Caricatures are basically those typically unflattering and funny pictures that we buy from amusement parks. However with some practice one can master the art of drawing caricatures yourself! This will save you from being subjected to the satire of the caricaturist and also will provide you the immense satisfaction of drawing caricatures of your family and friends. So here we shall know more about the method of drawing caricatures step by step. The guide given below can help in making the task easier and simpler for you:
- First and foremost is studying the basics of caricature. Observe good caricatures and analyze the variations in the thickness and darkness of certain lines. In fact it is these differences in the thickness and darkness of lines in a caricature that can bring life in a portrait.
- You shall have to plan to layer caricatures that feature more than a single subject. You can also plan to compose the caricature by placing people in front of the other or by drawing them in shortest to tallest order. This way you can add dimension and interest in your caricature portrait.
- Observe your subject very closely. Though you will need to enhance his/her features but you have to be careful that your caricature resembles the subject very closely.
- You can then draw the eyes in a thick dark line by keeping in mind about the relative distances of your subject’s features. Remember that eyes are the most expressive part in any face so it is better if you begin by drawing the eyes first.
- The next part is the nose. You can choose to exaggerate the nostril features of your subject. Make sure that the side of the nose is lighter than the nostril line.
- You have to then draw the mouth by using a heavy line for denoting the place where the lower lip and lips meet. You can choose to exaggerate the mouth features depending upon the personality of your subject. Tip: draw a huge smile for a friendly subject.
- You have to draw the chin of the subject by observing the length and proportion of the chin. If your subject has a small chin then you can draw it in such a way that the bottom lip rests on the top of the chin.
- For the jaw line and cheeks, you have to draw a continuous line by using a thick and dark line. Only if your subject has angular features, you can consider drawing the cheekbones.
- Drawing the ears can be fun. You can experiment with the ears by either sticking them out or by hanging them down too low.
- The hairline and the hair have to be drawn by using a pencil. For people with large foreheads, you can begin the hairline high on the head. For people with puffy hair, you can draw hair that fills the top of the page.
- The next in line is the addition of eyebrows by using a thin light line for all people who have few eyebrows and using thick caterpillars for people with thick eyebrows.
- You can now add the finishing touches to the caricature by drawing any of the unusual features like moles, wrinkles or under eye bags.
