Caricature live sketching for SIA Engineering

An hour event at Merchant Court Hotel.

Thought I can park at the hotel carpark for an hour odd.

They should be charging me on per entry basis after 6pm, and the fee should be around $3, $4 max. When I stop at the entrance gantry point, I was shocked upon seeing the charge display. Thought I saw wrongly. Was that overnight parking or whole day parking fee? Guess how much? $7 per entry!!!!!! Nearly fainted. But the gantry had opened up, I can only drive through (if I reverse and knock into cars coming into the carpark from behind, that will cost me don't know how many tiems of $7!)
Crazy rate!!! Even higher than Carlton Hotel and Fullerton Hotel's parking rate of $6 per entry (or have they increased their rate recently too?) Merchant Court Hotel was upgraded to 7-star hotel, is it? Or 8-star?
I made a big turn in the carpark, heading towards to the exit. If there was no grace period, I will just park here.
Not that bad luck. No fee charged. I drove out and parked at the open-air carpark opposite the Hotel. The couple costs me $1.50 for 1.5 hours of parking. Still can have the remaining $5.50 for a good dinner. Blacklist this hotel carpark liao.

Back to the event organised by Jason from the Vision Event Management.
He has forgotten about my long-revised rate (more than 1 year already) of $200 per hour.

He thought I am still charging the market rate of $150 per hour.

I believe more than 95% of the Singapore caricaturists are still charging at this price. The remaining 5% are charging lower, ranging from $80-$120 per hour, depending on how desparate they are, in grabbing all events. They could spoil the market rate, given that some event companies just hack care whether they can do good caricatures for their client and guests. As long as they can pick up their drawing tools and draw a face on paper, they are considered as a caricaturist. This is very unhealthy for our market. I heard from most of the guests telling me that they have their caricature done before, but doesn't look like them at all. So they take it as the standard for live caricatures done locally. So when they get better caricatures, it will be a surprise for them. That's why you will see some of them quite reluctant to get their caricatures initially, till they see the first 1 -2 live caricatures done by me, and they will start to put their name on the queue list. This is the true fact, and I am not exaggerating any parts.

My rate helps to filter out those clients and event companies who don't look for quality, but quantity and low prices. I don't like to work with such clients too. No appreciation of your hardwork and skills. In fact, if they want fast caricatures, I can do up a sktech in less than 30 seconds with resemblance. No kidding, if you have seen me drawing live caricatures. My competitors saw that too. But getting 60 fast caricature skteches done in an hour is nothing compared to getting 9-11 quality live caricature sketches in an hour. What's the difference? Satisfaction and pride! This is what keeps me working in this line for 14 years. I have pride in my drawings. I signed on every piece of my artwork upon completion (except those I forgot to sign and this is rare). I am not afraid of my signature and url appearing on them. This is a guarantee of quality. Some of my clients asked me not to sign on the artwork, and I usually won't take up such jobs, except for those advertising purposes. I told them they will regret, as I won't guarantee on the quality without my signatures on it. I put all my artworks on my blog, be it satisfied or not. I believe that I have done my best within the timeframe and under that circumstances. Till now, I don't see any caricaturists in Singapore dare to put up every photos of the live sketching caricatures they have done for events. At most they put up 1 or 2 of their best caricatures done for that particular event. Maybe I am just too thick-skin. Good or not good, you judge it yourself. I will just show you what I have done. It may not look that good to you now, but it will definitely look better as we move on, as I believe the more I draw, the better I get. Skill comes from repetition!!! Right?!


Back to this event again:-

Told Jason that I have been charging at this new rate long ago, even for his previous event with me, and he can check through his account. But he agreed on the fee immediately. Thank you.


First one to grab his seat once the emcee, Jason announced the pre-event entertainment available for this evening.


The super enthusiastic one, but missed to grab the first seat.
She was laughing away on her caricature, kept bringing her colleague to my table to show them her caricature.


Bubbly lady. Laughing since she started queueing, and even after her caricature was done.

