Caricature for Cigna International Pte Ltd

Since freshwater crayfishing is his favourite hobby, I made it as the main theme.
In addition, it could look awkward if I use either one of the rest (his loves) as the main theme, while incorporate crayfishing in this caricature.

After the draft was approved (not focusing on resemblance as usual, at this stage) , I blocked in some colours to give the client a rough idea of how the final caricature will look like.

The whole process was very rush. I was given about one and a half days to complete it, with framing.
Usually, I need more time for the VIP package, given that the time needed to show every process, as well as to wait for the client to revert.
There were some hiccups along the way, but we managed to sort them out, after burning some midnight oil.

The framed artwork was later hand-carried to Australia by the client, and presented to this genttleman as his 50th birthday present.

digital caricature for Citibank

The client wanted a safari theme for her colleague who is retiring, as the latter will be going for safari right after her retirement. The subject will be riding on an elephant, holding a Citibank credit card in her hand.


The client opted for the VIP package, whereby she will get to see through the whole draiwng process, i.e., I will email her of every significant stage of the caricature. This isn't what I usually do for normal job, as it slows down the whole drawing process. Of course, she is willing to pay for the price..:)
This is the first draft.

Feedback was that the elephant was too big. Reduce it!
She needs more animals.

Second draft.
Feedback:-
"Bring the snake down….don’t want it at the top of her head.

Just a slimmer face for Lillibeth pls….we ladies want to look pretty even in caricatures.....
Also reduce the elephant a bit more – proportion does not matter here."No room to exaggerate in this case....
 

Third draft - approved!

Colour scheme.....

I added in some black lineworks here, to make the animals  look cuter.

The caricature is done.
"Nice.  Let us see the final version with the messages."


Lots of messages. Some hand-written and scanned, and the rest are type-setting.

The client added in a caption.
This digital caricature will be emailed to Phillipines (from Singapore).
The Citibank in Phillipines will get it printed, framed up, and present to the subject.
Power of technology. Saves time on the shipping, since they need it urgently.

Video!

digital caricature for Singapore Police Force

The draft.....
Since it is drawn digitally, I can have a better font (better than my handwriting for sure) for the captions.

Colour scheme.....


Painting the face.....

Tightening the brush strokes.....



I am done with the subject.... next is the Jurong Police division in the background. This is not any easier than the caricature.

Completed artwork!

An A2 size caricature in a huge frame.

I did this painting from scratch till final in Photoshop.
It doesn't mean that drawing on computer is any easier, as in click a few buttons/functions/filter to get this caricature out. It is still drawing and painting. Instead of drawing on paper, it is on different medium - on computer. It has more colours for me to choose from, as compared to my usual medium of colour markers, whereby the colours are preset and limited.

Caricature for Mastercard Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

In fact, this client placed order for this caricature first (few weeks ago).
But the previous one was a more urgent job, as they are having a farewell dinner for that boss.
After finishing that, I proceed with the final stage of this caricature - inking and colouring.

Client's brief:-
"Please find attached a photo. It is the gentleman we want you to draw. The caricature can show him at Ju Jia Jiao which is a water village outside Shanghai. Please also incorporate the "Great Wall of China", "Din Tai Fung" Dumpling House in Taipei, China Unionpay logo.....
Please also incorporate pictures of these MasterCard cards in the picture, maybe he could be holding them or thinking about them flying away since he's retired. Could you draw the watch on his left hand showing the MasterCard logo and the word "PayPass", with the keyring hanging out of his pocket. Could you also please draw him holding a packet of beef jerky in one hand and putting a piece in his mouth with the other.... "


First draft.

Her feedback:-
"Thanks for the draft. Please:
1. remove the beef jerky from Mr Fung's mouth, instead please drawn him holding a packet (with beef jerkey written on the bag) in his hand (not raised);
2. draw in the great wall of china in the background."


Not much hiccups with this job.


Continue with the colour scheme.


Deatiled pencil sketch - passed.


Inking - passed.


Final with the colouring.
Job done!

Caricatures for Mastercard Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

Caricatures for Mastercard

This client always opted for the VIP package, as she wanted to see every progress, and made sure that I drew according to what she required. Of course, there was a price for this.
She was willing to pay. I will have to do it, though it was a lot more tedious than my usual procedure.


