Showing posts with label caricature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label caricature. Show all posts

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Animation - work-in-progress

In 1998 I wrote this story I made into 3D animation using the primitive tools I had using the Dos version of 3D Studio. While at Siggraph 1999 I was glad to pass on copies of it to some of my associates thereSince then production of this story has slowly taken shape as a book illustration and animation. It is going at a snail pace because I am interested in having it done on my own free time. Because if it was to be released sooner I would have had to make a serious investment into it by putting aside my mainstream #creative jobs. So here I am presenting my first official release of the animation work-in-progress. I had released about 75% of this line test way back in 2010 the sketches on paper I had made on campus at New York University, NYC  in 2007 but did not really discuss the message of the story. Keep following these WIPs to piece together my story and aesthetic progress while I produce the completed version soon.

Title of this clip: Breaking Free
Type of Animation: Line test
Release date: 20 Sept 18
Author: Remy Francis


Sunday, April 6, 2014

I like to Live caricature in Dubai

Greetings all

This is a post I originally made just to showcase my live caricature stints. Just about 10 days ago when I first posted this, I was completely oblivious of the fact that not everything is milk and honey in the world of a full-time caricaturist who makes a living doing cartoons at live events.

This is a new context (dated 20 April) to my old post after I did my own research as a blogger in the creative arts industry which is the product of one of my art adventures.

It ain't so pretty in the life of a caricaturist if one wants to caricature for a living. I leave it to you guys to go out there and get curious about what transpires in the life of one of these talented souls. I empathize with them but in the end they are their own masters and only they can keep up to the serenity of their talent.

With this said .... you may now read the rest of the post which I promise is the chirpy part of the bargain :o).

Just to update you, I only perform live caricature for the shear pleasure of doing it. And no thank you shall I say....to do it for profit or attach any commercial interest to it ...for then it just becomes a menial manual activity with all its grace lost. At least it is a great work-out for my mind. And hence am so pleased and proud to do it via my main facilitator ARTE UAE on a weekend or two. Thanks to them it is with great pleasure that I now share my works and views on caricaturing along the middle-eastern coast while I interact with a vibrant transitional multi-national society who hail from various races, color, creed, speaking different languages from different parts of the world.

I must say my exciting journey has taken me into caricaturing just to have some child-like fun which has given me such fulfillment compared to my regular work in branding or creatives or infographic direction or any other creative activity I do, in saying that when I caricature I get into this special dialogue with my target audience bringing about an interactivity and informal conversation where I get to speak with each one of them from their comfort-level, eye-to-eye with all their inhibitions melted away, their reservedness and people-shyness, all disappeared. The intriguing part of it is that while I sketch, my subject is constantly in touch with me conversationally helping me make a better and meaningful image of them and their gestures. Even better, I find something I learn from every individual whether he/she be 4 years of age, 20, 40 or 80. Not only does this enhance my learning about life, but I am pleased that I am able to share my knowledge when my subject tries to learn from me more about art and cartooning which is all the more pleasing when I  teach for passion.

These are some of my other caricature of people, all of which have their own stories to tell.









Having shared this, let me end this post by explaining a bit what caricature means ... from some information gathered from Wikipedia
caricature is a rendered or processed image (made by traditional drawing on paper or canvas or wood or drawn digitally into a computer screen) which shows the features of its subject in an exaggerated way. 
As far as I am concerned, I prefer to make my caricature subjects have pleasantly exaggerated characteristics so everyone has a smiling face when I hand over my sketch  :o) My intent is to enhance the "feel good" emotion in my subject.
In literature, a caricature is a description of a person using exaggeration of some characteristics and oversimplification of others.
Caricatures can be insulting or complimentary and can serve a political purpose or be drawn solely for entertainment. 
I enjoy making my caricature "Solely" for entertainment and entertainment of the events guests to compliment guests of the party or event.
Be it a birthday party, farewell, retirement, wedding etc etc.  I like making caricatures for the group to think - happy thoughts or get into that "happiness bubble."
Caricatures of politicians are commonly used in editorial cartoons, while caricatures of movie stars are often found in entertainment magazines.
While I do a lot of caricature of politicians  but do not allow for it to see the light of day because I choose to only publicize caricature of neutral subjects and of individuals who personally request me to make of them.... Caricature is also all about capturing the moment and living in that moment. Hence there is no time to crib because this art-form only celebrates the fun element of a character at that moment.
The term is derived from the Italian caricare—to charge or load.
So, the word "caricature" essentially means a "loaded portrait".  
My portraits take a bit longer to create. Whereas my caricature are quick because I tease out ones character from the portrait the best elements in a few lines drawn.
Thank you for stopping by. I sure did enjoy explaining about what transpires whenever I want to become a humorist in the form of my sketches. In a few weeks I am excited at the possibility of showcasing one of my good humorist friends who is a celebrity doing it again as a pleasure in his own country. Wait till I reveal the face of that great artist. Coming soon on this space.

Coming back to my intent of making this post...I hope this art form is preserved to its best.

