Someone you know...

Have any of you carved a caricature of someone that you know or someone that you are familiar with? Is it best to work off of a photograph? When it comes to the exaggerations that are typical of caricature, how do you choose? Do you draw it, clay model it, do it as you carve?

I've been thinking about this for some time, but I'm not sure how to start.

Jerry, Hartwell, GA

[BobD]

Jerry,
In WCI Issue # 26 (Spring 2004), caricacture carver Phil Gonsowski went throught his process for converting an image into a carving. He worked from photographs, but I'd suggest that you look that article up--It's longer than I want to type in here!

Bob
Fox Chapel Publishing.

If it's somebody I know I just watch them for a few days/weeks until it hits me, then I start whittling.

you've got it right Jerry, Photo first, or sketch from live subject. Get pictures (posed) from both sides, front and back.Go for exaggerating dominant facial features into the drawing...use up your lead pencils and yer erasers till you get what you want. Then carve , thats the easy part.
Art

Art, Ed, and Bob, I appreciate the answers. I remember the article on Phil Gonsowski carving Roger Schroeder. Phil is a fantastic carver. I would never expect to reach his level of expertise. To me, the carving of Roger Schroeder is very realistic. I know that Phil said that he exaggerated the size of the ears, the eyebrow ridges, the smile lines, etc. But, those exaggerations are so subtle, that I don't see them. I just see a wonderful realistic carving. Or, maybe my concept of what makes a carving a caricature carving is radically different from what others believe makes it a caricature carving.

To me a caricature carving is of the type that CCA produces for their annual show at Dollywood. They are not realistic.

[mikeg]

Jerry,

In his book 'Caricature carving from Head to Toe', Dave Stetson says that what many people think of as caricature carving is really 'cartoon carving'. I tend to agree with you though. But then I'm still struggling to make a reasonable face, let alone trying to actually make it look like a specific person!

mikeg

[Big_Sid]

I'm presently taking a drawing class that might help me. At least I hope so. I too would like to carve people I know. The coffee shop will never be the same.

...i have only done one such carving, I used an excellent book (Carving Blockheads) as the basis for the carving. The subject was easy to carve since he had distinct features and habits. One of which was a necklace that was always worn and since caricature is the art of exaggeration (or just the opposite) it was exploded in size...

Funny you should ask this question. I have had many people tell me the the charactures I create as woodspirits look an awful lot like me. I dont see it but they all say take away the beard and mostache and it could be me. Probably because when I started carving I used to use a mirror and study my own face when I was doing a carving. That is probably why all my carvings are ugly. : ???
Colin

Gee Colin...thats scary! 8)........... :