Caricatures in pencil

A pretty simple job, and didn't expect to get a response from my client.

"Hey Jit,

Thanks so much for your drawing on Dennis!
When he received the caricature, he was amazed! And he likes it lots.
You are indeed very talented.

Anyway, thanks for the 1st caricature done on Dennis.
I will be waiting for the caricature of myself + the couple caricature.
Yup... thanks

Genevie "

Touched! Happy!

Caricature theme - wakeboarding

Email from the client:-
"I came across your website when I was surfing for a caricature artist for my godson's birthday. I planned to give him a caricature drawing for his birthday which is in May. I meant to go down to your shop but I found out that you are moving out. So, hence I decided to email instead. My godson will be 19 this year. He is an avid wakeboarder so I hope to feature a caricature of him wakeboarding. I would like one in colour, the one where markers is used. Size-wise, I'm hoping for a reasonably big one (maybe A3 or A2, maybe you can advise), complete with frame. "

The photo provided by the client, shows her godson in action. Background is Marina Bay. The bright colour seats which we saw in the National Day Parade (NDP) can be seen. Thus, I retained it in this caricature. Made the buildings less static. Then I play on the waves, which I always loves to.
However, what I like most in this drawing, is the proportion of the figure. Bigger hands, smaller shoes, as compared to the hands. Slim and fit body, with the loose bermuda, to bring out the youthful and cheerful part of this teenager.
The client told me that it looks very nice. Thank you. I like it too. Didn't expect such result upon receiving this order initially. Sometimes, when I draw, I get some inspiration and catalyst, it will help to spice up the whole drawing. This is the satisfaction which Iget from drawing!

Caricature of Cristiano Ronaldo

The second commissioned sample.

"Jit
Attached are pictures of 1 player, Cristiano Ronaldo. Could you draw him being ecstatic after scoring a goal."


Does not have any impression of this guy. Must be a very popular soccer player since I heard Wilfred and Adam talk about him. I only know that Brazil Ronaldo (from last two World Cups). Hahaha.... Ya, very outdated.

Emphasized on his mouth too. Another prominent feature will be his standing curly hair. He has a pair of pretty eyes too. Since the client requested ecstatic, I added in tears coming out from his eyes.

This fist-clenching posture is inspired from what I read in those comic books. It enhances the overall feel, I think.


A lot more substance with the colours added on. Opted for a borderless background, to lighten up the whole caricature, since we are looking at ecstatic. Cannot be too static.

I should know the result soon, whether I am awarded this project. If the client doesn't like these 2 caricatures, I have nothing to say, since I have done my best based on their brief. Then we have to see what styles the other local cariatursists can come out with, in order to get this job.

Unique wedding theme

Client's brief:-
"Below is the description of the drawing which I hope to see
1) girl will be on the left of page, guy will be on the right
2) both people will be wearing wedding suit / gown (but instead of proper dress shoes, they can be wearing soccer boots)
3) Girl will be holding on to a paintball marker with her right hand and left hand will be over the shoulders of the guy
4) Guy will be holding on to a camera with his left hand and right leg will be stepping on a soccer ball
Attached are the reference pictures
1) Paintball Marker (redsevens169.jpg or 98custom.jpg)
2) Camera (Nikon_d3_14-24.jpg)
3) Soccer ball (adidas-soccer-ball.jpg)
4) Guy and Girl’s face (Europe(24dec-1jan07) 031 – rheinfall, schauffhausen, Switzerland.jpg)"

Not the usual wedding design which I always draw.
Reminds me of the recent movie Ah Long Pte Ltd" (老师嫁老大) by Jack Neo (梁智强), though the groom is not the 'gu niang' type. Maybe it is because of the bride's hand over his shoulder.

Caricature theme - princess

Client's request:-
"Chanced upon your website and would like to place an order for a caricature in marker with theme? Just like the goddess sample in page 1........I'm referring to the phyllis quek picture. Please view the attachment. Also, would like to add a little character,just a guy clad in casual wear(any casual attire will do) at the side of the portrait, looking up at the portrait from the side."

