Using Cartoon Characters for Business and Commercial Use!
Posted on January 15, 2010
I recently had one of my favorite clients return for another business order.
(There must be something in the wintery air for all these recent cartoon orders!) 
These caricature/cartoon character designs have been telling a great story for their line of business.
I always did SAY that cartoons catch people’s attention and they DO!! What better way than to have a cartoon designed for your business.
After completion of my final cartoon, this company emails the image to another company who makes cardboard characters out of high rez image files. When they receive the cardboard cut-outs, they display them for their business meetings and more. What a GREAT idea!
For each design, I receive several photos of the person along with the character information to help me with their thoughts and idea for the character.
I draft out a B&W cartoon-likeness image for my client(s) to review for revisions and move into color after approval.
This type of design costs more for it is being used for commercial/business purposes.
Here is the rough draft along with final. Thanks again Laura!
Live Digital Caricatures for a Connecticut University
Posted on April 2, 2009
I just got back from a two day trip to Connecticut. This trip up to New England was due to a Live Digital Caricature job for a university in Connecticut.
Due to the number of students and the fact that they wanted to feature us, the university and Scott (who’s running Digital Blacksmiths) decided it would be best to hire two digital artists due to the anticipated high demand for Live Digital Caricatures.
As it turned out, John and I kept the line moving at just the right pace and the student line wrapped behind both of us so they could watch while waiting.
It was crazy hearing some of them laughing and making comments as they waited for their own!
We drew for 4 hours and students further back watched the caricatures on the HDTV we brought. After a good night’s rest at a nearby Inn (thanks to the great hospitality of the university), we spent a few more hours in town the next morning for breakfast and then headed back to Pennsylvania.
We’ve had several questions in the past about our Live Digital, and as you can imagine, doing Live Digital is not as easy as some artists might normally think. The change from studio to live events throws a lot of variables into the mix. Even John admitted afterwards that he was very stressed and that it was different than he ever imagined, even with several weeks of preparation and insight from us. He was extremely grateful to have Scott as tech support and me as ‘art support’ help him through the event.
Everything at the University went so smoothly and the entire team at the Student Activities office was terrific. Thanks so much, Lisa, Amanda, and Greg, for going out of your way to make us feel so at home!
Funny Family!
Posted on December 22, 2008
I just HAD to create a new caricature of my mother and her forever boyfriend, Ivan.
My mother is known for gabbing with her skinny cigs and drinking her old mill.
She has a forever pot belly (never works out), but she seems to be proud of it!
Ivan is close to looking like Santa Claus, with his really round belly, he loves to hunt and always has Bootsy, the dog, with him.
They are a real bunch of rednecks, but very good hearted and “fun” people!
Everyone who meets my mother loves her! She is very outgoing and always ready to have a good time!
I know…I really went to town on their “character” design, but my mother and Ivan LOVE my art work, especially my caricatures, and will really have a hoot over this one!
I can already see my mom running to her neighbor with this one!
Meeting Robin Williams and other Celebrities!
Posted on November 6, 2008
Robin William’s new show is called “Weapons of Self Destruction” and was just as hilarious as his “Robin William’s Live” video published in 2000. My son (JT) and I happily sat 3 rows back, in the Upper Darby Tower Theatre last week, and remained bug eyed to his 2 hour show, as we burst with tears of laughter! Robin is one of our (JT and I) favorite comedian of all time!
After the show and during our meeting with Robin, JT asked Robin if he could recite a line from Mrs Doubtfire (one of his favorite RW movies) and as he signed his photo, he said (in Mrs Doubtfire’s voice) “She lives within me my dear!”
I designed a caricature for Robin and surprised him with it and he said “Holy Sh*t! Look at that!”
I asked him to sign my matte board and he said “This is strange!” then wrote that same quote on my board and signed it.
Here is the caricature I designed for Robin Williams:
Here is his signature!
Here is JT’s iphone photo of the stage before the show:
Here is JT’s signed autograph:
JT with Robin Williams:
Here are other celebrities I’ve met in my past, and was fortunate to have a photo taken.
Penn and Teller:
Copperfield (with Scott and friends):
I happen to have signed caricatures from Penn & Teller and Copperfield (even Rick Springfield, remember him?) but they are locked up in my photo albums and are put away as my old crappy work. 
A few years ago, during a gig at the Little League World Series, I also was fortunate enough to have drawn Kevin Costner’s family, while Costner and his family watched the ball game (Costner is a huge Little League supporter and often attends the games).