Save The Doodle! Caricatures, Illustrations & Doodleful Design

Its Christmas Card Time!

2011-12-17T15:50:00.000-05:00

Hey there, Doodle fans... Thanks for stopping by!I'm excited to share with you our family's third annual Christmas Card (See first year: here, second year: here). I consider these cards to be one of the most fulfilling and fun projects of the year. Who wouldn't want to "zap" themselves into a cartoon?

Front of Card

Back of Card

Over the past year I have been delving pretty heavily into vector art and have enjoyed it so much that I am deciding to offer it as a service of its own. I call it "Vector-oon". To better explain, vector art has a crisp, professional look to it and the artwork can be scaled to any size without loss of quality. I just love how it looks when printed out.

Inside of Card

Here are some glimpses of the artwork up close. This is to emphasize what I mentioned previously about the artwork maintaining its quality at any size.

A DOODLE UPDATE: I've recently updated the portfolio section of my site. Have a look and see!

Somewhere in there you'll find a sneak peek of some iPhone (iOS) game background art I've been very-busily working on. I am excited about this project and have been looking forward to sharing some more glimpses of it. Currently the game is set to be released in February. No details (such as characters or title) can be released just yet, but I will let you in on the action once I'm able. Until next time...

Merry Christmas! Enjoy the season of "giving" !

Wellsville at the Mall, This Weekend!

2011-11-01T13:30:00.000-04:00

Get into action this Saturday, November 5th from 10:30am - 2pm, in the Center Court of the Millcreek Mall with the Wellsville gang for an activity-packed event for ages 12 and under. I will be there drawing caricatures for the kids that attend!

Details: When arriving, kids will pick up a Wellsville station card at the registration table and use it to rotate through 3 inter-active Wellsville stations – Nutrition Junction, Activity Avenue and Healthy Hollow. Once they participate at each station they will have their station card marked at that station. After the 3 stations are marked, return the card to the registration table. PRINT your child’s name and your email address on the card. Your child will receive a chance to win a bike and get a numbered ticket for a caricature drawing (time permitting). You must be available when your child’s number is announced or will lose your place. Kids can get their face painted and participate at Esteem Stream while they wait for their turn. The bike drawing will be held at 2 p.m. YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN. You will receive a free monthly Wellsville health E-newsletter, which includes health, nutrition and physical activity tips for your entire family!

Wellsville is a program of WellFit Incorporated, a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and empowering kids and families to lead healthy, active lives. Wellsville consists of a school program, a website, a weekly TV show on FOX 66, DVD series and community events.

You're invited to come check out the fun! It's free!

(Caricatures are free for children ages 12 and under.)

Featured: James Gurney

2011-09-15T22:44:00.000-04:00

Hey Doodle Fans!I wanted to share with you a video I discovered that is about an artist named James Gurney who you can check out at http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com. From what I hear, this guy is an obsessive "life observer", sketching and doodling just about everything he comes in contact with whether it be human, dog, or lamp post! I hope this video brings some inspiration to you as it has me.

ReWired!

2011-09-15T11:46:00.000-04:00

Every summer my church organizes a Sports and Arts camp for children K-5th grade. I always enjoy working on the branding for this event (see last year's here), its a chance to draw some cool cartoons! Below are some character designs, CD packaging, brochure design, and some character rejects! To help make this event a marketing success, I also designed a door hanger, outdoor banner and T-shirt (pictures not shown).

Being that this year had a Sci-Fi theme, I was instantly brought back to my days of watching "Duck Dodgers in the 24th and Half Century!". To say the least, I was pretty excited to work on the concept. Some of the inspiration I had was from movie stills of the summer blockbuster, Tron.

This is the first time I've designed CD packaging. Its fun creating a design that can be used in a variety of ways. In this case, I took advantage of the color scheme (black, neon yellow, pink and blue) to help break up the pattern.

(Above) We had to give some homage to Tron ;)

(Above) The brochure design

Lastly here (See above) are some design rejects I wanted to share with you. These guys may have never left the drawing board, but they at least get to hang out on the blog...as long as they behave themselves! Thanks for stopping by! Have a comment or question? Leave one below!

Health Fair in the Square

2011-09-08T11:54:00.000-04:00

Calling all families!The Erie County Medical Society is presenting the 2nd annual “Health Fair in the Square” in downtown Erie THIS Saturday, September 10th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wellsville (and yours truly) will be there! Join us for free adult health screenings, activities, games, kids bike drawings, adult prize raffles and FREE caricatures!!

Free Caricatures This Weekend!

2011-08-19T23:29:00.002-04:00

Featured on GoErie.com's Street View

Wellsville will be featured in Celebrate Erie's Kid Zone again this year. Expect bigger and better! Wellsville and the gang (including yours truly) will be there Fri-Sat-Sun (August 18-20), 12noon-4pm! As usual all activities are FREE and that INCLUDES caricature art! Get a chance to win prizes, including a Wii game system!

Wellsville will be in front of The Warner Theater. Bring your whole family down to check us out!

Doodle On, Doodle Tour!

2011-08-11T16:26:00.001-04:00

Why, hello there!

Summer has been busy to say the least as the Doodle Tour continues to make its way around. Below are some highlights from some of the places I've been recently.

Like what you see? Check out many more pics on my flickr page

(Above)
The girl on the left kept coming back with new friends to be drawn with. I ended up drawing her three times! The lady on the right is her mom and is someone I would consider a true survivor!

(Above)
Sometimes I have people approach me with an idea...this is becoming a popular one!

(Above)
As soon as they sat down, these kids had the same expressions as what you see here.
I just had too... ;)

(Above)
I think this might be my favorite of all the most recent caricatures I've drawn. The lines are loose, yet controlled, and the exaggeration is pretty true to the subjects.

(Above)
Here's a glimpse of a graduation party I was at. Towards the end of the party, the ideas kept getting zanier...

Left: Mr. Wizard with his wand
Middle: Mr. Mickey Mouse
Right: Mr. "Pointer?" with the giant E.T. finger

Check out many more pics on my flickr page !

Get Down with the Clown!

2011-08-03T19:35:00.000-04:00

Hey you, need a laugh?

In case you missed me at Discover Presque Isle, you can catch me and all the doodles this Thursday evening, Friday evening and all day Saturday (Aug. 4 - 6) at Dan Rice Days smack in the middle of downtown Girard, PA. I know what you're thinking, "Dan Rice the football player"? No, my friends, "Dan Rice the clown". You don't want to miss it, its time to get down with the clown!

For an event schedule, click here.

This Weekend - Discover Presque Isle

2011-07-25T20:00:00.000-04:00

Catch some sun and a ton of fun under the bright orange tent this weekend at Discover Presque Isle (July 29-31, 2011). This event is worth checking out. There is so much to do and see!

For an event schedule, click here.

Historical Hysteria!

2011-07-22T13:15:00.002-04:00

Hey there, how's your day going?

Its been a busy week, but I'm finally able to post some pics from Waterford Heritage Days. The event was a major success! I drew around 120 people and had a lot of great feedback. I especially enjoyed pushing some of the creative limits on some these. To see more, check out the flickr page. Have a comment? Leave one below!

Catch me next at Discover Presque Isle Days July 29-31, 2011.
Have a doodleful weekend :)

Waterford Heritage Days - This Weekend!

2011-07-14T14:32:00.000-04:00

Hey there, how's your week going?

"Doodle Tour 2011" is making its way to the Waterford Heritage Days this weekend (July 15-17). Experience the historical and the hysterical all in one event.

For an event schedule, click here.

Featured on Prismacolor.com

2011-07-12T20:17:00.000-04:00

I'm excited to mention that I'm featured on Prismacolor.com! Click here for a direct link.

The Turtle Way

2011-07-07T12:55:00.003-04:00

Happy Thursday Doodlers!

I'm pretty busy at the moment finishing up some artwork for the second season of Wellsville (Only three episodes to go!), but I wanted to share with you some illustrations I recently did for a friend of mine. The illustrations will be used to professionally brand a product called "The Turtle Way". Here's a description: "A new scientific plan to stay healthy, live longer, and keep your waistline trim is now available in a booklet called “The Turtle Way”! The concept is based on secrets within one of God’s beautiful creations: the turtle."

Sounds intriguing!

Seen here are some different concepts I put together. I also "dissected" the turtle so he may be used for some puppet-style animation. All of the final work was created using Adobe Illustrator, which is a program I've been taking full advantage of lately. One of the great benefits of vector artwork is that it can be scaled to any size without losing quality. Godzilla-size graphics, anyone?

If you're interested in seeing other character designs I've created click here.

Thanks for checking out the blog. Have a doodleful weekend, and make sure to keep the dust off that sketchbook ;)

A Grin for the Win!

2011-06-27T16:27:00.002-04:00

My new Doodle Tour business cards came just in time for the Fest!

