Master the Art of Caricature: How to Capture a Likeness and Create Humor
How to Draw Caricatures Book Free Download
Do you want to learn how to draw funny and exaggerated portraits of people or characters? If so, then you might be interested in learning how to draw caricatures. Caricatures are drawings that exaggerate or distort the features of a person or a character in order to create humor or satire. They are often used in cartoons, comics, magazines, newspapers, and online media.
how to draw caricatures book free download
Drawing caricatures can be a lot of fun and a great way to express your creativity and personality. You can also use them to make fun of yourself or your friends, or to make a statement about someone or something that you like or dislike.
But how do you learn how to draw caricatures? Well, one way is to read books that teach you the techniques and tips on how to draw caricatures. And the good news is that you don't have to spend money on buying these books because there are some free books that you can download online.
In this article, we will show you what you need to draw caricatures, how to choose a subject for your caricature, how to observe and exaggerate features, how to sketch the basic shape of your caricature, how to add details and expressions, how to color and shade your caricature, where to find free books on how to draw caricatures, and how to practice and improve your caricature skills. By the end of this article, you will have everything you need to start drawing caricatures like a pro.
What You Need to Draw Caricatures
Before you start drawing caricatures, you need to have some basic tools and materials that will help you create your drawings. Here are some of the things that you need:
A pencil and an eraser. These are the most essential tools that you need to sketch your caricature. You can use any kind of pencil, but a soft pencil (such as 2B or 4B) is recommended because it allows you to make light and dark lines easily. You also need an eraser to correct your mistakes and refine your sketch.
A pen and a marker. These are the tools that you need to ink your caricature. You can use any kind of pen, but a fine-tip pen (such as 0.5 mm or 0.7 mm) is recommended because it gives you more control and precision. You also need a marker (such as a black or a gray one) to fill in the dark areas and add contrast to your caricature.
A paper and a clipboard. These are the materials that you need to draw your caricature on. You can use any kind of paper, but a smooth paper (such as sketch paper or copy paper) is recommended because it allows you to draw and erase easily. You also need a clipboard (or any hard surface) to support your paper and make it easier to draw.
A reference photo or a live model. This is the source that you need to draw your caricature from. You can use any photo or model that you want, but make sure that it shows the face and the body of your subject clearly and from a good angle. You also need to have access to the photo or the model while you are drawing, so you can observe and copy their features.
A computer or a smartphone. This is the device that you need to download the free books on how to draw caricatures that we will mention later in this article. You can use any computer or smartphone that has internet access and can open PDF files.
How to Choose a Subject for Your Caricature
Once you have your tools and materials ready, you need to choose a subject for your caricature. A subject is the person or the character that you want to caricature. You can choose anyone or anything that you want, but here are some tips on how to select a good subject:
Choose someone or something that you know well or are familiar with. This will make it easier for you to recognize their features and personality, and to exaggerate them in your caricature.
Choose someone or something that has distinctive features or traits. This will make it more fun and interesting for you to draw their caricature, and for others to recognize them.
Choose someone or something that you like or dislike. This will make it more enjoyable and meaningful for you to draw their caricature, and to express your feelings or opinions about them.
For example, you can choose a famous person (such as a celebrity, a politician, an athlete, etc.), a fictional character (such as a superhero, a villain, a cartoon character, etc.), a friend or a family member (such as your best friend, your sibling, your parent, etc.), an animal or an object (such as a pet, a toy, a food item, etc.), or even yourself.
How to Observe and Exaggerate Features
After you have chosen your subject, you need to observe and exaggerate their features. Features are the parts of the face and the body that make up the appearance of your subject. They include things such as the shape of the head, the size and position of the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, etc., the style and color of the hair, the shape and size of the body, the clothing and accessories, etc.
To observe and exaggerate features, you need to do two things:
Study the face and body of your subject carefully and identify their most distinctive features. These are the features that make them unique or different from others. For example, they might have big ears, small eyes, curly hair, long nose, etc.
Draw these features in an exaggerated way by making them bigger, smaller, longer, shorter, wider, narrower, etc. than they really are. The idea is to emphasize these features in order to create humor or satire.
a long face, etc. You might then draw these features in an exaggerated way by making his ears bigger, his eyes smaller, his lips thinner, his hair shorter, his face longer, etc.
Here are some examples of how to exaggerate features:
Feature
How to exaggerate
Eyes
Make them bigger or smaller, closer or farther apart, rounder or squarer, etc.
Nose
Make it longer or shorter, wider or narrower, straighter or crookeder, etc.
Mouth
Make it bigger or smaller, wider or narrower, higher or lower, etc.
Ears
Make them bigger or smaller, higher or lower, stick out more or less, etc.