Took out the thumbs up posture as seen in Phyllis Quek's caricature. Think that was done sometime in 2000-2001. A bit outdated, and I don't think it looks good for a lady.
Gave her a more demure posture.
Upon receiving the caricature, the client thinks that the guy looks too big. Maybe too loud to him as an admirer. Heehee.... He requested me to paint over him with some background. However, the nature of the colour marker medium is translucent. I can't cover it like that. Thus, I proposed to have the lady caricature cut out and pasted on a colour mounting board, which should make it look better otherwise. He agreed.


Pasted it on a beige creamy colour board. Smooth and flat colour. No traces of overlapping lines as seen using colour markers.


Looks even better with a simple blue colour frame without border.

Caricature of Lisa Wang 汪明荃

Urgent order.

Client's brief:-
" Theme: Liza Wang wearing sport suit running for the China Olympic Torch Relay.
She will be holding the torch. I have provided some pictures in the last page
which you may like to incorporate into your drawing. Eg. China flag, logo, etc.
Please also put in the words “Liza 加油!” . Hairstyle: Not to bun up but the bob
style which I provided some pics on.
Special Request: I hope the drawing of her looks as similar to her as possible,
not something too comical, u know what I mean? I need this quite urgently
by next Tuesday (29/4)...... "

The client will be flying over to Hong Kong tomorrow, to give this caricature to Lisa Wang.
She told me the committee will be announcing the result, as in who will be appointed for the Beijing Olympic 2008 Torch Relay in Hong Kong. I am not sure if she gets it, at the time of posting. Didn't hear her name on the media.

Erhmmm..... think I have drawn her too young, but the client told me that the caricature looks nice, upon receiving the artwork.

Caricature of Thierry Henry

After four years, I am drawing this footballer - Thierry Henry, again.
The previous caricature is drawn as a guide and reference for me to model him into 3D caricature model (Just realised something wrong with the image proportionin this link. Will amend it later) in Maya.
This time, it is drawn as one of the 2 sample caricatures (commissioned) for a media company (Can't disclose the company name yet, since I haven't get the job yet, in case my competitors undercut by deliberately lowering his prices, just to get the job. They are hungry for jobs, especially for such big job. This is very common and I have seen many cases locally. Anyway, I believe this client would have searched for caricaturists in Singapore online. That's how he gets my contact.)
They wanted to create 100 caricatures of the footballers, but in an exaggerated form, which is very different from what I do usually. (Got license to distort them now) The client doesn't want these footballers to look completely like them, and yet can recognise them in a way or another. I have to omit the details and use the basic colour for the soccer jersey. No logos too. This is to avoid the infringement of copyrights. They will use these caricatures for mobile content download as wallpaper.
Quite an interesting job, but if I get this job, I may end up losing more clients, as this job would take 1-2 months to complete. I have to reject some urgent orders, and even those normal delivery one. Sigh. You can't have the best of both world.


Spent some time doing up this pencil sketch. I emphasize on his mouth,, and his frown. Since he opens his mouth big, what should come out from it should be his saliva. Hahaha......
Blown up on the hand part. If not, it will be too small to be seen, since the client requested the head should occupy about 70% of the whole artwork. When downloaded on the mobile phone, their faces will stand out on the small screen. True!


Put in the French flag, but not the usual flag with a pole. It is flying in the background. The client gives me the freedom to decide what to draw for each caricature.


Colours added on. The colours definitely bring out everything, especially the facial muscles, through the various layers of shades.
Added on the watermark to protect my client interest, which I never do for all my artworks. I think these watermarks will spoil the feel of the artworks. No choice. If my visitors download this cariacture (without watermark) from my blog, who will buy from them?

Caricature of Will Smith

A birthday gift for this girl who's turning 21. She loves Will Smith. Thus, the client ordered a caricature of both of them drawn together. He will be flying over to Australia tomorrow. Hence, I have to complete it by this evening (few hours delivery!)
Wilfred saw this lying on my table. "Eh, is he Will Smith?" Think I have done my job, as I don't know who he is. The girl will be very sad. Hahaha....... The client (and Wilfred) told me he's an (American?) actor cum singer. Ok. Now, I know.