Over the weekend "Doodle Tour 2011" captured the hearts and grins of bystanders and courageous contestants alike at Erie Summer Festival of the Arts. While its true that the weather didn't cooperate, the last day was filled with sunshine and a festive crowd of art-goers! Below are some fantastic Doodle fans showing off their more or less cartoonish resemblance (Check out more pics on my flickr page). I appreciate everyone who stopped by to be doodled or those just saying "hey!" It was great seeing all of you.

(Above) Here are some genuinely glad gentlemen, proudly sporting their caricature.

(Above) No need to squint...here's a closeup for you!

(Above) While drawing her, I discovered that this girl also is an artist, so I asked her "what do you like to draw?", "CRAZY THINGS" she replied. Amazing...In all my time of drawing caricatures I've never heard this kind of reply. *High fives* fellow artist!

(Above) I am really, really glad this group sat down to be drawn. They pretty much wore their personality and sense of humor on their sleeves!

(Above) Instead of spending his money on something to eat or a plastic "Sponge Bob toy", this young man spent it on a necklace made in Nigeria. I think this says a lot about him. I was impressed to say the least.

Like what you see? Leave a comment below...

Check out more pics on my flickr page!

Erie Summer Festival of the Arts

2011-06-22T00:01:00.001-04:00

Ahoy Doodle Fans!

"Doodle Tour 2011" is making its way to the Erie Summer Festival of the Arts this weekend (June 24th-26th) in Liberty Park (now known as "Burger King amphitheater"). This event is one of my favorite local events -- its all about art and music! Stop on by and while you're there pay the Doodler a visit.

For an event schedule, click here.

Accounting Gone Wild! Pt.2

2011-06-18T15:23:00.007-04:00

To have a Part Two of "Accounting Gone Wild" wasn't necessarily my intention, but there is no complaining here. I got another job making cartoons! **The doodles rejoice**

Above: The poster design (originally shown here) printed and waiting to be displayed at Day One of the "Business Acumen for Early Learning Program" workshop.

The project continues where it left off with a goal to give basic accounting principles a fun and kid-friendly look. The illustrations I created are being used in a training manual for business owner's of Early Childhood Development Centers. At the beginning of each chapter, a full-page illustration is shown that represents the overall concept of that chapter. There are a total of 5 chapters and I was given the challenge to unite these concepts with one theme.

After researching and then doodling some ideas, I came up with the idea of creating a structure where these concepts would "live." Once I was able to establish a strong base for the concepts, the ideas began flowing...

Above: A final sketch of the cover.

I included the image above to show the differences between the final sketch and the finished illustration shown below. As you may see, there are some subtle changes between the two. Most of the changes were requested by the client. I always appreciate collaborating with clients during the process. Its amazing what two or three sets of eyes will find!

Above: The final illustration of the workbook's cover.

I'm sure I had works from M.C. Escher in the back of my mind when I was brainstorming. hmmm...

I'd like to give a shout out to my brother, "Digg-It Dave" who drew the building's structure. Another nice collaboration :) **High five**

I like to emphasize that coming up with some of the other minor details was possible once I had a strong central theme. It's worth the sweat and labor of the initial design concept.

Above: "The Balance Sheet"

Each illustration represents some kind of activity you may see at an Early Childhood Development Center. By the way, that's the modern term for a daycare.

Above: "The Income Statement"

The red carpet represents the steady climb of an arrow in a graph, and the balloons help draw the eye up. Each new child that registers equals income for the facility. If you're wondering about the blue area to the right, that's where the text is located on the final layout.

Above: "Money Measures"

I really liked adding the "twin" doll next to the girl.

Above: "Cash Flow"

So the doodles continue...

What other topics can be brought to life?

Call me and we can chat about it :)

Like what you see? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

29 Ways to Stay Creative

2011-06-11T19:45:00.001-04:00

Here's a neat vid created by "To-Fu" on Vimeo. I hope this inspires you to be your creative best. Enjoy!

Up Next...

2011-06-10T13:27:00.002-04:00

I hope you are having a terrific week! If you missed me at the Erie's Rib Fest, find me next at Erie's Summer Festival of the Arts June 24th-26th in Liberty Park (now known as "Burger King amphitheater"). Simply put, the event is about strolling through a family friendly park and sampling the works of dozens of juried artists and crafters who create their works just for you. Sounds pretty fun, huh? I'm looking forward to being there again. ~~I'm even considering having some~~ ~~PRIZE DRAWINGS!~~ Stay "tooned" for all the details, doodles, and news to amuse!

For an event schedule, click here. Have a "doodleful" weekend folks!

UPDATE: There will be no prize drawings since I'm still deciding the best way to do that (Bummer!) However I am still planning to do this at some point this summer (Hooray!)

Ribs, Bibs and Nibs!

2011-06-06T17:27:00.001-04:00

Over the weekend, if your face wasn't in a rack of ribs, it was probably in my booth. Kicking off the season for Doodle Tour 2011, I drew caricatures at Erie's Rib Fest. I would like to give a BIG THANKS to everyone who stopped by to say "hi" or to be drawn. It was really nice to see all of you! Below are some pictures from the event. To see more, please mosey over to my Flickr page. I heard that some of you stopped by, but I wasn't there. Many apologies... I was doing a bit of juggling of jobs! You can find me next at Erie's Summer Festival of the Arts in Liberty Park June 24-26.

After a long weekend a young couple sits down at my booth. "Draw us however you'd like". What a relief! As you can probably tell, I had a bit of cramped creativity. They LOVED it!

To see more pics, visit my Flickr page!

Wellsville Award!

2011-06-05T22:47:00.001-04:00

Just recently the Wellsville TV show won an "Excellence In Broadcasting Award" in the category of "Outstanding Television Program Design For Children" from the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters (You can see an article here) It's pretty exciting to be a part of the gang. I'm so grateful to be on such a great "award winning" team! What an honor!

Announcing "Doodle Tour 2011"

2011-05-26T14:21:00.001-04:00

Tour with the bright orange tent this summer! If you love outdoor festivals and live in Northwest Pennsylvania, make a plan to attend any of these events. While you're there stop by and get your caricature drawn!

Stay up to date with the Doodle Tour by visiting this blog, or by following @savethedoodle on twitter!

Calling All Doodle Fans!

2011-05-22T23:32:00.001-04:00

If you've had a great experience with Save The Doodle you can help me spread the word by doing any of these three things:

1.) Write a review on my Google place page.

2.) Send your friends to the Save The Doodle Facebook page (don't forget to "like" the page!)

3.) Refer me! If you're interested in my referral program where you can earn cash...that's right, "cold, hard cash", please send an email to Chris[at]savethedoodle[dot]com.

Thanks for saving the doodle!

Coming Soon...Doodle Tour '11

2011-05-20T11:47:00.001-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen! Coming to a festival near you is the Doodle Tour 2011! Stay "tooned" in here for all the doodle-details to come! Kicking off this season, find me at Erie's Wild Rib Fest Wed. June 1st thru Fri. June 3rd, 5:30PM - 10PM and Saturday June 4th from 11AM - 11PM. For more info check out: ErieRibFest.com

Another Dimension

2011-05-18T17:05:00.000-04:00

Of all the events, wedding receptions are one of the best places to have a caricature artist. The guests know each other, the atmosphere is lively, and many are willing to be themselves. That last part is very important. It's personality that adds a dimension to the portrait, it brings their smile to life! So step into the "4th dimension," Party People. It's time to enjoy the humorous side of you.

These caricatures were drawn at a wedding in Oil City, PA. I apologize for the red glow on everyone. Party lights are not studio lights!

For all inquiries about live-caricature entertainment, please email Chris[at]savethedoodle.com. Caricatures are a memorable party favor your guests will thank you for!

The Doodle Timelapse Machine!

2011-05-13T14:30:00.003-04:00

Hi doodle fans! Jump into the doodle timelapse machine with me and see some artwork come alive at high octane speed!

This video shows how I digitally color some of my illustrations in Photoshop. The artwork you see here is for a kid's health & fitness TV show called "Wellsville". I've done quite a few cartoonish illustrations for this show, so I've learned how to go from zero to 60 in milliseconds!

Sit back, chillax, and join me at warp speed!

Some of you may be saying "WOAH...slow down!"
Do you have questions about my doodle process? Leave a comment below and a doodle expert will be with you shortly ;)

"Car"icatures

2011-05-10T15:17:00.000-04:00

I'll start off by saying I'm not a fan of drawing cars, hooooowever I did have some fun with this project. The trickiest part for me was keeping the proportions correct. After all, I am a caricature artist!

Below is a look at my process. I hope you enjoy seeing some snapshots of how this all comes together.
What do you think of the final drawing? Leave a comment below!

Spring!

2011-04-26T13:18:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday Doodle Fans! I've been drawing a lot of animals lately...it must be Spring!

Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Caricature Artist

2011-04-22T11:39:00.002-04:00

1) He'll break the ice for you, so you can put down your hammer.

2) If it's a children's party, no one has to be scared of the clown.