She told her friends that the caricature looked like her, but not exactly as in the form of portrait, and yet look funny and cute. Beside working on the face parts (too lonely and awkward with just the face alone), I will always add on the upper torso with different postures to give them something different. They welcomed this very much. And other caricaturists are following what I am doing now, and they told me openly that they are using some of the postures I have designed. Soon, you will see them using these postures in their drawings. I can't stop them from following or copying. What I can do is polish my skill and techniques further. I will just go on moving forward, and make sure that I don't lag behind. They want to follow, just let them be. At least, I am not following what they are doing. Good to have competition indeed. Keeps my passion burning.


Think these 2 guys are the photographers (from SIA Engineering). After taking some many photos, they think caricatures are what they can't get with their cameras.
As soon as I finished the face part, and moev on to the torso, they said 'thank you' to me and move on to continue the photo shooting.

Gave him a pro camera, with flash and a vest.


She wanted a nice face and figure as the caricature of Angelina Jolie, which I displayed for all my events. She was overjoyed upon receiving her caricature.



Requested both eyes to be of the same size. No problem!


Last one before I closed for the day.


Must snap a photo of my 1 hoiur hardwork, since they are still lying around for drying. In fact, most of them were dried. Some of the guests were very anxious to get their caricatures, but just afraid that it was not fully dried, and dared not ask me.

Caricature live sketching for a wedding dinner

2 hour event at Raffles Hotel, for the wedding dinner of Joelle Lau & Jos Briggs.
Think this sketching service is part of the wedding package the couple got from the wedding specialist - Heaven's Gift.
My job is to sketch the guests' caricatures before the dinner starts.

The lady who controls the crowd for me.



A nice lady, offered me drinks and tidbits while I am sketching the guests.


One of the VIPs for this dinner. Guessed she's the mother of the groom.


What a pity! She blinks while I snap this photo. I think this caricature looks very much like her.


This is a good one, I think.



Sketched half way, and he needs to be in the ballroom, as the wedding dinner is starting soon.
Don't want to ink his caricature based on imagination, as many details and resemblance will be lost.
So while waiting for him, I inked in the torso and fingers part.


Since all the guests are in the ballroom, they request me to shift into the ballroom.


Not much time, and this is the last guest to be sketched before I leave.

Caricature live sketching for Avaya, Radiance Communications and Singtel

3 hours event (6:30pm-9:30pm) at Upper Club, CHIJMES.
Used the paper with their company logos on it, prepared by Radiance.

Think this event was to celebrate the achievement of good results of Radiance Communications , Avaya and Singtel partnership.


Kicked off with this bushy eyebrows gentleman.

Easy-to-draw features - round face, short chin, 2 prominent moles.

Looked good to me A good start!


He wanted to check his email with his Blackberry while I was sketching him. Seems like his job/interest whenever he was free.

Told him if he looked down while I was sketching him, his caricature will be looking down.
Think that posture was not what he wanted. He stopped and look up. Hahaha.....


Big bunny teeth.



2 jokers - keep cracking jokes while I was sketching them.


Wanted to check his email from his Blackberry too, buthis colleague (second guy from top) told him that bettter to look up, if he doesn't want to looked down in his caricature. Seems like this method works!


Inetrval as the VIPs are giving speeches. Took some photos of this environment.

Noticed that they didn't hire any professional photographer to shoot for their event.

Saw one of them using those consumer type foolproof digital camera snapping around.
So my Nikon D80 looked a bit 'loud' among them.


See this unique ceiling decorations. Looked like falling knifes to me.
Thought they were steel plates.
After examining for some time, I think they could be made of silver cloth or paper type of material, as they swayed a bit in this air-conditioned club.


After about 20 minutes of VIPs speech, this gentleman grabbed his chance to be the first one to have his caricature sketched.


She said this caricature was better than those photo studio glamour shots.


Played up on his hairstyle, eyebrow and chin.



See? She's back, claiming that all her friends and colleagues said that that caricature didn't look like her, except for the mole. Was it? Then draw the mole can liao. One dot on the paper? She laughed. Maybe I was too lenient in previous drawing. This round, I don't hold back much. Played up more on her mouth and teeth. Added in a cigarette on her lips upon her request. And she was very happy. She said that was the one which was missing. She looked too good in previous caricature. Got such people one meh?!




She said this caricature looked very much like her, even when I was sketching her halfway, and upside down. Was it? Not chance to reverse it and see.