Caricatures for Tech Semiconductor Singapore Pte Ltd

The client's purpose of ordering this caricature is to use it for his company poster competition on "Chemical Safety".
He already had this idea in mind, with all his bosses and colleagues standing like what you see in games with those characters standing, descriptions below each of them. He will add in the words himself. My job is to illustrate these guys with their specific items/stuff associated with their jobs, in a comical way.
I showed him what I have done for Ministry of Manpower from this blog. (Good thing about blog. I don't have to print them out. Just type the keywords on the top left search field, and I can show them my portfolio instantly.) He likes the idea of having them standing on boxes to tight everything up, with consistency. These boxes will be where he writes.
Given of the space needed for his writing, I have to split this artwork into two A2 sizes. The bosses on top, while the rest below. The only lady - the nurse, meant to be small and short, as per requested by the client, since she has a small frame.

Couple caricatures in colour

A wedding gift.
This order was placed together with the couple caricatures on mousepad, by the same client. Just that the one need to finish earlier to allow some time for the printing for the mousepad.

Caricature for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

Super urgent job again. 1 day delivery.
This guy is not smiling in the photo, and the client requested me to make him smile.
Told her can't change the smile on the mouth alone.
The facial muscle will change too, and everyone's facial muscle reacts differently when he/she smiles. Thus, I can't do it just based on imagination.
I can only play on the features, and the body postures to echo with the blur and 'gong' look.

Caricatures in ink

These caricatures are used as guideline to create animation for this couple's wedding video, as what the bride-to-be told me.

Caricature theme - cycling

I think this is my line expression at its best so far.
When I am doing this caricature, all the lines seem to answer and respond to what I want to express. Never have this feeling before.
I use G-Pen for the details on the face, enhanced them with my brush.
Then, it comes to the most interesting part. The flow of drawing is extremely smooth. All the lines like automated, comes out from my fountain pen and appear on the drawing. Gave me the feeling of drawing comic strips during my teenage time. Lines after lines, items after items. Just can't help stop drawing, even though I have finished the whole artwork.
Told myself to stop. Shouldn't add more lines, or take out some lines, as I think it will spoilt the whole drawing.
I like everything, especially of the coconut leaves. Continuous lines, and they show their movement, and I can feel the wind direction. Then comes to the shoe and jeans of the lady. They tell me that she's enjoying herself, if you can tell from the lines. Then the dust around the wheels. Seems like it can feel the joy of the couple, and reflects my satisfaction in this drawing.
Think got to stop here, if you still can't feel my excitement about this artwork......

Caricature of a lady in colour

Changed the angle of the body to face the other side (different from the photo provided) to give it a more dramatic feel.

Feedback from the client who left a message on my cbox on my blog (see sidebar)
"hey jit. thks for the caricature. my gal pal loved it! =) we had a blast. thks loads."

Glad to hear it too.
Power of caricature?!

Caricatures for Deutsche Bank AG

The client saw the above caricatures which I have done many years ago, on my website, and requested a similar one for his colleague who will be leaving the bank soon.

His other requests:-
" with ....... the guy with the fishing rod.....and an additional wood sign pegged in the ground next to the deck chair reading Gone Fishin' (pity that you moved away coz my office was at One Raffles Quay...) "

A very nice and polite client, and came all the way up to my SOHO to collect this artwork, and right on the dot. Super client!

Now, after so many years, I think my expression of lines with my G-Pen became better, as compared to the previous one.
Nicer cartoons cow too. Hahaha......

Couple colour caricatures on mousepad

This is the original artwork.


Scanned and added in a background colour for this mousepad artwork, so that it will look sweet and nice on the mousepad eventually.
Change dthe text to what the client requested.