Hair
Make it longer or shorter, curlier or straighter, thicker or thinner, etc.
Face shape
Make it rounder or squarer, longer or shorter, wider or narrower, etc.
Body shape
Make it taller or shorter, fatter or thinner, muscular or skinny, etc.
Clothing and accessories
Make them more colorful or duller, more stylish or outdated, more elaborate or simple, etc.
The key to exaggerating features is to find a balance between realism and distortion. You don't want to make your caricature too realistic because it will lose its humor and impact. But you also don't want to make it too distorted because it will lose its resemblance and recognition. You want to make it just enough exaggerated that it still looks like your subject but also makes them look funny or ridiculous.
How to Sketch the Basic Shape of Your Caricature
Once you have observed and exaggerated the features of your subject, you need to sketch the basic shape of your caricature. The basic shape is the outline of your caricature that shows the position and proportion of the features. It is also called the skeleton or the framework of your caricature.
To sketch the basic shape of your caricature, you need to do three things:
Draw a circle for the head. This is the main shape that will contain all the features of your caricature. You can make the circle bigger or smaller depending on how big you want your caricature's head to be.
Draw a cross for the face. This is the guide that will help you place the features of your caricature on the head. You can make the cross horizontal or vertical depending on how you want your caricature's face to be oriented.
circles, etc. to draw these shapes. You can make them bigger or smaller depending on how big you want your caricature's body and limbs to be.
For example, if you want to draw a caricature of Donald Trump, you might draw a big circle for his head, a vertical cross for his face, a rectangle for his torso, ovals for his arms and legs, triangles for his hands and feet, etc.
Here are some examples of how to sketch the basic shape of your caricature:
The basic shape of your caricature is not meant to be perfect or detailed. It is just a rough sketch that will help you plan and organize your drawing. You can erase and adjust it as you go along.
How to Add Details and Expressions to Your Caricature
After you have sketched the basic shape of your caricature, you need to add details and expressions to your caricature. Details are the things that make your caricature more realistic and recognizable. They include things such as the hair, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, etc. Expressions are the things that make your caricature more lively and interesting. They include things such as the emotions, gestures, actions, etc.
To add details and expressions to your caricature, you need to do two things:
Draw the details of your caricature using the cross as a guide. You can use the cross to divide the head into four sections: the top, the bottom, the left, and the right. You can then use these sections to place the details of your caricature such as the hairline, the eyebrows, the eyes, the nose, the mouth, the ears, etc. You can also use the cross to align and center the details of your caricature such as the pupils, the nostrils, the lips, etc.
bored, etc. You can also use the features to show the actions and movements of your caricature such as smiling, frowning, winking, blinking, talking, etc.
For example, if you want to draw a caricature of Taylor Swift, you might draw her details such as her blonde hair, her blue eyes, her small nose, her red lips, her earrings, etc. You might also draw her expressions such as her happy smile, her raised eyebrows, her wink, her hand gesture, etc.
Here are some examples of how to add details and expressions to your caricature:
The details and expressions of your caricature are meant to be realistic but exaggerated. You want to make them look like your subject but also make them look funny or ridiculous. You can also add some personal touches or creative twists to your caricature to make it more unique and original.
How to Color and Shade Your Caricature
After you have added details and expressions to your caricature, you need to color and shade your caricature. Coloring and shading are the things that make your caricature more attractive and appealing. They include things such as the colors and tones that you use to fill in and highlight your caricature.
To color and shade your caricature, you need to do two things:
Choose the colors that you want to use for your caricature. You can use any colors that you want, but make sure that they match or contrast with the colors of your subject. You can also use colors that reflect or enhance the mood or personality of your caricature.
depths, etc.
For example, if you want to color and shade a caricature of Harry Potter, you might choose colors such as black, brown, green, red, yellow, etc. You might then use the pen to outline and define his features such as his glasses, his scar, his hair, etc. You might also use the pen to add some details or textures such as his eyebrows, his eyelashes, his stubble, etc. You might use the marker to fill in and shade his face, his clothes, his wand, etc. You might also use the marker to add some highlights or shadows such as his glasses' reflection, his scar's glow, his clothes' folds, etc.
Here are some examples of how to color and shade your caricature:
The color and shade of your caricature are meant to be realistic but exaggerated. You want to make them look like your subject but also make them look more vibrant or dramatic. You can also experiment with different colors and shades to create different effects or styles for your caricature.
Where to Find Free Books on How to Draw Caricatures
Now that you know how to draw caricatures, you might want to learn more about the art and science of caricature drawing. One way to do that is to read books that teach you more techniques and tips on how to draw caricatures. And as we promised earlier in this article, you don't have to spend money on buying these books because there are some free books that you can download online.