3) Your guests can take home a party-favor that lasts, unlike balloon animals that pop and/or deflate.

4) It's catchy entertainment. And we mean good-catchy, not like the Village People-kind-of-catchy.

5) It's fun for everyone, even the family pet!

**I am capable of drawing 10-15 faces in black and white per hour and most party-throwers hire me for three to five hours to ensure all their guests have a chance to get in on the fun!

I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

Call me at 814.520.1353 or send me an email at chris@savethedoodle.com to book your next event. You'll want to hurry because availability is limited!

Accounting Gone Wild: Featured!

2011-04-19T13:27:00.001-04:00

A project I recently did has been featured on www.themodernaccountant.com. Here is the blog post. This is a good example of how art can help just about any industry. Who would ever know that the art student who failed accounting would be creating art to help explain accounting. How Ironic!

Techni-Toons!

2011-04-13T11:53:00.001-04:00

I'm not sure what you call technical yet cartoon'ish illustrations, but I'm giving it the term "Techni-Toons" until I find out. Below are some illustrations I created for Tiny Tim's Fishing Charters. My biggest thrill was illustrating Tiny Tim and the fish, but I found that the lighthouses and boats were fun to illustrate as well.

I am very thankful for clients who decide to use original artwork rather than stock art. There's nothing wrong with stock art, but if you're looking for "fresh" designs that are true and unique to your business, you may want to consider hiring an illustrator for your next job.

Accounting Gone Wild!

2011-04-07T16:48:00.007-04:00

While in college I took an accounting class to help sharpen my number skills. After a grueling 12 weeks I was faced with the final exam. In order to pass the class I had to ace it.

Didn't happen.

My accounting professor knew I was an art student so he was kind enough to pull me aside and explain how art can mix with accounting. He pulled out an annual report and flipped through the pages to show how graphics can help information look appealing and readable.

I didn't think much of what he said, until recently when I was approached with an assignment to transform an ordinary looking income statement into a fun visual presentation. Below is the final product.

(Click to enlarge for detail)

The poster illustration of an early childhood development center shows the money flow beginning with gross income and ending with net income. The poster will be used to help educate owners of these facilities so that they can better run their businesses.

Here are some closeups. I had a lot of fun creating the characters and details of the facility. I'd like to give a shout out to my brother Dave who designed the building. You can check out his work at www.diggitdave.com. (He's also the bass player of the Dirty Pickles!)

I didn't pass the test, but hopefully doodles and numbers can better get along. What do you think? What are you doing nowadays that you never thought you'd be doing? Share your story in the comments below!

UPDATE: Doodles and number "ARE" getting better along. Find out more in part two!

No Foolin' Around!

2011-04-05T21:34:00.000-04:00

When it comes to April fools day, I don't fool around. Here are some party photos from an event over the weekend. Pictures of me were taken by talented photographer Katherine Ritenour. You can check out her work at www.katritenour.com

Sneak Peek...

2011-03-31T11:52:00.001-04:00

Here's a sneak peek of some character designs I'm working on for a work poster project. This set of characters didn't make it to the final, so I guess they will be the ones to run with this news!

I'm currently running a poll on the right side of the blog. Let's hear your feedback!

Surprise "Double Birthday" Gift!

2011-03-29T15:37:00.002-04:00

What's up doodle fans? I thought I'd let you in on a little surprise "double birthday" gift. You'll be able to see this hanging at Twin's restaurant in Erie, PA. The final size was printed at 20" x 30" and turned out great in a frame. Speaking of frames, this is the one thing most people never get to! Don't let your caricature sit around collecting dust. Your bare wall will thank you :)

Pencil Sketch

Final rendering

And a nice frame will do!

Wellsville's Second Season Premiere

2011-03-25T13:52:00.001-04:00

It all starts tomorrow morning on Fox 66 at 8AM! Tune in to learn healthy habits and "hustle your muscle". Plus, you'll be treated to some fun caricatures and illustrations created by yours truly. In fact, everyone who stars on the show for the next 13 episodes will be displayed at some point on the show as a caricature drawing. The whole process has been a learning opportunity and a fun one at that. Check out the show and let me know what you think. Show some love, and leave a comment below!

For more info on Wellsville, check out Wellsville.tv. They have also have a facebook page.

You Draw at Weddings?

2011-03-20T22:25:00.002-04:00

Truth is, weddings are one of the best events to have a caricature artist. The occasion is filled with joy and laughter, and what better way to top it off than to offer your guests a comedic twist? The "hot seat" as it was deemed today became the center of attention as family members and friends dared each other to get a caricature drawn. As the afternoon progressed so did the humor. With a crowd having this much fun, it became easier to let loose and let the marker do the talking. As you can see from the pictures below I had a great time as well. Given the freedom to let the creative mind spin its gears I came up with some interesting results.

Interested in Drawing Caricatures?

2011-03-13T20:26:00.005-04:00

While at Borders a little while back, my wife spotted a book that I would like to recommend for any type of artist out there to purchase called, "Facial Expressions" by Mark Simon.

The name says it all! Definitely a must for anyone serious about drawing faces.

Another recommended read is, "How to Draw Caricatures" by Lenn Redman.
Also, you can check out online caricature tutorials by artist Tom Richmond for some inspiration.

Although vital for an artist, making a personal habit of sketching daily has been tricky to implement. Just this past week I was drawing live caricatures at an event and I could tell I was a bit rusty because my lines felt tight, opposed to the usual free flowing, loose lines.

Here's a secret: It may appear to anyone watching that it's easy for me to draw, but the truth is if you truly want to capture someone's personality on paper, you need to practice on the side. This is especially the case when drawing someone uncooperative :)

Interested in sharpening your caricature art skills?
Here's a nice segway to another topic of interest that I recommend specifically for caricaturists. Become a member of the only and the awesome ISCA (International Society of Caricature Artists).

Meet other artists on the online forum, receive a quarterly magazine "Exaggerated Features," and once a year have the opportunity to attend the ISCA convention where caricaturists of all types and from all over the world gather for 5 days of non-stop drawing and competing.

Throughout the course of the event there are classes, seminars, and competitions. The all-time best artist of the convention gets to take home a "Golden Nosey" award (probably named after all of the enlarged noses of caricatures-past!).

I attended my first convention in 2009 and can hardly wait to go again. Some artists from the group that continue to inspire me are Jason Seiler, Joe Bluhm, Court Jones, Paul Moyse, Tom Richmond, Sean Gardner, and Nathan Kapnicky...just to name a few! This year's convention is November 13-18 in St. Beach Florida.

If you attend this event you will A.) Stay awake for 5 days straight, B.) Try to figure a way to get a refund for your hotel room, C.) Need your spouse to text you reminders to eat food, or D.) All of the above.

Have some favorite resources that you would like to share or maybe you have a question about drawing caricatures? Please leave a comment below!

Let the Festivities Begin!

2011-03-11T15:35:00.000-05:00

In just a few months the festival season begins! Stay tuned for an event listing of where you will find me this summer on my "Doodle Tour 2011".
Have an event coming up? Give me a shout!

Full Steam Ahead!

2011-03-07T18:15:00.005-05:00

Delayed from airing the 5th, Wellsville's 2nd season premiere is now "officially" Saturday, March 26th. Fortunately, the hosts Tony and Kathy, Erie Multimedia, Z3 Concepts, the writers, the actors, and myself can give a sigh of relief... yet, this is no time for dilly-dallying!

Also new this month:
- I drew live caricatures yesterday at Erie's Kahkwa Club and have three upcoming drawing gigs this month: Sara Reed, Penn State Behrend, and a wedding! If we don't see each other there, check back here for pictures of your friends and co-workers from these events. It's sure to be a hoot!

- I'll be illustrating a work poster showing the process of how to generate revenue for Early Developmental Learning Centers. My job is to make it look "fun." That's what I do! :)

- There are plenty more caricature & illustration side-jobs. It's going to be one doodle of a month!

What's the next event that you are going to that needs a unique twist of entertainment? Give me a shout!

Rebranding Tiny Tim!

2011-02-28T16:52:00.003-05:00

Last week a local charter fishing business called me to design their logo. The goal of the logo was to rebrand the business and set them apart from the competition in the Lake Erie region. I have to give them credit. Not everyone has the "fish guts" to use their face as a brand!

Knowing that this caricature would be used as a logo, I decided to design it with more precision than I normally do when working on a studio caricature. Logos need to be crisp, clean, and scalable. Once the sketch was approved, I did the rest of the job in vector format using Adobe Illustrator. The result is a professional looking design perfect for any printing output.

Is your business in need of a rebranding? Give me a call!

More from Wellsville!

2011-02-16T13:00:00.002-05:00

Hey doodle fans! I'm continuing to work on illustrations of the featured guests for Wellsville's second season. Check out some of the latest below. Show some love. Leave a comment!

On The Drawing Board!