She wanted a sexy good looking body. Gave her a nice bust line, and she was so happy with it.


Left out the braces upon her request.


She doesn't want to include her eyebags, claiming that she didn't sleep well the night before.
Will it be that bad without good sleep overnight?
Told her won't look that close to her, but she said nevermind.
Luckily still turned out good.


Admiring her own caricature?

Caricature live sketching for Christopher Tan 60th Birthday Party

Venue - Ritz Carlton Hotel, poolside restaurant.
Initially a 45min event, engaging 3 caricaturists (Reggie, Kamal and me)
We gave the client 1 hour, since we quoted her 1 hour (minimum booking)
And the guests came early, and we started at 6:30pm, instead of 6:45pm.
Due to popular demand, we were asked to extend till all the guests have their caricatures done.


First hit.


The birthday boy. A friendly and nice guy.


A very shy girl. Doesn't smile, and doesn't want to appear in the photo.


Nice and humourous couple.


He gave me the impression of sthose singer in the 70s. Perhaps the way he dressed, and his hairstyle.




An enthusiastic lady, wanted to get her caricatures done by all the 3 caricaturists.
She gave me the impression that she wanted to look pretty in teh caricature.
Saw a bit of her eyebags, but not obvious. Problematic since I was using fountain pen.
If I draw in, it will be too obvious. Don't draw in, it won't look like her.
And I choose the latter. Looking at this photo, I think I have made a wrong decision.


The caricature of the birthday boy. Think should be done by an oversea caricatursist.
Not the style I see in local caricaturists, if I am right.

Caricature live sketching for Institute of Estate Agents 9th Dinner & Dance

An hour event at Grand Copthorne Waterfront.
Institute of Estate Agents - seems like I did live sketching for them previously.
Searched through my record on my blog. Wah! Really!
That was last year. Same event company too!
And I drew that chairman too!



The chairman. He asked me whether I can start at 6:24pm (should be starting at 6:30pm)
Bad luck that day, as the ink in my bag was not closed tightly. All spilled out, and I have to clear the mess. Told him that I will be starting in a few minutes' time, but need to clean up my ink bottle at least.



A very observant guy. He can tell from the way I tilted my fountain pen to achieve different thickness of the lines. Think he's the first one to do so.



My first impression of this guy was his face was really good for caricature.
Crew top, knife-shaped eyebrow, small eyes, thick lips and pear-shaped face.


She asked me not to draw her face too round, but that was the shape of her face.
The first thing I drew in was a round circle, and a pointed chin.
Her colleagues can tell the resemblance from my pencil sketch alone.


This pear-shaped face scared him off.
" Is my face so round? Must cut on diet already."


Her mum was so worried that this little girl won't get her chance to get her caricature done. She will be very disappointed. Think they were overjoyed when I told them that she will the last one before I stopped. The time left was just nice to have her caricature done.

Caricature live sketching for HSBC Insurance D&D

An hour event at Marriott Hotel, Grand Ballroom.
The event company initially engaged 2 caricaturists from me.
On Monday, they called me to get one more artist for additional $100.
However, this is not the market rate, and I can't find any caricaturists at this rate.
So they turned to other sources.
Then on Monday night, a returned customer (Derrick's wife) called me to enquire my rate, but exceeded her budget.

When Reggie and me reached the venue today, we saw that Derrick and his wife, and the other 2 caricaturists. What a small ring! Anyway, this 2 caricaturists' rate weren't $100 per hour.


The event organiser wanted to dress us in clown suits, but I rejected. We are artists, and not clown. Our job is to draw.
They compromised.
Now, we have to put on beret and suspender (provided by the event company) for this event.
This green beret is definitely not a good colour for me. Hahaha.....
No choice. This is the only colour left for me.
Luckily Reggie brought his own beret, and let me have the black beret.
Meet some of the few caricaturists in town. Quite rare that few caricaturists meet together in an event. Of course must have a snapshot. (Next time don't know how many years later. We will be older by then!)
From left:- William, Reggie, William, and Jit (me la!)
Considered quite a big event, as usually event organiser only engaged 1 caricaturist for an event.
The biggest event I have done was for Singapore General Hospital. That was few years back, when they engaged 6 caricaturists. From what I can recall, they were Welles, Reggie, Zaki, Wilson, Eric and me.