In the end, what happened?
I sent out the wrong artwork, and only realised when I collected it.
Damn! And it was too late, as the client will be coming in a few hours' time.
Called her, but she said she will take a look.
Told her that I can do another one for her if she wants.
But she was quite happy upon receiving the end product.
She said that if she want, she will order from me another mousepad, using the correct artwork.

Caricature of Aska Yang Zong Wei 杨宗纬

This artwork is meant to be printed on T-shirts using silk-screen method.
The T-shirts are for the group of Aska's fans in Singapore.
They prefer him to be in this white jacket, grey singlet, and jeans.
The heart-shaped balloon is given to him from these fans during one of his trips to Singapore.
Thus, they wanted to capture it in too.
Initially, they wanted to do it in black and white, to reduce the printing cost.
But, I told them colour would bring out his cheek bones and facial muscle better, instead of using lines. They opted for the latter in the end, as you can see. More damage to the ir pocket, but better outcome for sure.

Frankly speaking, I heard of his name, but can't remember his face.
Hence, when the client emailed me his photos, I don't know who he is.
This upset her to some extent. Hahaha...... Getting outdated on these young pop-singers/idols.

The client told me that her friends were quite excited when they passed by a caricature shop, and they almost wanted to do it. But she told them she has a better and first choice. That's what held them back, and engaged me to do it for them. Thank you.

Caricature theme - I'm the Best!!!

To be presented to the boss.
Theme is 'I'm the Best' with 2 thumbs up.
Could appear quite flat and plain.
Hence, I play on the angle - bird's eye view, with his right thumb up magnified, while the other being a lot smaller. The imbalance and magnification break away the monotony, and the client is very happy upon receiving the artwork. She said 'very nice'.

Welles told me my competitors are copying what I do on this blog, after reading their posts. So confirmed not me being over-sensative. I can't possibly block them alone, from viewing my blog, while the public still can view it. I am telling my blog readers my approaches, feeling etc of each drawing, and I think these will make this blog more interesting. However, the drawback is that they will copy.They rephrase it, or change it a bit, and it became their own version.
Quite worked up, whenever I think of this.
Can't they just do it their own way? Be original, at least let me show some respect to them as an artist. Leave some pride to yourself. Show your skill in your works, and not in copying.

Caricature for Gillette

This was the order which I have mixed up with previous order.


The client was very uncomfortable to let me take care of the whole caricature design.
He wanted a sketch preview sent to him via email.
There's a fee for this, as I don't want to spend most of my time doing preview sketches, scanning and emails. I would rather spend more time on the drawing itself.
Even though I don't have a retail shop for a month, my orders are quite consistent, and everyday I have to spend time replying emails on customers enquiries and orders, answering calls, sorting out the orders and their requirements. These can take up few hours of work a day. No joke.
Then, I have some oversea orders. Got to arrange for online payment and shipping stuff.


Back to this caricature, this gentleman also leaving Gillette.
His colleague (my client) wanted to present this caricature (with frame) to him as a farewell gift.
He loves cricket, thus the client wants to put him in Indian Cricket jersey, with an India flag on his sleeve and India on the cap.

# The snapshot looks yellowish to me, which differs a lot from my original artwork. Maybe I will need to edit the colour and post it up again, if I have the time.

Caricature for P&G and Gillette

Mixed up.
Supposed to do up this caricature and send it for framing first, but I started with the other order for Gillette. Luckily I still have some time left to do up this caricature. Same company, different clients, and yet collection dates are so close.
This gentleman will be leaving the company soon. He has worked in China, Japan, India, Middle East, Boston etc.
The client wanted landmarks of these countries, instead of the flags to represent them.
Told her can't put in everything. and suggested to add the more prominent country landmarks like Great Wall of China, Mount Fuji and Taj Mahal. She agreed.


Upon her collection, she said that I missed out Boston and Merlion. No point arguing. Just do what they wanted, and they will be happy. This is what I learned from my past 14 year experience in this line.
I took it out from the frame and added them in, plus Big Ben from London. Sent back to my frame supplier to seal it back.