2011-02-10T13:55:00.005-05:00

As I mentioned earlier this week, I'm working on quite a few caricatures & illustrations for the second season of Wellsville. Although there is so much to do before the deadline, I appreciate working on so many drawings at a time. I've got a nice flow going on!

Below is a photo showing my usual process from start to finish. I used to withhold the process from the client, but now I've found that it saves time to receive feedback before things get too permanent. This is especially helpful when drawing someone with "sensitive features!"

For those of you wondering about the disappearing and reappearing basketball, I must say that some thing are just easier to draw on the computer rather than by hand.

Please be sure to check back for more posts like this since the drawing board is being infiltrated!

Surprise!

2011-02-09T13:06:00.004-05:00

Today I finished my part in this caricature for a GE employee's surprise retirement gift. Naturally, the next step for this artwork is to be matted and framed, but the interesting part about it is that the matte itself will be signed by approximately 300 employees. Happy retirement indeed!

On Track With Wellsville

2011-02-07T21:50:00.001-05:00

Wellsville's 2nd season premiere is Saturday, March 5th. For those who don't know, Wellsville is a TV show for kids on Fox66 Saturdays at 8AM. Tune in and experience an innovative and energetic approach to healthy living. Plus, you'll see some of the fun-styled artwork I've been producing for the show. Speaking of which, I still have A LOT of caricatures & illustrations yet to draw...did I mention March 5th?

Also new this month:
- Updated online portfolio. See some of the non-caricature/illustration work I do.
- I will be working on a little side project involving residents of Haiti. Details to come.
- See me featured on Prismacolor.com! Details to come.
- Did I mention Wellsville?

"Kiltish" Character Designs!

2011-02-03T17:47:00.001-05:00

Recently, I took part in a contest through CartoonPens[dot]com (which I don't recommend for anyone looking to make a reliable income). The winner of the contest would have their illustrations published in a children's book.

In this project, I not only illustrated some pretty funky characters, but I got to create a variety of stylish kilt patterns in the process. Maybe I'm on to something here!

Here are the character descriptions given to all the contest participants to interpret for the win.

Skimper McGrew: Slim fellow; blue eyes; reddish hair; nobly knees; boots with laces; open face; wears a kilt.

Lily McGrew: Whimsical lady; average build; brown hair; happy face; homely; brown eyes; wears a frock; has boots.

Haggis: The haggis is a mythical three legged critter that is found walking the hills always with his shorter third leg on the up side of the hill.

Mac: Scottish Terrier (whiskey dog); black; energetic and frisky.

Shorty MacGrorty: Huge fellow; overweight; light colored hair and beard; blue eyes; boots like Skimper; wears a kilt.

Tricky MacPicky: Short, slim fellow; black hair; black beard; very smart; clean cut; flashy; blues eyes; wears a kilt; dishonest face.

How'd I do?

Although another illustrator won this contest, I still have the hope to illustrate children's books. I think it'd be a fun job. Regardless of when that happens, one thing's for sure: You won't find me wearing a kilt any time soon!

Have you drawn anything lately that kids would like?

Tutorial: Making Faces Out of Shapes

2011-02-01T21:59:00.001-05:00

I came across a great post from Octavio Rodriguez on a blog called "The Art Center". Check out the tutorial here. Using shapes as the basis of the caricature is a good way to stay loose and have fun with the subject!

Who Do You Think You Are?

2011-01-31T14:44:00.002-05:00

Here's a video promo I put together for a "super-awesome" client of mine, Family Life Church. One of my goals this year is to explore the area of animation. I've worked on a few projects here and there that use a little animation, but I haven't fully jumped into it yet. I think it'd be a great service to offer!

Check out more videos click here to visit my Vimeo page!

Live Entertainment Lives On!

2011-01-27T14:26:00.000-05:00

Winter time can sometimes be a time to hibernate in northwest Pennsylvania, but I'm glad to mention that the doodle lives on! Below are some recent live caricature examples from a New Year's party and an event at Clarion University.

At the New Year's party I started off by drawing one kid as a special character, and soon it caught on and all the kids wanted to be something unique. I drew one kid as donkey kong, another as an alien, etc. So zany!!!

This kid on the left wanted to be Santa Clause and the kid on the right wanted to be a hockey player. I quickly tried to group the two ideas, so I had the hockey player sit on Santa's lap asking for a hockey puck. Sometimes being put on the spot can make the jokes a little strange...especially when working with two completely different ideas.

These guys saw the special character drawings from the kids, and jumped in on the action!

The girl on the right refused to smile after seeing a previous caricature. It was the last drawing of the night, so I couldn't resist but add some humor. I decided to draw her as an old person holding her dentures. I wanted to add some contrast, so I drew her friend (the girl on the left) as her current age, but gloating in her vanity.

These last two photos are from a gig at Clarion university. A lot of big groups wanted to be drawn that night. I suppose you need a lot of moral support when braving it for a caricature!

I love still getting out despite the weather. Like snowflakes, no two faces are alike!

MVP Kids!

2011-01-20T12:25:00.003-05:00

Logo design can be a fun, yet challenging process. The goal of a logo is to communicate a thought or message through design. Effective logos are simple, clear, and eye-catching. Here is a logo I recently designed for an Assembly of God church in North East, PA.

The goal: design a fun and sporty logo that will be used for their children's ministry.

Below are some snapshots of my process from start to finish.

The first stage is the sketch and is the biggest hurdle. Sometimes the client likes what they see right away. But then there are the other times, which can be a loooooooong process of going back and forth with different revisions/versions. (Thankfully, not in this particular project!)

Once a sketch is approved (yeah, buddy!), I take a photo of the sketch and import it into a program called Adobe Illustrator (I would use my scanner, but I think the scanner I have is from 1982 and works only when its having a good day). The image you see above shows the sketch as the bottom layer and on top of that are vector lines drawn with the pen tool. I don't usually do an exact trace, but I will tweak the design until I'm happy with its look.

Illustrator is a great program for creating vector graphics, which can be scaled to any size desired. Professional printers prefer this format because the edges of the lines are crisp and have other technical mumbo-jumbo terms I won't get into!

Now that the foundation of the design has been created, I fill in the previously drawn shapes with color. I also use color shifts known as gradients to add some dimension.

And there you have it! I hope you are inspired by what you've seen and read. Tell me what you think and, as always, have a "doodleful" day!

Wellsville Concepts

2011-01-05T18:18:00.001-05:00

I'm working on some concepts for Wellsville's second season. Tune in Saturdays on FOX 66 at 8am or visit the website at www.wellsville.tv to learn how to live well and eat healthy!

My Fave 10 of 2010

2010-12-30T14:52:00.003-05:00

Here it is...My 10 personal favorite "live caricatures" drawn in 2010. Just to be clear, a live caricature is a 5-15 minute drawing of a person. All of the caricatures in this post were drawn at special events like parties and outdoor festivals.

This year I drew at 33 events which is an all-time record for me. In 2009 I drew at 29 events, and in 2008, 19 events. 2010 is the 8th year I've drawn as a professional caricature artist. It's a rough estimate, but I believe I've drawn over 10,000 caricatures.

It was tough to narrow it down, but I decided to choose the drawings I think best capture exaggeration, likeness, line control, contrast, humor and technique. There are some good runner-ups that didn't make the list, but you may see a few on my Facebook page. Below are the pictures, and I added a few of my own comments.

Post a comment of your own below. Which number is your favorite?

10.) Starting off, here is an action pose caricature. A good mix of exaggeration, likeness and a clear pose.
Drawn at Dan Rice Days Girard, PA

9.) I love it when a group sits down and their personalities gel. The ladies were very lively, and the stoic men sat on the ends. Its a family sandwich great with any entree!
Drawn at Spencer Wedding Erie, PA

9.) And a closeup.

8.) Ok...I surrender! Here we have "The cute baby". This was more of a crowd pleaser than a personal favorite, but what the hey!
Drawn at Apple Fest Franklin, PA

7.) I like the marker lines in this one. Thats props to you my little man for wearing the cool hat!
Drawn at Apple Fest Franklin, PA

6.) More of an "iconic" caricature. I took it easy on the amount of lines I used, and gave the glasses and the eyes all the attention.
Drawn at Pro Reality "20th Anniversary" Erie, PA

5.) I like the contrast of personality in this one. The lines are nice and clean too. In the drawing the lady is saying "Is this how you always act on first date?"
Drawn at EGEFCU Christmas Party Erie, PA

4.) Very happy with the line work.
Drawn at EGEFCU Christmas Party Erie, PA

3.) Here's another with crisp and controlled lines. I also captured a good combination of exaggeration and likeness.
Drawn at Dan Rice Days Girard, PA

2.) I'm still laughing at his one.
Drawn at Dan Rice Days Girard, PA

1.) And beaming with personality, here it is, my all-time favorite of 2010. Not only did this kid have a great personality, but while drawing him, he was having a conversation with an older couple he didn't know. Very impressive.
Drawn at North East Wine Fest NorthEast, PA

I'm excited to continue growing as an artist. Thank you everyone who showed their support throughout the year. Your feedback is always appreciated. Happy new year everyone. May the next year bring out the best in you!