The organiser asked me to change location and sit near the entrance, while sketching this guy.




I like this caricature. The couple can really smile right from the start till the end.
This made me feel less stressed when sketching them.
As such, the result came out quite good.


They were sketched by another caricaturist, but done individually.
But upon seeing the previous couple caricatures, they wanted to get one done together too, and he said to his wife "這個比較像" Thank you..
Only knew that they were the bosses when I overheard that the previous couple said "這是老板和老板娘" when they were laid on the table for drying.


Definitely a good face for caricature. He just looked so comical to me at first glance.
Small eyes, thick lower lip, and long chin. Best caricature done this evening!


One caricature has been collected. He can't wait to get hold of it. Came back a few times to check with me whether it has dried up.

Caricature live sketching for Misumi Southeast Asia Pte Ltd D&D

An hour event at Carlton Hotel.


See what the event company (Events Architects) did for me?
Saw it in yesterday's event (by organised by the same company too.)
Think they may have snapped this photo in one of their events, while I was in action.
The sketches should be ripped off from my webpage.





Look here, look there, except looking at me. Too shy? Hahaha.....


Family caricatures.
This boy is really cute. Styled his hair too, with a tie.


She doesn't smile, even when I told her to smile so many times. Give up.



All waiting for the ink to fully dried up.
Like to snap such photo. Can see how many sketches I have done in an hour, with quality control.
This round quite a lot - 10 caricatures! Usual was 9.

Caricature live sketching for Hypercoat Enterprises Pte Ltd

A late event (8:30pm-9:30pm) at Amis, Song by the Sea, Sentosa, as the guests will be coming in late.
So the client requested me to start my part later, instead of the usual 6:30pm.


Super long event name:-
Hypercoat Enterprises Pte Ltd Client Appreciation Dinner 2008 & Grand Opening of W.S. Wilson Asia Pte ltd

My part started about 10 mins late, because of the VIP speeches and the grand opening ceremony.


I used the bounced flash for the first short, but the ceiling is those grill wooden plank type.
The light didn't bounce back and fall nicely on the subject.
No choice, and I have to use the direct flash.

Exaggerated on the size of her mouth.



This was a nice one.
I like it.



He looked so sleepy when I was sketching him.


HIs features are comical. Fun to draw.


He's very interested into photograpghy.
Asked me about my Nikon D80 body and lenses, and the Nikon Sb800 flash.
He intends to get the D200.
Told him if he has the budget, of course get the D300.

Caricature live sketching for DynaForce Gala Dinner

Quite rare to have events on Sunday, especially at Sentosa.
Nevertheless, still took up this job, as this event organiser (Jason from Vision Event) was one who appreciate my art and skill. Though I have increased my rate, he still engaged my service. He will always tell me, after the event, "You are the best caricaturist I have seen in Singapore!" "You are the best at your works!" etc. Makes me feel as if I am really that good, though I know I am not that good yet. I know myself better. Still have lots of room for improvement.

The event was held at Amara Sanctuary Resort.
I was there early, just in case I am caught in a traffic jam along the way, CTE especially.
Jason afraid that this event slipped my mind.
He gave me a ring to check, and I was already at the carpark.


After setting up, the guests were not here yet, not the time to start yet, and nothing better to do, brought my Nikon D80 to snap some photos of this new building. Testing how wide my wide angle lens can cover. Not as wide as I thought.


It was slightly brighter in this photo, as compared to the actual lighting in this lobby.


Kicked off by getting this lady to sit down and being sketched. If not, I will be bored to death.
After that, the guests started to crowd around and have their names written on the queue list.



Quite a good one, right?


This one even closer resemblance.
Shorted the feather on her head, so that there won't be a big gap on top.


This guy was easy to draw. Long face, closer eyes, long nose with 2 moles. Can't run away one.


He told me that he will look boyish if he smiles. But a smiling caricature is always better than a serious one. The outcome was quite good, isn't it?


This guy can really hold his smile.


Summary of what I have done for this event. All lying on the table, waiting for the ink to be dried, before inserting into the plastic bags.

