1. digital illustration + design
project 3: caricature
plainfield central – mr. lawler art + design
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2. digital illustration + design
How to Create Caricatures
Creating Caricatures According to Al Hirschfield
“Artists are just children who refuse to put down their
crayons.” – Al Hirschfield
Likeness- If you can’t tell who it is supposed to be, then it is
not successful. All good caricatures incorporate a good
likeness of their subjects.
Exaggeration- Without some form of exaggeration, or a
departure from the exact representation of the subject’s
features, all you have is a portrait. The level of exaggeration
can vary wildly, but there must be some departure. A straight
portrait is not a caricature.
Statement- I believe a caricature must editorialize in some
way. The artist must be trying to say something about the
subject. It might be something to do with the situation the
subject is drawn in, it may just be a play on their personality
through expression or body language, it might be a simple as
making visual fun of some aspect of their persona or image.
Exaggeration itself can accomplish this in some cases. The best
caricatures say something more about the subject than that
they have a big nose.
By my ‘definition’, a successful caricature therefore looks like
the subject, is exaggerated to varying degrees and also has
something to say about the subject… some sort of editorial
comment. In “live” caricature at a theme park, that third item
is often turned way down or ignored completely, but in the
case of caricatures for illustration, it’s an important part.
Using Portraiture as a Start: Below is a review of the previous
project, using layering to create a realistic portrait.
Part 1: Study the Facial Features
First, look at the facial features and practice
drawing them realistically.
Part 2: Create a Portrait
Second, draw the portrait realistically. You can
use color and some shading – but a full value
drawing is not necessary.
Part 3: Exaggerate
Lastly, choose the most prominent facial
features and exaggerate them. If the person has
a large nose or small eyes, increase or decrease
the size.
plainfield central – mr. lawler art + design

3. digital illustration + design
how to draw a caricature mr. lawler art + design THE CELEBRITIES
plainfield central – – COPY THIS DIAGRAM AND ONE OF

4. digital illustration + design
Step-by-Step Lesson
Follow the step-by-step lesson below. Be sure to use each step exactly.
CHOOSE A PHOTO 
LINE WORK 
CROP THE PHOTO
HATCHING 
follow the step by step lesson above art + design
plainfield central – mr. lawler
BASIC SKETCH
LAYER OF CROSSHATCHING

5. digital illustration + design
Photoshop Liquefy
Open a photo of a celebrity
in PhotoShop
Turn the photo black and
white
Choose “Liquefy” from the
pull down menu: FILTER
The tools you will be using
– start with the smudger
Use low pressure and a
small size to start
Click and drag slowly 
then let go
Use this to stretch and
squash the facial features
Create a caricature using
this method
Then turn the photo into a
drawing use the
invert/color dodge method
photoshop caricature using liquefy
plainfield central – mr. lawler art + design

6. digital illustration + design
Progress Check Steps
photoshop caricature using liquefy
plainfield central – mr. lawler art + design