Instructions for Caricatures

Learn how to draw a caricature.

Everyone is familiar with caricatures. The humorous drawings are common staples on busy street sidewalks or on beach boardwalks during the summer months. The main point behind a caricature is to visually capture the overall feel of a person's face, with the emphasis placed on standout features, whether it is the nose, lips, mouth or face shape.

Things You'll Need

• Drawing pencils
• Paper
• Subject (photograph or person)

Instructions

1. Observe your subject in close detail. The premise behind drawing a caricature is to create an amplified and funny version of a face, while still making sure that the face looks exactly like the person. Search for facial traits that are particularly unusual or notable, whether it is a particularly long chin or unusually wide-set eyes. If you are drawing from an actual person instead of a picture, observe the person's expressions. Tell a funny story and watch how the person's face looks when laughing.

2. Begin with the prominent facial characteristics as the centerpiece of your drawing. The focus of your caricature needs to revolve around the standout facial features of the individual you are trying to capture. Start out by drawing those facial features. Place added emphasis on them by either making them especially small or big, or by defining them with thicker strokes and pencil lines. It is important to start your caricature by drawing these specific features before anything else.

3. Accentuate with your pencils. Make sure that you have the proper tools to get the job done. Look for pencils with varying levels of line thickness. Make sure that you also have both dark and light pencils. This will ensure that you are able to make certain features "pop out" more. This is also beneficial for displaying depth.

4. Draw the body of the person significantly smaller than the head. This is one of the classic aspects of a caricature. Oversized heads and undersized bodies contribute to the humorous nature of the drawings.

5. Pay attention to page layout. When drawing a face on a piece of paper, it is crucial to consider the location of the face, and the relationship and distance between all of the facial features. Make sure that your drawing is focused around the middle of the page to give it proper balance. Visualize the drawing in your head before committing it to paper.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice makes perfect when it comes to caricature drawing. In the beginning, it might be difficult for you to determine the standout features of a person's face, especially if the person has very even features. However, with repeated examination of human faces and extensive practice, understanding how to exaggerate characteristics will start becoming much easier for you.

References

• Learn to Draw Expressively: How to Draw Caricatures
• Caricature Secrets: The Easiest Way to Start Drawing Caricatures
• Learn to Draw: What is Caricature?