Our Family's Annual Christmas Card!

2010-12-21T16:31:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite things about Christmas is designing our family's Christmas card. Here's the second annual version! Last year's card can be seen here.

The cards arrived today and I am very happy with them because it's exciting to send out a card that is truly personal and unique to us.

Below are some of the design stages for this artwork. It started off with a pencil drawing which I traced with a prismacolor pen. Then it was off to the scanner to get it into the computer for the last step, which was coloring it in Photoshop.

"Line art"

Lately I've been making a point to add shadows at this stage. Shadows help distinguish where things set in space. Also, if placed in the right spots, shadows can help create some visual balance of white and black.

"Color Washes"
These are the basic colors used before I add shading. These colors need to be the closest color that best represents the subject.

"Shading"

This is where things can quickly come to life. Shading helps make the drawing more believable.

Notice that I gave my wife, Bryce, more hair. Sometimes you don't see a mistake until half way into it. A bit of color can fix it right up! (No more hunch-back, Misses!)

"Highlights"

One of the last details to add are highlights. These can be on the lips, the nose, the forehead, and anywhere a natural light might reflect. At this point, I decided to add a glow to the tree to help separate us from the background.

"Final Details"

I hope this has got you thinking ahead for yourself and all of next year's occasions! Custom cards for you and yours! Stay tuned throughout the year some exciting products available at SaveTheDoodle.com!

Some Madness for Your Monday!

2010-12-06T16:32:00.002-05:00

Over the weekend I drew caricatures at Erie General Electric Federal Credit Union's Christmas Party (Say that without stuttering!) Here are some favorites from the night.

I feel I got the shapes right in this one. Love the squinty eyes!

This will brighten her Monday ... Hello world!

In my last blog post, I posted some pictures of my latest illustrations featuring Bubba Luv.
Hmmm...I sense a likeness. Maybe this guy is related?

I'm so glad he sat down again :) The talk bubble reads "Is this the way you always act of a first date?!"

Speaking of similarities, is that Julia Stiles on the left?!

Thankfully no one else wanted to be in the picture!

Bubba Luvs That!

2010-12-02T12:36:00.001-05:00

Say hello to Bubba! You've probably seen this guy at an Erie Bayhawks game. He is the biggest fan of many Erie Sports Teams and now a "supafan" of GE Federal Credit Union. Read all about him at www.bubbaluvsthat.com

It's pretty exciting to be assigned the job of transforming someone with so much "flava" into a caricature...especially someone with big personality and big props. Love the glasses Bubba!

Initial pencil sketches (Click to enlarge)

Here are the finished designs drawn in adobe illustrator. In the past I've always used a strong black outline as you typically see with cartoons, but by eliminating most of the lines and relying on shading to define the shapes the result is a nice "polished" look. Plus, vector graphics can be scaled to any size without losing quality. Bubba, I want to see you on a billboard!

I'm pretty happy with the designs and am looking forward to seeing them at an upcoming Erie Bayhawks game. For now, these will be used on a T-shirt, poster, and possibly a coloring book.

Bubba...you've been doodled!

Turkey Season

2010-11-25T15:00:00.005-05:00

Every year I look forward to the precursor of Turkey, Mashed Potatoes and Cranberry sauce -- its none other than the Turkey Trot, a 5K/10K race that takes place every year on Thanksgiving. After the race, runners are welcomed to enjoy music, food, and Turkey caricatures!

What can compete with Grandma's pie?

Try a ridiculous rendition of your mug, with a gobbler, on a Turkey body. Sorry Grandma!

Thinking football? Think football head.

And the grand finale... long time fans of Save The Doodle, back for their annual caricature.

Video Promo Loop

2010-11-24T11:46:00.002-05:00

As seen in my last post, I now have a video monitor as part of my indoor setup. Here is a slideshow that was shown on Saturday. As well as pictures from the past year, there are a few instances of live video. I've been exploring the idea of using video as an "interactive" element, and plan to incorporate as part of my outdoor booth next year. People love "seeing" the magic behind the art.

To see more videos, visit my Vimeo page.

Taste of Home Cooking Show

2010-11-22T19:20:00.000-05:00

Saturday I set up a booth at the Taste of Home cooking show. The crowd was very eager to be drawn. I drew the entire time and then an hour into the cooking show. After I was finished, I looked around and found I was the only one left in the gym! Thank you for your genuine interest. I hope you're framing your caricature, and telling your friends about Save The Doodle!

I've recently updated my setup. Before I didn't have as much as far as signage, but I now have a retractable banner and a video slideshow playing on a monitor. People loved the slideshow. It really helps to "see" what I do verses reading about it.

The show catered mostly to women, but a few men were there. They mostly hung out in a small group as the women flocked to the vendor stands. I was fortunate to be next to the guy serving Chili. "Get a delectable dish while dazing at doodles!"

Everyone seemed to really enjoy the caricatures. Its always a blast drawing in a public setting. A crowd having a good time (with free samples) adds to the fun of live entertainment.

Interested in booking a party this winter, or know of someone that is? Please call me or refer them to me. You can reach me at Chris[at]savethedoodle[dot]com. Cheers!

Toby Mac!

2010-10-08T14:04:00.005-04:00

A few months ago, a recurring client called me for a job, which he called, "another full blown family portrait-type thing." I was thinking that he wanted a new version of one for his family, like the one I that started our business relationship in the first place. But this job was different than what I ever expected it to be.

When I accepted his offer, I had no idea how deep the familiarity ran. Have you heard the saying, "people know people?" Well, this particular client just happens to know famous people. I was floored when he told me who I would be drawing in the portrait.

"Have you ever heard of Toby Mac?"

Heard of him?! I only grew up listening to him (when he was a part of Christian music group, DC Talk)!!

And not only was this a job to draw him and his band, but this job was FOR Toby Mac.

Yep. Still on the floor. Here's what I came up with:

Toby Mac and his 9 band members

It was requested I make all the band members the same size. I ditched this stage idea and placed the crew in a winter wonderland.

This job called for me to create a scene of the 10 member band that would be used as the background for an online game. In this game, you as a player, have a chance to throw a virtual snowball at any area of the scene. If you hit just the right spot, you win a prize.

The really cool part: this game will be advertised as part of the Winter Wonder Slam tour featuring Toby Mac and Skillet. Skillet also happens to be a band that I've been a fan of for as many years as they've been around.

Click to enlarge

Note how the extra time spent shading helps make something "pop" and come alive!

So, now I'm wondering when Skillet will be giving me a call?

Find out next time on the incredible adventures of Save The Doodle!

Real Professionals

2010-10-05T10:49:00.009-04:00

A friend at Pro Realty, Inc. hired me to draw at the company picnic and, let me tell you! These peeps know how to have fun! I really liked the mixture of faces and reactions, which kept me and the crowd entertained...

And you saw right! Those are indeed clown shoes:

Thanks again for the hire, Scott!

The 73rd Annual Waterford Fair

2010-09-08T19:51:00.000-04:00

You could use a laugh. Locate me at the Waterford Fair and go home with a comical carbon copy of yourself. Grab your cowboy hat, John Deere gator, and look for the bright orange tent this Friday (9/10) and Saturday (9/11)!

Character Designing!

2010-08-27T11:40:00.000-04:00

Over the summer, I've had opportunity to do some character designs. I'm very fortunate to say that what I once considered a hobby is now becoming more of a career...and I love it!

Allow me to introduce the most recent. Please say hello to Hamot Harry...

and the lovely Hamot Harriet.

In this duo's design, the characters emerged as laid-back and compassionate to outgoing and playful. It's always nice to see two opposites as a pair. Dynamic!

(Also, I'm pretty sure Hamot will be printing them out as life-sized cardboard cutouts and starring them in a children's coloring book).

Along with the initial design, Hamot wanted a Christmas scene.

Christmas in August?!

Another very stimulating project was done for my church. The 6th Annual Sports & Arts Camp design is one of my favorites. This years' theme was called "Rock Solid." The idea was to create an outdoorsy, camping-in-the-woods look.

Close- up rock-climber characters... The earth tones worked great to keep it... well, earthy!

And the famous camp T-shirt!

Lastly is a job I had to create a Wombat character. Here is an excerpt from an email:

"…the name we're leaning towards is "WOMBAT". Yes, that's right – a big Australian groundhog-sized (40-70lbs) marsupial. Why? Why not!! If anything, it's really fun to say. Also, for example, there are 102 boats registered with the Coast Guard with the name "Endurance" – one of our other considerations. There are only 5 Wombats and none are on the Great Lakes..."

I loved the idea! Sketchbook and pencil in hand, here's what I came up with:

The final logo will be used on T-shirts and a boat sail. I may be doing some different renditions of this fellow in the future. Good-day, mate!

Like what you see? Leave a comment... Or better yet, call or email me for your next design project!