The brief:-
"Tan Sri Tan's portrait (top, left)

business suit
scuba diving mask on top of head
one hand holding handphone with ear piece in one ear
banner on top "MasterCard Asia/Pacific Regional Board of Directors Meeting"
one signpost showing Hong Kong, Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo
icons of Aya Sofia (Istanbul), World Cup Soccer 2002, World Cup Soccer 2006, St. Petersburg (Russia)


Mr Heuer's portrait (top, right)

small banner on top "MasterCard Asia/Pacific Regional Board of Directors Meeting"
golfing gear (kaki trousers, polo shirt)
one hand holding glass of whisky with a leash attached to a cheetah sitting next to him
the cheetah is wearing a collar that says "Cape Town 2005"
another hand holding a stack of documents (heading "Business Case")
picture of Ayers Rock (Australia) in one corner
signpost showing distance between Purchase and Uluru (Ayers Rock) - 1,000,000 miles
a big wooden crate next to him with labels "Fragile - made in India"
a thought bubble "If Jeanie would only stop spending !!!""


For these sketches, I am more concerned on the overall layout, and not focus on the face features, as everything got to redraw on the final artwork. As usual, there will be minor amendments/adjustments here and there. Can't be avoided.


More or less confirmed here, and thought I was lucky this time.
I moved on to the detail pencil sketches, with colour schemes.


Not that lucky, and back to the pencil sketch, though the colour scheme was approved, with some minor changes.


Inked in, upon the approval of the pencil sketch.


Guess what?! Redo the inking here again, as the client's boss now decided to take out the banner at this stage.
I have to charged them additional for this, as this amendment was quite drastic, and I can't simply erase away the ink outlines. Moreover, they have approved the pencil sketch earlier on, before I proceeded to the inking. They agreed.


Finally done, after weeks of work (to and fro), as seen above.


Framing done , with inscription on metal plate. Can you tell how thick was this frame, based on the A3 size caricature? It was 8cm in thickness!!


I used this photo, but the client doesn't like it. Cheetah's eyes looked too fierce to her too.


Used another photo to draw, but his feature was a lot flatter in this photo.
She said the cheetah's eyes were too big and dark.


Another sketch. Most of the stuff passed, but she's worried about his resemblance.


Told her that I will leave the shading to do the remaining work, as too many lines on the face won't look good with the colours, when they were added onto the drawing.


Banner on top of his head was gone. Same reason as mentioned above.
These 2 artworks were scanned in at high resolution, and emailed over to her.
She has them printed out on her side, and brought them along with her on her trip to Scotland, to present to them. She told me that it could be hard for her to print them out in A3 size in Scotland, as she was afraid that the hotel which she will be staying, may not have such services.


Framed up, and job was finally done.
My conclusion - not easy money, and that's why the price was quoted high.

Caricature for Mastercard

A special client, who wanted to see the every stages of the caricature and details, from the concept, drafts, sketches, colour schemes, detail pencil sketch, inked stage to the final artwork. They have ordered such package for previous jobs.
Think they are too used to be treated that way, to ensure everything goes according to what they want. Of course, a special price for such package and privilege. Another client who used to work in this company also opted for this package too.

Client's request:-
"Can you draw him drinking beer and playing golf at the same time at the "Desaru Golf & Country Club" (the web site is http://www.desarugolfclub.com.my/index.htm),
but instead of Desaru, please spell it as DESPARU Golf & Country Club, with musical notes floating from his head.
Please include then and now MasterCard logos 1986 & 2007.
Please draw a Gurkha somewhere in the background with the words "Friend of Gurkha Contingent"
Can you add a small picture showing him receiving an award from the The Governor of Hong Kong for his work in the police force:
Please use the Royal Hong Kong Police Force logo from the following web site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Rhongkongpolicelogo.png#file"

Certain requests were added and removed subsequently as we moved on, after some discussions with me.

She wanted a statue of Guan Gong/Guan Yu (关公/关羽) and some words in the bubble.



More detailed draft. Though I have told her to ignore the resemblance of the caricature (as this is not the final detail sketch yet. Need to get the every details correct at this stage), she is still very concerned about it. Hahaha......

The colour scheme, to give her an overall idea of the whole drawing, so that she can make the decision on the frame colour at this stage.

The detail pencil sketch. Noticed the Guan Gong was out of the altar? Have some discussions with her till she finally approved to have him at this size. Main reason was that I can't get the details out at that scale.

Everything was set at this stage, waiting for the colouring.

Colouring done! I took a snapshot of the finished artwork and emailed it to her for approval, before I scan and send it for framing.
She said "It looks great!"

See this scanned version. Which is better? I still prefer the scanned version. The colour is closer to the original artwork, and a lot sharper.