Neil Hannon Divine Comedy Caricature

I saw The Divine Comedy in 1996, supporting Radiohead in Galway. The gig was called “The Big Day Out”, in Castlegar Showgrounds. I bought the album Casanova then straight after.

In those days before streaming or YouTube, we often used to buy an album for just one song, and then be ragin’ if there was nothing else good on it. Tricked, Betrayed.

(I should explain something here - I am 107 years old).

But Casanova had a load of songs I liked on it. I especially liked “The Frog Princess”. Then on the very next album he had a song with the lyric “Don’t look a horse in the mouth, don’t let a frog get you down”

And I remember thinking “Frogs again?”. I dunno

Name another artist with two songs that reference frogs. You can’t.

Digital Caricature done using Wacom Bamboo tablet.

Stephen King Caricature

A good question to ask yourself before doing any art is NOT “Will anyone like this?” - you’d never put anything out into the world with that mentality. The question to ask yourself is “Do I like this?”

Yes I do. :)

I coloured up the sketch I’d done previously. I thought something a bit scary-looking would suit for Stephen King.

stephen king digital caricature by brendan o’rourke

stephen king digital caricature by brendan o’rourke

Cartoon of Bruce Lee

I think the usual way people draw Bruce Lee is in fighting mode. So to be a bit different I picked a friendly-faced expression. This probably hurts the likeness a bit? It’s not the way we are used to seeing him. I’m hoping the 1970s hair, along with the distinctive pose is enough to make it recognizeable. The way he holds his hands.

And then the pose with the bloody scratches is from Enter The Dragon. Most people would name Enter The Dragon as their “favourite” Bruce Lee film. I think what they mean is that it’s the only one even halfway watchable. Because the rest are dreadful. It’s the truth!

He can be an icon of his genre and still have mostly bad films. Same as Elvis

bruce lee caricature by brendan o’rourke

bruce lee caricature by brendan o’rourke

Caricature Video

A quick highlight reel showing work on some caricature commissions I did. Most of these were ordered for Christmas 2020.

Caricature Sketch of Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson would be a good place to start for someone attempting their first ever caricature. Almost any way you draw him will at least be recogniseable. Especially if you are using colour and can do the blond hair. On the other hand though with ‘easy’ faces you end up not putting in enough effort, so ironically can end up with a weaker caricature. And on that note - here’s my attempt.

Boris Johnson’s hair is like a fibre optic Christmas tree.

Stephen King Caricature Sketch

I’ve only read one of Stephen King’s books, the anthology with The Mist in it. It’s fairly good. He’s a very distinctive looking man. When you go to draw him the thing that stands out is that gap between bottom of his nose and top lip.

Also his nose reminds me of that thing you might have in the kitchen to hang up tea towels. Where you stick the corner of them into the little holes? He could hang two tea-towels on himself and go to a fancy dress party.

stephen king caricature.jpg

A Few Caricature Sketches

Bill Murray, Dara O Briain, Johnny Cash, Luke Kelly, Panti Bliss, and a young Frank Sinatra.

What a dinner party

Looking for ideas for your cartoon?