensions.”
Planning an event is a big responsibility. Entertainment is always going to play a big part and by getting that right, the rest of the night cannot go too wrong. Getting an artist to draw caricature pictures is a great way to get your guests laughing at themselves and fellow guests. Another advantage of having custom caricatures at an event is that guests actually have something to take home at the end of the night.
The type of event will determine the type of caricature cartoons your guests will receive. For instance if it is a family event such as a birthday party or wedding, then group caricatures may be more suitable than individual pictures. By thinking about the type of venue your event is being held in, you can also work out the best way to have your caricature cartoons drawn. A larger venue may call for a walkabout caricature artist. He or she will be able to walk around the venue, speaking to guests and drawing their pictures on the spot. This will undoubtedly prove very popular and will help break down any initial awkwardness between guests who have never met before. Everyone can get involved and the pictures will get everyone laughing.
If you are hosting a special occasion such as a Christening party or wedding you may think about having a more formal setting. Guests may be able to sit down in turn to have their caricature pictures drawn while everyone else looks on and awaits their turn all in the name of fun.
November 10, 2010
There is a good chance that many of us have seen an artist drawing cartoons and caricatures at a shopping centre or amusement park. Perhaps the person is sitting directly in front of them, or maybe the artist is drawing the caricature from photos. In all these cases it is natural to stop and watch the master at work as he puts the finishing strokes to the caricatures. In history classes, we may even have looked at propaganda posters from the Second World War with caricatures on them.
These days caricatures are even found in magazines and newspapers, so when did this whole phenomenon begin? It seems that they have always been a part of our lives, and the evidence would also seem to suggest this. In fact, they actually date back a few centuries. These pictures were originally introduced by a group of Italian artists called the Carracis. In fact, this is where the word ‘caricature’ actually originates from. They wanted to capture a piece of the subject’s personality while making them laugh.
Just like today, these drawings were also used as a tool to make a comment about politics or other serious issues. By making the issues more simplified more and more people can understand and enjoy them. In the same way, they were also used to mock political figures and to carry hidden meanings. So rather than simply drawing something that was plainly mocking somebody, the cartoons were much more clever with their hidden layers of meaning. It is popular now for people to give caricature gifts on special occasions.
Cartoon caricatures of the most powerful world leaders are set to go on display at the G20 Summit in Seoul next month.
Drawn by caricatures enthusiast and artist, Cho Won-haeng, the cartoon caricatures will express the leaders’ facial characteristics and personalities.
The artist and professor at Mokwon University spent over three months studying his subjects’ interests, quirks and facial characteristics before completing the original cartoon caricatures.
The G20 Summit itself is due to take place over a period of dates in Seoul. The first leg will run between 23 October and 2 November, while the second chapter will take place between 3 and 4 November. The final leg of the Summit will take place between 5 and 12 November.
Now, the organisers of the exhibition to show the cartoons are hoping to display them at the very same location as the Summit, the COEX hall in Samseong-dong.
Among those immortalised in cartoon form are David Cameron riding on a horse and Barrack Obama indulging in a bit of golf.
Organised by the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency (KOMACON) in collaboration with the Ministry for Culture, Sports and Tourism, it is hoped that the drawings will appeal to a large audience on a global scale.
Speaking to newspaper Chosun, a spokesperson for KOMACON claims that the chief aim of presenting the exhibition is to lighten the mood of the G20 Summit by, “bringing out the humorous and likeable sides of the leaders. “
The G20 was established in 1999 and brings together the world’s leading finance ministers and central bank governors from nineteen countries including the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. The Summit meeting is generally intended to discuss key issues affecting the world’s economy.
The G20 Summit also aims to encourage constructive discussion on an economic scale between the world’s leading economies and the new, emerging market countries
October 27, 2010
With a history as long as that of caricature, it’s perhaps surprising that the art form has digressed very little from its most amiably satirical standpoint. Caricatures have long been an acceptable, cheeky form of something like an insult, only softer around the edges.
Personalised caricatures have served their respective sides well in terms of politics since First World War. Artists were afforded the scope to display unspeakable acts and heinous personality traits in a tolerable visual form. Similarly to mainstream children’s cartoons of today, where human blood and slaughter are forbidden and thusly substituted with armies of savaged monsters or massacred robots, the versatile art of caricatures granted wonderfully sneaky artistic licence to publically mock political or prominent figures, showing a level of brutality and scorn that would perhaps, in any other medium, have been unacceptable. Modern caricature continues to grace the pages of every newspaper and magazine, humorously demonstrating the failings and follies of our peers in its uniquely palatable form.
Contemporary personalised caricature has become somewhat of a tourist attraction in locales like Covent Garden in London, and on the mainland European streets in the likes of Paris, Barcelona and Rome. In these terms, caricature is no more or less than a gentle bespoke spoof. The place of caricature in contemporary street art and performance is undisputed and remains largely unchanged. Of course being able to see the funny side of a particularly biting personalised caricature is certainly necessary before engaging the services of many street caricature artists.
In a world filled with impersonal luxury and uniformity, personalised gifts mark a gesture of authenticity so often lacking in gift giving. It’s perhaps this hunt for “the personal touch” that’s currently boosting the trade of caricature artists. Unique and witty, in all likelihood the art of caricature will continue its life narrations for many satirically endowed years to come.
October 15, 2010
Children notoriously love cartoons and animated forms of entertainment. If your child is one who loves everything drawn in the cartoon and caricature format, and you’re looking for a special gift for a birthday or upcoming occasion, you should consider a caricature cartoon portrait. This form of portraiture appeals to children, not just because of the cartoon design, but because it is designed to highlight the individuals in a fun and humorous light. Caricatures are a great surprise for that special child or grandchild in your life. As well as providing a personal gift, you can know that it won’t just be tossed aside like last year’s toys.
These gifts are also much easier to keep hidden if your child likes to snoop for their present ahead of time. The method for having the caricature portrait done is simple – just send in a photo of your child and a story or anecdote for artist inspiration. The artwork will then be discussed with you to keep you up to date in the process, before it is pencilled, drawn, shaded and coloured. For the extra special touch, the caricature even comes mounted and framed to your specifications. The caricature from photos method means that you can pick out the photo you like best of your child and have the caricature styled to it.
Cartoons and caricatures are a great, unique present that you can be sure will be kept for years to come, providing a fun and magical portrait for the special child in your life.
October 10, 2010
Like many people, you may be wondering what advantages a caricature portrait can offer over the more traditional portraiture styles. Truly, it is just a personal choice, but it can spice up the traditional format of portraits using photography or other styles of artistic design. It can take a couples’ photo and turn it into a very fun rendition of the same image for a unique display at home. If you are considering giving a caricature gift, there are a few factors to consider. For the young, or the young at heart, this form of portraiture has an amusing appeal. It is an especially great present for those who have a strong sense of humour.
The personalised caricature takes the individual’s more prominent features and exaggerates them, usually for comic effect. For many, this is a cherished gift that highlights their own cartoonish qualities. The cartoon element is certainly a draw to children and young people who love to see themselves in a new light, and in a medium that they will be much more accustomed to than formal portraiture styles.
And with children, the method of caricature can also make it an easier gift for those who are not keen on sitting for long periods of time. Sending in a favourite photo as a reference for the writer eliminates the need for a child to sit for long periods of time. This also works well for group caricatures, where a photo is easier to send in rather than rounding up a large group of people for the portrait.
« Newer Posts — Older Posts »
|
|