(Almost) Daily Postings on Facebook

2010-08-10T16:36:00.002-04:00

Hello fellow doodlers and doodle-appreciators! Throughout the summer weeks I post the latest pictures from weekend festivals on Facebook. I will continue posting on this blog, but for quick glimpses of what I do, check out the facebook page. Thanks for stopping by!

THIS WEEKEND!

2010-07-19T20:52:00.000-04:00

THIS WEEKEND Find me at the bright orange tent at Discover Presque Isle Days. Stop by and let the doodle do the rest!

In "Full-Swing"

2010-07-12T21:02:00.000-04:00

Hey! It’s been a while, so thanks for being a faithful follower (or soon-to-be) of Save The Doodle’s blog!

Outdoor festival season is one of my favorite times of year not only because it is full-on live entertainment and non-stop interaction with festival goers, but also because it’s summertime! And here in Erie, that’s a big deal, you know? That means long days, warm nights, and plenty of fresh air, which, to me, is the perfect combination for drawing caricatures.

I had been keeping busy throughout the spring and summer season. Here are some of the favorites for you to take a gander at.

"Simple Line" caricature drawn at Penn State Behrend College

"3D Grays" caricature (with extra love from the pen) drawn at Oil City's annual 4th of July Festival.

"3D grays" caricature drawn at Mercyhurst College

"Full Color" caricature drawn at Erie Summer Festival of the Arts

"Full Color" caricature drawn at Erie Summer Festival of the Arts. These guys were a real hit!

"3D Grays" caricature drawn at Erie Summer Festival of the Arts. Two of my biggest fans. I believe this was their third annual caricature drawn at Save The Doodle!

"Simple Line" caricature drawn at Mercyhurst College

"Simple Line" caricature drawn at Erie Summer Festival of the Arts

"3D Grays" caricature drawn at Erie's Yacht Club. My first "horse caricature". These girls wanted so badly to be drawn with horses, so I took the idea a step further and they loved it!

Which one is your favorite?

Enjoy the summer season and swing by the bright-orange tent marked, “CARICATURES” to sit down, be “caricaturized”, and to laugh your butt off!

See you at Waterford Heritage Days, Discover Presque Isle, and/or Dan Rice Days.

THIS WEEKEND!

2010-06-24T18:47:00.002-04:00

Erie Summer Festival of the Arts is THIS WEEKEND! Enjoy music, local art, and live caricatures by yours truly!

The Erie Summer Festival of the Arts is being held at the Pepsi Amphitheater, on the lakeside of the Bayfront Highway. For an event schedule visit: www.eriesummerfestivalofthearts.org

THIS FRIDAY!

2010-06-16T18:31:00.003-04:00

This Friday (6/18), I'll be drawing caricatures from 4-7PM at "RELAY FOR LIFE" located at Harborcreek High School! 50% of all proceeds benefit Relay for Life. Come out, get doodled, & support a great cause!

Giving EMTA a "Toon" Up

2010-06-14T14:45:00.001-04:00

Introducing EMTA's new cartoon character "The E". He's a fun, spunky little fella and quite the patriot of Erie, PA. You may even run into him this summer!

I created this character a few months back after being contacted to help develop the new marketing of EMTA. I never imagined creating a fun look for public transportation, but I guess you'll never know what kind of jobs will come your way when freelancing!

At first, the job was simple - "create a fun character who resembles an E". After some brain storming, I developed some character sketches I thought were fun and showed variety (it's always good to think things though. I don't always do it, but it's always worth the time and effort). To my relief, the idea was well received by EMTA and the job quickly took off.

Above is an idea that never got past the drawing board, but I thought you'd enjoy seeing. Remember Gumby?

This little dude gets around! Above is the "E" in some famous Erie getup (The pirate isn't necessarily an Erie icon, but next to a lake you might run into some pirates ARRRR).
I'm not sure how these drawings are going to be used, but I'm sure we'll see them somewhere soon!

The idea then evolved into having the "E" as a mascot you would see at the Erie Otters, Seawolves, and Bayhawk games. I haven't been to any games lately so I'm curious as to whether or not these concepts were used.

My contribution to the project ended with a creative endeavor I've always desired, and that is to draw a cartoon map of Erie. Above is the final pencil drawing of the map. The idea was to tie special landmarks of Erie together in a fun way with a unique twist on the perspective (All the locations are highlights of the State street region). Since it's a cartoon and not an actual representation, I had a little more freedom with the design.

The map was to be used as the background art for an online game on the EMTA website. The game is pretty simple: race around the track and the fastest time wins a prize. First place is an Apple iPad!

Play the game here!

Above is the final version of the map. It was inked on paper, scanned into the computer and colored in Adobe Illustrator. It took about 2 full days to complete.

Working from photo references only, I had to visualize what the buildings would look like from an arial viewpoint. I quickly discovered that Google maps is not the best tool to use as a visual reference, so I had to rely on whatever pictures I could find on the internet. It also helps that I was born and raised in Erie :)

A few more closeups.

Thanks for "tooning" in. Look for the "E" this summer!

Ajay!

2010-06-05T22:57:00.001-04:00

I've been making a point to sketch more lately, so I'm personally challenging myself to doodle at least 10-15 minutes a day. Here's a sketch I did from a photo of my son, Ajay. You'd be surprised by how many different expressions this kid can make at such an early age (I wonder where he gets it?!). Here's one of many!

The Gift That Keeps On Giggling

2010-06-03T17:24:00.001-04:00

In my last post, I posted some details about my process when drawing a studio caricature. Below is a showcase of some recent gift orders. To see other gifts I've created, click here and scroll down.

Hire me to create a unique gift they will love! Please send all inquiries to chris@savethedoodle.com.

From Sketch to Final!

2010-06-01T15:14:00.000-04:00

Below is a recent caricature I did of a young couple and their dog. I included some notes about the process I typically take when drawing. Much of what I have learned has been from art school, so I hope this helps anyone interested.

Rough sketch: The first stage is where I quickly get my idea out. The main focus is the composition and very few details are considered. At this point of the drawing, it's good to try and capture the energy of the scene - it's the life of the drawing (In essence... don't dumb down the doodle!).

I included red lines to show the subject's line of action so you can see my initial thoughts about the subjects' energy and personality. I wanted to capture a lot of excitement, so I gave the guy an aggressive stance, the girl a reactive stance, and threw the dog in the mix like a pinball (Do people still play pinball machines?)

Final pencil lines: I'm satisfied with the rough sketch and ready to work on details. Even though I'm moving on, I still like to consider the overall composition and will reposition the placement of things as I see the need. If it's not working out, I just start over with the rough sketch. It's best to get it right from the beginning, then trying to fix it later (Trust me!!!!!)

Cleaned up and inked: I've connected with the client to get their opinion. I try and do this before things are too permanent (I've certainly learned this from experience). Don't fall in love with the drawing! It's good to be open to what the client has to say. I do however, try and get it right the first time!

Scanned inked drawing / colored in photoshop: After all revisions have been made its time to have some photoshop fun! The first thing I do is clean up my lines in Adobe Illustrator, and then bring the drawing into Photoshop (I reeeeally like *crisp* lines). When working with color, I try and keep the palette simple. Any more than 3 main colors may make things too busy.

Final details: This is where it all comes together. Shading, lighting, and texture help make the subjects appear to be in an environment. Sometimes a few details can still be added, such as the dog holding a game controller. (This was actually a great idea given by the client).

I hope you enjoy seeing some of my process. In my next post, I'll include some more recent caricature gifts I've done. Until then keep your doodle a' doodlin'!

Calvary Baptist Christian Academy PROM!

2010-05-20T14:27:00.001-04:00

High Octane Quick McDraw Doodles!

2010-05-13T21:03:00.000-04:00

I've always been interested in timelapse videos. They can clearly show the entire visual process of something in a matter of moments. I thereby "mystify" you with some timelapse videos fresh from the camera to your screen *applause*

This first video, timelapsed at 10,000%, shows my typical process for a traditional studio caricature. I go from a pencil sketch, to a pitt pen, to primsacolor markers, and then add some finesse with prismacolor art stix. When drawing live I have to quickly go through this process in 5-10 minutes, but in this case I spent a little more than an hour. I enjoy both instances, but when I have more time to draw, I have the ability to try out some different ideas through rough sketches before I start the drawing.

Timelapse Doodle: The Kanickis! from Chris Schroeder on Vimeo.

In this case, I had some difficulty with the ladies' eyes, but after receiving a few more pictures from the client, I was able to get the "blue prints" looking right!

The second video is a screen recording of my computer screen timelapsed at 5000%. I decided to record the process of this caricature drawing to demonstrate how great of a tool the computer is when drawing objects such as a drum set. There also great because often times I have to make corrections by request of the client, and some corrections would be nearly impossible to make by hand. Even in this example you'll notice the final product in the video and the picture below it are quite different from one another. Personally, I like use the computer only as a tool in part of the process. I wholeheartedly believe that the best artwork is birthed as a doodle! (Hence the name, hence my mission in life!)