One needs to recognize the fact that there is intricate split-second brain-power going on inside a caricaturist's mind to be able to churn out such unique pieces of art. And there is a sure need to pull back out of the commercial world and view this with some empathy.

The other best places to see them in action in Dubai are Ripe Markets, Dubai Shopping Festival, Comicon Dubai, Dubai Summer Surprises Events, Al Qasba Sharjah, and of course Arte.

So long till next time. I have a couple of very interesting posts coming up. So gear up for another coffee-time read just coming up.


Sunday, March 16, 2014

An ART group in Dubai made it for me

My apologies for missing from my blog from the new year of 2014. The real-life grind goes on but I am going to be coming to give you an update about this exciting season in Dubai!

How have you been doing with that New Years resolution?

As for me and some folks around here the madness continues and my motivation to keep up with the race has been several this season. It all started in January when I took part in Street Art Night - city beautification project when one felt this revolutionary period in art in Dubai is something no one could afford to miss. This phenomenon does not seem to stop anytime soon for the liberalization of conducting programs like this has only made Dubai all the more sparkly with different races of people from around the world coming into the country in droves.

This is my third year of exploration and experience in the entrepreneurial world and it has been nothing but an exciting ride filled with mystery, conviction, uncertainty, learning from life's ruthless ways of wisdom-sharing, artists camaraderie, collaborations and finding the long sought after niche. Along the way, I was truly touched by some very genuinely human (yes I emphasize) human beings and some very inhuman behavior from but only a few others. But all of it have been a part and parcel of being a growing entity not losing sight of what I wanted to have at the end of 2014.

The plan to set priorities straight this year:
Resolution 1: To give a hearing to my true calling in being a realist and impressionist and taking fine art to my next level...because art to artists makes work-life not all business....but gives a sense of release and a balance to normalise living.
Resolution 2: To shift gears within my corporate offerings to remove some of my services which are beaten up and broken into a sorry commodity and to look closely at what I have as a niche offering. I have managed to lock down a couple... those which I have gathered slowly, painfully with several years of seasoning.

So now I am rather pleased to say....resolution no. 1 has been met more far beyond expectation.
And resolution no. 2 is on its way to its victory.

Here are my posts in relation to my first resolution going forward oh so successfully.

I became a regular exhibitor, also having the courage to face members of the public, holding live portrait sessions at Arte - The Artisans of the Emirates which is an art market in Dubai. I realized that my sketches were such a great vehicle to create my dialogue with many people face-to-face in the city. So overwhelming was this experience which I had dreamed of in all my years as an artist.

Almost 2 weekend days from January - March 2014 I was there getting into an artistic trance like no other. Hats-off to this very thoughtfully created group... who make us and Dubai pledge "to Go Handmade!"

Arte was one among the good samaritans who have helped me see my resolution through this far.

Following are the pictures born out of my involvement with Arte. Dubai with Arte, this season got me into the groove of making portraits by the numbers....getting to practice like this is simply a joy.

I can't express enough the enjoyment I felt in mingling with a multi-national Dubai community doing what I did, getting into split-second friendly conversations no matter what their age, 6, 16, 30, or 80. Getting a thumbs up or a couple of cheers from passers-by who otherwise would just have passed by. Everyone shared a broad smile as if to say thanks for entertaining them. 

These pictures may show a bit of the flavor of my experience and an introducing to my signature style in portrait and caricature. 


Besides, I was pleased to make portraits of 2 great people....
Margaret Thatcher and Nelson Mandela soon to be available as limited edition prints.




I have never enjoyed live-sketching like this before in Dubai!!
Truly no 2 people were from the same region.
The past 2 weeks I made portraits of 2 Africans, an Indian child, a Jordanian child, a Lebanese chil and portraits and caricature of many people who send in pictures. If faces that passed by were so portrait friendly as in good posers....I was pleased to give a portrait to them free like this Egyptian Child.



and even a 5-minute portrait of my pet daschund which quickly got bought by a second-grader "Deniz" who looked at him like eye-candy. 

It was a small struggle to part with my first portrait of Robbie yet I was pleased to hand it to little Deniz who I knew would treasure it dearly. 
Here is his picture.

 However I made a new one of him soon after. :o) Shall post it here for you as soon as I can.


I was also very pleased to re-introduce a couple of oil paintings (in flesh & blood) from my personal collection which I painted back in the 1980s and 1990s, shipped in from my home country.
I couldn't believe they have been with the household as silent companions for more than 20 years.

She is the product of my study of one of the great masters Rembrandt


This bear family piece made in July 1994 was inspired by the impressionists.


So the season this far was something to treasure....
Today being the start of the Art Week in Dubai the March fever hasn't stopped just yet.
I am waiting for another artistic trek this weekend.
Wait till I uncover what, where and who were here when I blog about it next week same time.
The only thing I wish is I had an extra self to help me take part in the bubbling events in store for artists right now.

Keep an eye on this space....because posts of it all are going to be rolling in regular succession. I have been bitten by the writer's bug once again ;o)

So long until next time!