Here are some of the best free books on how to draw caricatures that we have found for you:
The Mad Art of Caricature by Tom Richmond
how to draw expressions and emotions, how to draw hair and clothing, how to use color and shading, how to draw caricatures of celebrities and animals, and much more.
You can download this book for free from Tom Richmond's website: https://www.tomrichmond.com/product/the-mad-art-of-caricature-pdf-ebook/
Fun with Caricatures by Graeme Biddle
This is another great book on how to draw caricatures. It is written by Graeme Biddle, a renowned caricaturist who has drawn over 50,000 caricatures for celebrities, politicians, sports stars, and ordinary people. He shows you how to draw caricatures in 7 easy steps with over 200 illustrations and examples. He covers topics such as how to choose a subject, how to sketch the basic shape, how to add details and expressions, how to color and shade, how to draw caricatures of different ages and genders, how to draw caricatures of groups and couples, and much more.
You can download this book for free from Graeme Biddle's website: http://www.learn-to-draw.org/caricature/
Learn How To Draw Caricatures For The Absolute Beginner by John Davidson and Adrian Sanqui
anime, etc.
You can download this book for free from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Learn-Draw-Caricatures-Absolute-Beginner-ebook/dp/B00GQ6JL5K
Drawing Cartoon Faces by Harry Hamernik and 8fish
This is a fun and creative book on how to draw cartoon faces. It is written by Harry Hamernik and 8fish, two cartoonists who have worked for Nickelodeon, Disney, Warner Bros, and many other studios. They teach you how to draw cartoon faces with various styles and expressions with over 250 illustrations and examples. They cover topics such as how to draw different types of eyes, noses, mouths, ears, hair, etc., how to draw different shapes and sizes of heads, how to draw different emotions and moods, how to draw different ages and genders, how to draw different ethnicities and races, etc.
You can download this book for free from Archive.org: https://archive.org/details/DrawingCartoonFaces/page/n1/mode/2up
How To Draw Caricatures by Lenn Redman
how to draw different types of caricatures such as political, editorial, humorous, etc.
You can download this book for free from Archive.org: https://archive.org/details/howtodrawcaricat00redm/page/n7/mode/2up
How to Practice and Improve Your Caricature Skills
The last thing that you need to do to become a better caricaturist is to practice and improve your caricature skills. Practice makes perfect, and the more you practice, the more you will improve. Here are some advice on how to practice and improve your caricature skills:
Draw from different sources. You can draw from photos, live models, videos, magazines, newspapers, online media, etc. You can also draw from different genres and styles such as realistic, cartoonish, anime, etc. This will help you expand your range and versatility as a caricaturist.
Draw different subjects. You can draw different people or characters that you know or don't know, that you like or dislike, that are famous or unknown, etc. You can also draw different animals or objects that have human-like features or traits. This will help you develop your observation and exaggeration skills as a caricaturist.
Draw regularly and consistently. You can set a schedule or a goal for yourself to draw at least one caricature every day or every week. You can also join a challenge or a contest that requires you to draw a caricature within a certain time limit or theme. This will help you build your habit and discipline as a caricaturist.
Get feedback and learn from others. You can show your caricatures to your friends, family, or online community and ask for their opinions and suggestions. You can also look at other caricaturists' work and learn from their techniques and tips. This will help you improve your quality and style as a caricaturist.
Have fun and enjoy yourself. You can experiment with different tools and materials, colors and shades, details and expressions, etc. You can also add some humor or satire to your caricatures to make them more entertaining and meaningful. This will help you express your creativity and personality as a caricaturist.
Conclusion
how to observe and exaggerate features, how to sketch the basic shape of your caricature, how to add details and expressions, how to color and shade your caricature, where to find free books on how to draw caricatures, and how to practice and improve your caricature skills.
We hope that this article has inspired you to start drawing caricatures and to have fun with them. Caricatures are a great way to express your creativity and personality, to make fun of yourself or others, or to make a statement about someone or something. You can also use them to entertain or educate yourself or others, or to make some money or fame.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your tools and materials, choose your subject, download the free books, and start drawing caricatures like a pro. And don't forget to share your caricatures with us and the world. We would love to see them and appreciate them.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about drawing caricatures:
Q: What is the difference between a caricature and a portrait?
A: A caricature is a drawing that exaggerates or distorts the features of a person or a character in order to create humor or satire. A portrait is a drawing that represents the features of a person or a character in a realistic or flattering way.
Q: What are some benefits of drawing caricatures?
A: Drawing caricatures can help you improve your drawing skills, especially your observation and exaggeration skills. It can also help you develop your creativity and personality, as well as your humor and satire. It can also help you have fun and enjoy yourself, as well as entertain or educate others.
Q: What are some challenges of drawing caricatures?
A: Drawing caricatures can