Caricature live sketching for a birthday party

A 2-hour (9pm - 11pm) event at IndoChine in Asian Civilisations Museum.
Was there around 8:45pm, but the client was not there yet.
Took photos of the night scenes along Singapore River, since I have nothing to do and my Nikon D80 with me. Without tripod, I can only look for supports I can find there.


The client who engaged my caricature sketching service. A nice guy.
Saw the flyer he was showing his guests. Think he got it from my shop.
He asked me whether I need any champagne.
Wow, I would love to, but I can't as I need to sketch them.
Just afraid it will affect my concentration.
Moreover, I need to fetch my mum and uncle from their friend's wedding dinner after this event.
Thus, I declined his offer.

Back to the drawing part.
His eyes was rather big when I was sketching him.
Perhaps due to the bright flash, I tried 3 snapshots, and still can't get his big eyes.


The client's wife - the birthday girl.
He asked me to be careful for this caricature. Hahaha.......
A nice one. No worry.
In fact, her birthday is tomorrow.
She asked me what date I should put when I signed off?
I preferred to use the date when this caricature was drawn.


He asked me how I know his name is James?
Hahaha..... just want to draw him touching his beard.
Since he mentioned that, I added on smoke coming out from his index finger, and drew in a bullet and a bullet hole, to make it more complete.


Requested to draw her three-quarter view, so that we can see her hair being tied up.
If not, it will be mistaken that she has short hair if I drew her caricature from the front.
Looked quite good, right? Can see her big eyes, with curly long eyelashes.


She requested to make her looked very pretty before she was drawn.
Pretty enough?



George Bush's eyebrows and eyes. Quite close.
I thought this caricature was quite a good one in terms of resemblance, but it was not shown in this photo, due to the bright flash.


This one was a good one to me too.


She said she looked very sweet in the caricature. Her friends said so too.
I think so too. Once again, the photo didn't said so. Smaller eyes when the photo was snapped.


She was very nervous when I was sketching her, but was happy upon receiving her caricature.
The caricature reminded me of Karen Mok. Do you think so too?


This hair can't be missed, but have to miss some lines on her face. That's what her friends requested for their own caricatures too. I told them under the dim lighting of the restaurant, they should be rest assured that I wouldn't be able to see those lines. Hahaha......

Caricature live sketching for Yamazaki Mazak Singapore Annual Dinner & Dance 2007

Back to Hilton Hotel today, but for another company's event.


Exaggerated his face more, but he thinks his face is too round. I think it is fine, since it is a caricature. We are not talking about the exact proportion here.




His friends said he looked too handsome in the caricature. Is it?!...... I think so too. Hahaha.....


Stretching his mouth wider here.
Under the lighting of that ballroom, his mouth looked wide.
When taken with my camera, with bounced flash, it looked smaller here. Surprised? Me too.


His eyes looked smaller here in the photo, perhaps due to the flash, and he was smiling more.


He has unique features. Easy to draw. But runs out of idea what posture I should give him. Thus, drawn a full body standing posture for him to compensate.

The company VIP was here early. The pre-event entertainment ended 5 minutes earlier, as all the guests need to be in the ballroom, to show respect for the VIP.

Caricature live sketching for Tanker Pacific Dinner & Dance 2007

An hour event at Hilton Hotel, Grand Ballroom.
Most of the guests are all dressed up. Is it Victorian or "Pirates of the Caribbean" theme?
Not sure.
Anyway, they took me longer time to sketch out their costumes.
Thus, less guests drawn.

Caricature live sketching for another birthday party

Birthday celebration for this gentleman's 60th birthday at Sano Bar at One Fullerton.

1.5 hours event for me.
Managed to reach One Fullerton carpark around 8pm (from SSC event) without any traffic jam (NYE countdown near Esplanade tonight), as I took the route of ECP, exit from Prince Edward Road, instead of taking the route of Nicoll Highway.

Saw some crowd along the shoreline. Found the outdoor white tent of Sano Bar. Thought I will be sitting there to sketch for the night, at least can have a nice view of the Esplanade side.
Called the client, and only to find out that their party was held indoor - the other part of Sano Bar.
Not that bad at all. At least air-conditioned.