Timelapse Doodle: Stan the Drummer! from Chris Schroeder on Vimeo.

Do you like the videos? I enjoyed making these and would like to continue to "reveal" my high octane workflow. See it all on my new vimeo page!

Back from Wellsville!

2010-05-08T16:27:00.002-04:00

I'm back from drawing caricatures at the Wellsville / Kiwanis event in the mall. I had an incredibly eager line of people waiting for their free caricature (it happens EVERY time they're free!), so it feels good to be relaxing this afternoon with my wife and little Ajay. Ajay is now 7 weeks old and an absolute bundle of joy.

The following are some pictures from the event. I am thrilled to show off Wellsville's new 96" tall signs. I designed the signs just a few weeks ago and they arrived just in time for the event. It's always great to see the real thing after designing them on a much smaller size computer screen. On a side note, I highly recommend displays2go.com. They were fantastic to work with, and very quick in producing the signs.

Working for Wellsville has been very enjoyable. Dr. Tony and Kathy Iorio, the directors of Wellsville, are some of the best people you'll ever meet. If you haven't seen it yet, check out Wellsville on Fox 66 Saturdays at 8AM. It's a fun TV show that will help teach you how to "move and groove" your way to a healthier life. Plus, you'll get to see some of my art!

For more info on Wellsville, check out their website at www.wellsville.tv. Other than putting on events such as today's event, they also have a great in-school program that promotes better health, self-esteem and overall well-being.

Free Caricatures This Saturday!

2010-05-06T19:52:00.001-04:00

Get into action this Saturday, May 8th from 10am-1pm, in the Center Court of the Millcreek Mall with the Wellsville gang for an activity-packed event for ages 12 and under! I will be there drawing caricatures for the kids that attend!

Wellsville is a multi-faceted program that encourages positive, healthy lifestyle choices. The gang at Wellsville love to have fun! They want to help empower kids, to encourage them to learn how to become more active, and to educate kids and families to eat better, move more, and to feel good about themselves while making healthy lifestyle choices.

You're invited to come check out the fun! It's free!

(Caricatures are free for children ages 12 and under.)

Some Q & A

2010-04-07T01:06:00.010-04:00

Here are some pictures from two different events, one at PennState Shenango and the other was with the Agora Cyber Charter school in Erie. Typically, I take pictures of just about everyone I draw, but I only select my favorite for the blog that I feel best represent the person. In this post, I thought'd I review some comments and questions I normally get when doodling in public. I get these questions quite a bit, so I thought my readers would appreciate this post.

Question: "How long have you been drawing?"

Answer: "Only about 30 seconds" (This is one of my personal favorite replies!)

I've been drawing/doodling since I could ever remember. Some of my favorite memories are of my brother and I, as kids, drawing in the art room. I'm very blessed to have been raised in an environment that fostered creativity, although, once we got a Nintendo, I'm pretty sure my childhood devotion took second place.

P.S. I got rid of the Nintendo.

Question: "How'd you learn how to do this?"

Answer: "I bought my skills at Walmart" (This is just my somewhat odd humor speaking here.)

Most of what I do is self-taught, but at the same time, I give a lot of credit to my professors at Edinboro University. I had one professor who didn't let us erase - how's that for a challenge!

Question: "You must be tired!"

Answer: "Just getting started!"

Sometimes I can get tired after drawing 3-4 hours at a time, but quite honestly, it's fully energizing, and if I could draw an entire day, I would! At some events, I feel my best work is at the end of my shift when I'm finally warmed up.

Question: "Has anyone ever got mad at you for exaggerating their features?"

Answer: "Not very often, but yes"

Once and a while this happens, but for the most part people love their caricature. When I draw, I do my best to capture their personality and do not intend to poke fun. Personally, I think caricature drawings that only focus on exaggerating features are shallow because the ignore the subject's subtleties - and those details are usually what make it truly personal.

Question: "What's your real job?"

Answer: "This is part of it!" Since 2003 I've been making money doing what I love, and now run my own business full-time at my house designing websites, creating marketing strategies, and drawing illustrations. I'm still trying to get the swing of things, but it's been a challenge I've enjoyed thus far. Nothing beats being at home with the fam :)

Question: "Where can we see you next?"

Answer: I'm most visible in the public during summer when I set up my booth at various outdoor events (Erie Summer Festival of the Arts, Celebrate Erie, Discover Presque Isle Days, etc.) Just look for the bright orange tent!

Do you have a question for me I didn't post? Write your question in the comments below, and I'll be sure to write back.

Ernie & Julie

2010-04-05T15:34:00.003-04:00

Once and a while I'll run across a good picture on Facebook that is just screaming to be doodled. Interestingly, this couple happen to be the parents of a frequent guest of the blog as seen here, here, and here.

Lightning Speed, Quick Drying Doodles

2010-04-03T11:24:00.003-04:00

A local videographer, Herm Stork from VideoWorks, created this awesome video that helps demonstrate the fun & magic of live caricature entertainment. Each drawing was completed in about 5 minutes, and for some of this kids it was even a shorter amount of time ("Are you done yet? ... Are you done yet? ... Are you done yet?).

Planning a party is a huge responsibility and no detail can go overlooked. But when it comes to providing a new twist to entertainment, look no further than artist Chris Schroeder from Save The Doodle! A lifetime of drawing and studying faces has brought Chris to where he is today, a professional caricaturist and freelance web, print, and illustration artist. He makes bringing our each person's best (and arguably, their biggest) characteristics seem easy. Even the most elegant reception could use some of the good humored entertainment that Chris' whimsical portraits offer. Please email me at schroedercreations[at]gmail.com for a quote!

Baby on Board!

2010-04-01T01:17:00.006-04:00

I'm excited to announce that we now have a new addition to the fam, "Ajay Zane Schroeder" born Friday, March 19th at 8:27PM. For the first time I am getting to experience life as a dad, and I am enjoying every minute of it!

If you're interested in seeing pictures and reading about our home-birth visit our blog.

Doodlin' for the Fam

2010-03-15T16:11:00.003-04:00

As you may remember, a few months back I created a Christmas card of my wife and I and baby "Moe". The idea of creating art for special family occasions has continued to grow and I've been finding small opportunities here and there to knock out some fun art. Here are some recents works of art I did for my nephews.

The first set of pictures is of my nephew Temple. My wife put together a cool gift bag and set the picture on top of the bag.

It was enjoyable to see Temple's initial reaction. Instantly he related himself to the picture, but then quickly changed his mind and claimed it looked like a monkey. Personally, I think he secretly liked the picture :)

The second sets of pictures were drawn on a notebook that we gave to my nephew Hudson. Hudson loved the concept and was drawn to the many details. It was fun drawing this one because much of the concept evolved from free association. You like toast? Here's a palm tree to give you shade while you eat. While you're there, you can play some Wii!

Most of all, I enjoy the idea of adding something unique to these times together - something that will stick with the guys for years to come.

Into the Wild West!

2010-02-08T23:12:00.005-05:00

Here is a scene I recently doodled for an online game. The game requires you as the player to hide somewhere in the scene to avoid being hit by incoming pies. (who wouldn't want to play a good game of pie-to-your-face?)

My Friend Thomas

2010-02-08T22:59:00.002-05:00

A quick doodle of my friend Thomas. Thomas is fun, zany, and even more zany.

Community Health Net Appreciation Day

2010-01-25T16:55:00.004-05:00

I had such a great reaction to the caricatures I drew at the Community Health Net Appreciation Day. Lots of smile. Lots of laughs.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Want to add some fun to your party? Send an email to Chris@Savethedoodle.com to hire me for your event. a guaranteed hit with your guests!

Technique Geek

2010-01-20T12:58:00.004-05:00

Here is my good friend Christian!
Just experimenting with an illustration technique involving line and texture.

A Story Behind the Doodle

2010-01-14T18:22:00.009-05:00

I've been meaning to post some photos of some caricatures I've drawn over the past couple of months. Things have been busy and I can't complain. I'm now working full-time as a freelance artist and loving every minute of it.

In this post are some caricatures I drew at the national caricature convention and others are were drawn during down times at the Chautauqua mall. Both events took place in November. I'd like to include some of my personal thoughts attached to these drawings. Many times we see art, but don't know the story behind it.

The caricature convention was flat-out awesome. Never have I seen so much talent, and all in one room. It truly was a one-of-a-kind experience that has inspired and challenged me as an artist. I hope to post some more pictures from the event at a future date, but if you're interested in seeing some pictures here are some on facebook.

Arriving back from the convention, my next caricature event was to draw at the Chautauqua mall. It has always been an infatuation of mine to see another artist selling at a mall, and I was pretty excited to try this out. I just spent 4 days in a utopia and I was feeling pretty good.

After about 3 hours of my first day at the mall, I quickly learned why you don't see many independent businesses at a mall.

