Demonpen Ranked number 3 in the UK!

Yes indeed, Demonpen's inexorable rise continues!
Now ranking number 3 in the uk caricaturists directory
Demonpen AKA Charlie Everett has been entertaining guests at weddings, parties balls conferences and Corporate events with his unique style of fast, live caricature entertainment for over 20 years!

Here are a few examples from recent weddings he has attended.

Three recent wedding related commissions

Although I like to think I can turn my hand to caricatures for any occasion, probably 90% of my living is from wedding caricatures. It is, above all, newly weds and newly weds to be who I have to thank for keeping me out of the gutter! Thanks to you all for coming to the rescue time and again!!!

This piece was commissioned by the groom's brother as a wedding present.
Pen, ink and watercolour. Price: 100

This piece was commissioned as a signing board for Laura and Steve's reception. They also booked me to come and draw live on the evening. It was nice to have an enthusiastic crowd primed and ready to having already seen this displayed in the hall!

Pen ink and watercolour on A2 watercolour paper to allow space for signing. The price for this was £100 plus P&P.

Another wedding present commissioned by a friend..

As they were getting married in Bath, he wanted Bath Abbey in the background.

Pen ink and watercolour on A3 paper. The price for this was £130 plus P&P.

A last minute 70th Bithday Prezzy!

I had a call yesterday from a lady wanting a caricature finished by Friday for a 70th birthday present. Luckily I had a bit of time to spare this week...

Ok - if you hadn't guessed it's the one on the left though he does look in particularly good shape!

Some likenesses succumb to a brash approach but this was not one of those. I found this face quite subtle and elusive but after a couple of hours I had a reasonable sketch.

She (Becky, my client) was pleased with this so today I finished it in pen, ink and watercolours.

So! if you want one but think you are too late, you might not be.... no harm giving me a call!

Check out more examples of birthday caricatures on my website!

You don't necessarily need a perfect photo to make a good caricature.

My customers often often say that they don't know if their photos are good enough to use for a caricature but actually,in my experience there are no hard and fast rules about what constitutes a 'good' photo for a caricaturist.

Sometimes a fuzzy snapshot might actually reveal more personality than a crisp close up - That is why I always say send me whatever you have and if I think I can use it then I'll do a quick sketch for your approval before creating the final  artwork.


                                                                                   

Final piece hand painted in pen, ink and watercolours

Price: £100 

Wedding Caricature Commission

I was asked to create a caricature for a signing board at Vicky's wedding reception. As usual I first created a rough sketch for her approval before discussing the fee.

The final piece completed in pen, ink and watercolours.

Price: £150.00

They are both coppers and Vicky wanted some humourous reference to this. The handcuffs seemed like the obvious choice!!

Well thank you too Vicky and thanks too for booking me to draw caricatures at your wedding xxx!

One Love!

Double caricature to celebrate a squash-court romance! 

Hand painted in traditional media - pen, ink and watercolours.

One like this could be yours for £150.

George Ferguson

Got a commission to do a caricature of George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol!

Birthday Present for a Young Salt!

A personalised caricature completed in pen ink and watercolour.

£150.00

Nick's partner Rhona asked me to do this caricature for his 60th birthday present. The design went through several permutations......

                                An initial sketch free of charge just to get a  feel for the likeness.

An advanced sketch with adjustments to the face and a proposed theme.

At this point we discussed the final price for the artwork.

A quick snapshot for Rhona of the work in progress - just to make sure everything was how she wanted it.

I had an idea which really cracked me up at this point - I penciled in his feet standing on the seabed. Rhona laughed a lot but we both agreed this was just a bit too silly!!

The work was completed at a relaxed pace over the course of 2 or three weeks so there was plenty of time to think things over and come up with just the right design.

Thanks Rhona!

Mmmmmm...

The other day I wasn't too busy with the caricatures so I did something experimental.

Mr Men caricatures at Intel Swindon

Geraldine from Intel in Swindon asked me to go along and draw caricatures of her team during lunch yesterday.
For a bit of extra fun she asked if I could draw everyone with various Mr Man character traits so using a bit of colour seemed appropriate.

With only a dozen or so people to get through and the novel brief, it was an unusual booking but we all had a pleasant and amusing couple of hours and everyone got a silly drawing to take away!

Olympic Themed Caricatures at the Lloyds offices in Bristol

I had a last minute request to draw Olympic themed caricatures at corporate event on Friday 27 July 2012 at the Lloyds offices in Bristol.

The requirements were slightly challenging as the organisers were looking for a caricaturist to draw a large volume of full bodied on the spot caricatures in various humorous sporting poses. In addition I had a cut off time as I had to get to another booking. I normally stick to head and shoulder drawings when volume is the priority and I did consider getting some paper printed up with a pre-drawn motif but I always feel this is a bit of a cop out and a bit boring!

With about one weeks notice I set to work practising sporting cartoon figures and in the event I actually managed to exceed the quota.

In four hours I did some 52 drawings, a number of which were actually doubles so I probably drew 55 to 60 likenesses. I felt I had risen to the occasion and judging by their feedback on freeindex the organisers were delighted!

The only fly in the ointment was when I managed to back into another car in the car park in my hurry to get to my next booking :-(

Live Caricature Fun at Ikea, Bristol

I had a midweek enggagement last Thursday to draw on the spot caricatures at the Ikea crayfish festival where I was providing family entertainment alongside a magician and an Abba tribute band.

Demonpen seen on Chanel 4

Catch a fleeting glimpse of the caricature ledgend Demonpen on telly!

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/four-in-a-bed/4od#3366509

Just in case you happen to be the guy who drew the caricatures that were hanging on the wall - or anyone else for that matter; those aren't mine!

I did actually draw all the contestants and quite a few of the film crew during the afternoon but I guess the show wasn't about my pics. Just check out my nice jacket!

Some fast Caricature Action for Vodafone in London

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to draw on the spot caricatures at a dinner at the end of a Vodafone training day.
On arrival, my contact Matt said there were around 90 people in attendance and asked if I would be able to draw everyone. I said this was unlikely as 15 an hour is generally considered good going and I was just booked for 3 hours but I said I would see what I could do.

I usually take 4 to 5 minutes per person often including bodies and props but to achieve the maximum volume per hour I stuck to simple face only caricatures. At the end of the three hours I had managed to draw a very respectable 60 caricatures.

Despite working flat out, I found time to take a few shots - this is what 3 minute caricatures look like!

There are various things which affect how many caricatures I can do in a given time. Some days I simply draw faster than others but also the general situation and mood are important factors as well as the flow of guests. Obviously, to achieve the maximum possible number, I need to work non-stop which requires a constant flow of willing subjects.

Fundraiser for Amelia's Miracle

Yesterday I had a last minute request to do on the spot caricatures a charity fundraiser for Amelia's Miracle (http://www.ameliasmiracle.com/) at the Crown in Playhatch, Reading. I wasn't doing anything else and the weather was s*** so I decided to go along. It was quite a crush in the pub with a number of quality acts going on. I was kept busy most of the afternoon and was able to hand over a pocket full of notes before I left. Here are a few of my victims!

 

 

A few sketches off the telly

A lot of caricaturists use celebrity caricatures drawn from photos to showcase their skills. Personally, I think it is somewhat disingenuous to use this kind of stuff to promote myself as a live caricature entertainer but I do spend many happy hours practising in front of the TV and computer screen.
Here are a few of my practice sketches.

Hugh Laurie as House

Mackenzie Crook

Bruce Willis

Morgan Freeman

Johnny Vegas

Liam Fox

Dara O'Brian