This little boy was second on the queue list. Waited eagerly for his turn.
Since the little girl (see below) wasn't around, I started with him.
Quite surprised when he told me he likes bowling.
He uses a bowling ball for 6-year-old kid. No wonder.....


Daughter of the birthday 'boy'.






Didn't realise that she wrote her name twice on the queue list.

She asked me if I can draw from her previous caricature, which I have just drawn.
I would prefer to sketch from the real person again.Anyway, some details were lost in the caricature sketching process.Hmmm...... if I use the first caricature as reference for the second piece, second piece as reference for the third piece, and so on.... wonder what will happen to the tenth piece. Is it the best version? Minimum lines which will capture the essence of that person? Or can't recognise that person at all? Maybe can try it one day... but I don't like to repeat. Already felt bored sketching her face for second time.....



As I was sketching halfway, I realised there were quite a number of people (think more than 20 people) crowding outside ( we were sitting next to full-height glass windows). Was the crowd interested in my drawing, or in this sexily dressed in low V-cut dress lady? Could be both, as there were some ladies among the crowd, but most of them were guys! Hahaha.....

Caricature live sketching for Singapore Swimming Club (SSC)

An hour event at Singapore Swimming Club.
Name of the event was NYE - New Year's Eve?
Think it was meant for their members.

She was a bit nervous when I was sketching her.
Looked left and right except looking straight at me, which I have told her to many times.


She told me her caricature was very nice, after the event. Thank you. Glad that she likes it.



An enthusiastic gentleman, waiting eagerly for his turn to get his caricature done.


First look at him told me that his caricature will come out good, as he has unique (and thus easy-to-draw) features. Thick pointing-inward eyebrows, smiling small eyes, long slim nose, but nostril facing the front. Beside there were the high forehead and long ears etc. Too many easy-to-capture features. Can't go too far off, in terms of resemblance.


While I was sketching her, the SSC organiser asked me whether I can extend my service for another hour.Told her that I can't, as I have another event to sketch for .She told her guests that she will getting me back for their next year event, since now she knew that I am so good. (That's what she said.) Thank you!




Last one, gave him a full body, as I can't think of a better posture for him, and I have some time left, but not enough for another caricature.

Caricature live sketching for a birthday party

A birthday party for a Jewish girl turning 12 today, held in Hilton Hotel.
Quite shocked that there were more than 200 guests here.
Considered a big birthday party to me, at least.
I was placed at a corner where nobody will notice.
Told the organiser make an announcement of a caricature sketching service available.
He had me seated at the reception table instead.

He is a singer. Wanted a microphone in his hand. Added in the musical notes, or else could be an emcee too.
See the kids queueing behind him?
They were so excited about having their faces being drawn on paper.




The little girl has a pair of beautiful eyes. Not really shown in this photo.


The birthday girl.
Looked rather matured to me.
She wanted a Pinocchio long nose for her caricature.
Told her that it won't look good (though she has a rather big nose)
Drawn her a puppet body instead, and she loves it!
Don't tell me she's a puppet.....


Time is running out, but he pleaded me to do a samurai body for him.
'Boy, your wish is fulfilled!'


He pleaded me to draw him in a bikini suit.
Seems like these kids have all sorts of funny ideas.


He wanted a snake tongue sticking out from his mouth (???!!!), with a gun in his hand.
He told me the caricature looked cool, upon receiving it.

Caricature live sketching for Madhatter Affairs D&D 2007

An hour event at Fort Canning, The gallery.



Right from the beginning I saw his face, I knew I will enjoy this sketching session.
His features looked comical and fun to draw to me.


This guy especially. He's quite humorous too.
His facial expressions, head shape and hairline reminded me of Eric Tsang. 曾志伟.


Can't hold her smile, or to be precised - can't smile. So, a non-smiling caricature.



The guests surrounding me said her caricature had the closest resemblance among them.




This one too. Closest resemblance. But a bit extreme on her chin. Hahaha.......

Caricature live sketching for Swiss Reinsurance

Long name:-
Swiss Reinsurance - Industrial Risk Insurer Asia Pacific.
Reggie got this job, and get me to sketch with him, as his client needed 2 caricaturists for their event.
2 hour event at Brewerkz at Riverside Point.



The guests said this caricature looked very much like her.


She wanted a younger version of her.