Malls are tough. 12-14 hour days can be grueling, and when you're not getting many customers, the experience can either break you or make you. In this situation I had to do what I know best - doodle. I took advantage of the down time and demonstrated my skills to those passing by my display. You may think this would be easy for me to do since I'm an artist, but when put in this situation the last thing you want to do is anything.

It's surprising how many people will stop to see art in the making. I never really understood this fascination until I had the opportunity at the caricature convention to watch other artists "whip out" one amazing piece after another. In fact, most of my time at the convention was spent with my jaw hanging open as I watched some of the most disgusting art (disgusting meaning breath-taking) being created before my eyes. Now at the mall, I was to others "that amazing artist".

Well to some... Honestly, many people walked by in a rush to buy, others walked around with no goal in mind, and a few stopped over. But all in all, I learned a very valuable lesson: "Make boredom fun". I believe this is what separates good artist from the best. Thinking back to convention, the best artist there LIVED art. I'm talking sketch books just packed with doodles, and hours on end of ruthless experience! Want to get better at something? PRACTICE.

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my latest art.

Lastly,

Make your mall fun, whatever your mall may be. Live your dream. Make 2010 your best year yet!

What's Cooking?

2010-01-02T22:41:00.003-05:00

Just a little sneak peek at the new and improved www.savethedoodle.com. Expect new features such as a doodle store, contests, videos, and more! I haven't nailed down a specific date for launch, but the goal is sometime in Spring. For now, check out a site with a layout that inspired me by fellow artist Anton Peck.

Have an idea for the new and improved site? And what do you like about the current site? Write your idea below in the comments. I'd love to hear your input.

My Top Nine of 09'

2009-12-30T21:02:00.003-05:00

Here it is... my fav. 9 doodles of the year. It was tough to narrow it down, but I tried to choose the caricatures I think best represent the subject (some more exaggerated than others!). The biggest thing I learned is practice, and not just practice, but not being afraid to try new things. You never know what kind of doodle you'll create. Happy New Year everyone!!!

Post a comment below. Which number in the slideshow is your favorite?

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T12:38:00.004-05:00

The surprise is out! We are expecting our first child this coming March!

How could my pen resist?! :-D

We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

The "Fam 7"

2009-12-07T20:25:00.003-05:00

I recently finished a fun portrait. I especially enjoyed this job because I was given a lot of details about each person, and not only that but, really great photo references. Details are GOOD because they can often times help the artist create an interesting composition. It also helps to know a little bit about the person you are attempting to draw!

I wanted to include some of the process in this post, so below you will see some of the steps I took. To start things out I pencil out the drawing and send a draft to the client. It's always best to make any adjustments during this stage of the drawing since it's harder to make adjustments later in the process. After approval, I add ink and scan it into the computer. It is possible to do the entire drawing on the computer, but I choose to use my pens when I can. On the computer I use Adobe illustrator to "vectorize" the lines, and then I color it in Photoshop. The entire process can take up to 5-7 hours depending on the amount of details.

Turkey Trottin'

2009-11-26T21:06:00.005-05:00

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Happy Thanksgiving fellow turkeys! Today was the annual Turkey Trot, a 5k or 10k race sponsored by Erie Runner's Club. For me, the highlight of this day was drawing the group of people you see in picture number one of the slide show. Every year this gang of unusual athletes parade in their humorous "uniforms" and after the race, they line up for something even more humorous...their third annual caricature. The perfect ending to a great race, if I may add.

In other news... RECEIVE 15% OFF A CARICATURE GIFT. Simply place your order before 11:59PM EST on Friday to receive the discount.

Email me at Chris[at]savethedoodle[dot]com to place your order. Caricatures make unique gifts!

THIS WEEKEND - Chautauqua Mall!

2009-11-17T22:47:00.004-05:00

This Saturday and Sunday (11/21 & 11/22) as well as next Saturday and Sunday (11/28 & 11/29) find me doodling at the Chautauqua mall!

Need a unique gift idea? Stop by to be drawn or bring some photos that I can draw from. If you bring a photo, I just ask that the photo's subject be clear and large enough to see (at least a 3" x 5"). Caricatures are great for gifts and sure to be a memorable gift. I hope to see you - happy shopping!

Book Signing this Saturday!

2009-11-11T22:50:00.001-05:00

I'll be doing some book signing Saturday, November 14th from 10am to 1pm at the Millcreek Mall in Erie, Pennsylvania in collaboration with the "Annual Santa's Arrival Celebration" located at "Center Court" of the mall. Only accepting cash & checks for the purchase of books. The Reading begins at 10:00am and the book signing begins at 11:00am. Come out and support the author and I in our new endeavor!

Some pictures from a book signing in Florida:

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

The National Caricature Convention

2009-11-10T23:18:00.002-05:00

I had the privilege this year to attend the national caricature convention -- five days of drawing, seminars, drawing, competitions, and more drawing! I met some fantastic artists including the gang from Mad magazine! I was hoping to post some pictures, but for now here are some photos from facebook. I am glad to be back and ready to doodle like never before. If I learned one thing it's this: "Don't just practice, practice perfect." Basically, learn from your mistakes and improve each time to try something. Those are mighty words to live up to!

Featured on Lavish Events!

2009-10-25T18:31:00.003-04:00

Kara from Lavish Events featured me on their blog. Need some inspiration for your wedding? Check out her site at http://lavisheventsblog.blogspot.com/ for ideas, advice, and info on local vendors.

The Fall Wrap Up

2009-10-24T16:11:00.009-04:00

Saying goodbye to the outdoor festival season is always a bittersweet moment for me. I'll miss summer fun and crowds to entertain, but on the other hand I am excited to plan for an even better year in 2010 which happens to be my seventh season of caricaturing! Where's my next stop on the caricature express? Soon you'll find me doodling my latest subject at weddings, parties, and where the bundled crowds flock. Want to add some unforgettable fun to your party or perhaps a comic carbon copy from Old Saint Nick? Now booking events for the end of this year and next and receiving gift orders for Christmas. Contact me at schroedercreations[at]gmail[dot]com.

The following pictures were taken at Albion Fair, North East Wine Fest, and Peek N' Peak's Fall Fest. Click on the thumbnails to scroll through the slideshow.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Having troubles viewing the pictures? Click here.

Now Available For Sale!

2009-09-17T22:47:00.006-04:00

This is my first illustrated book and it's now available for sale! Please visit www.alluneedislove.org to learn more and to buy the book. Also, you may become a fan on facebook! This would be an ideal gift for any child experiencing the challenges of a "broken home".

“Mommy, Mommy is Our Home Broken?” is a heartwarming and insightful children’s book with a positive perspective for divorced and alternative families.

Titusville's 150th Anniversary!

2009-08-31T19:14:00.003-04:00

I love small towns that celebrate big time. Titusville, PA celebrated its 150th anniversary by packing the streets with vendors and entertainment GALORE. Arriving as a fresh face, I created quite a stir of excitement, as many came over to my booth for a caricature. The interest generated by onlookers made me feel free to experiment. I'm pretty satisfied with some of the expressions I was able to capture subtle things like puckered lips, biting smiles, and Spock-like eyebrows. It takes some practice to see these details, but once you do, you can only appreciate the uniqueness of every face. Next stop, Albion September 15-19. Let's hope to find another small town with big smiles!
Click on the thumbnails to scroll through the slideshow.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Having troubles viewing the pictures? Click here.

Need a gift idea?

2009-08-20T20:49:00.003-04:00

Caricatures make great gifts. Surprise them with something unique and fitting, an artistic view of their personality and passions. Are you in search of a gift? Contact me by emailing chris[at]savethedoodle[dot]com with the subject line "I need a gift!"
Please allow for 2-3 weeks depending on the job. All I need is a few good pictures of the subject and the rest is up to my imagination. Give them a gift they won't forget.

Celebrate Erie!

2009-08-18T21:03:00.003-04:00

"Celebrate Erie!" My vendor neighbors laughed at my affirmation to people passing by the booth. Forgive my cheesiness, but how can you not celebrate a perfect weekend for caricatures!? The last picture is of the staff of Steel City Pizza. It displays 14 staff members, the most people I have fit on an 11x14 piece of paper... anymore and I'll have to consider a tribute to "Where's Waldo?"

The contest for the two-hour caricature party is still on! I will be announcing the winner next month.

Click on the thumbnails to scroll through the slideshow.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Having troubles viewing the pictures? Click here.

Celebrate Erie...THIS WEEKEND!

2009-08-12T21:56:00.002-04:00

Find me at Celebrate Erie this weekend! I will be on the east side of Perry's Square park in the bright orange tent. Stop by for A CHANCE TO WIN A FREE 2 HOUR PART-AY! Hooray for free stuff! For a listing of entertainment at Celebrate Erie, please visit www.celebrateerie.com

Erie's Key West Phest 2009

2009-08-10T15:25:00.002-04:00

Click on the thumbnails to scroll through the slideshow.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Having troubles viewing the pictures? Click here.