Brand New Gift Caricatures

Hi everyone!  I have been pretty busy lately working on gift caricatures for birthdays and anniversary's and such-like. They're really fun to do and I have had some amazing reactions and feedback from my customers.

Here are a few of them - one of them has been sent out to the US and I have been waiting to post these up here!  The nude couple was a 60th birthday present and was so much fun (as you can imagine) to draw!

Anyway, lemme know what you think to them!

Till next time...
 
Come over and follow me on Facebook for competitions, prizes and give-aways!

Wedding Caricature Guest Signing Pic

It was my sister-in-law's wedding at the weekend and having already designed their invites, I also bought along a framed wedding caricature as a gift.  The good bit was getting the guests to sign the mount of the caricature so they have messages from their closest friends and family surrounding their pic! Here's some photo's taken by Photographer Jenny Swann!

Gaddafi Speed Painting

Here is my first attempt at a speed painting video.  The image took about 45 mins to create.  Any feedback on length etc is gratefully received.  I created this using iShowU and iMovie which was really easy to use. Anyway, here's Gadaffi. What a face!

Gadaffi Caricature

Finally got round to finishing this.  I have had a bout of man flu this week and haven't been sleeping well so thought I may as well use my time productively!

He might be a bit mental, but he's got a cracking face to caricature!  I have also recorded my process of making this and will post the speed video tomo.

Wedding Caricatures Short Clip

Here's a short video clip from my booking last weekend. I had such a good evening and was totally rushed off my feet.  The guests were brilliant (that's how this got filmed) and the Bride and Groom were lovely!!

 

In fact, they wrote me a cracking review!!  I love drawing caricatures at weddings - it's quite a privilege helping to make someone's day special. 

latest review on FreeIndex.co.uk

Wowee!!

I have had two fantastic review's on Freeindex for my booking last week.  These are from guests too, can't wait to see the Bride and Groom's!

First one...

"Fantastic highly recommend Mark for any party he is also a good laugh and the drawings are brilliant...You will not be disappointed and value for money!! Go on book him ...Can't praise him enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Lin & Shaun Gibson.

Second one...

"I would definitely recommend Beefy's Caricatures, Mark is a very nice guy and very talented, Thank you for my picture, I love it x"  Danielle Ward

Taschen book of portraits

Hi all! As some of you know, I have been working as a freelance illustrator, alongside my caricaturing for the last 12 years.  My work was featured in Illustration NOW! 3 last year, and has now been published in Illustration Now! Portraits.

not sure who did the cover, but here are my pages!

Also, I really need more followers as 6 is a bit low, so any help with that would be lovely!

Gaddafi caricature start...

Evening all!

Well, my final date at work is fast approaching (last Friday of July) and I will soon be returning to relying on freelance work and caricature related earnings.  I am a little apprehensive but also really really REALLY excited!!!!

My plan to keep focused is to post regularly on this blog, as well as creating a couple of other creative blogs too.  I am also hoping to complete a new studio caricature each week for my website gallery.

Now things have slowed down a bit at work, I managed to knock out a quick doodle of Muammar Gaddafi.  I am going to work this up in to a final image and will keep you posted!

Beefy meets Barry McGuigan

Hi folks!

Wowee! I've been neglecting my poor blog since March! Well, my final marketing exam is on Wednesday and then only about a month left at work before I am finally free to work on my caricatures and illustrations full-time!


Well, earlier on today I got to meet one of my childhood hero's - Barry Mguigan and presented him with a framed caricature! 


I was really nervous standing in line, but he seemed to like it! (phew!!).

Anyhow, here's a photo and the caricature!

Until next time, keep smiling!

New Facebook Competition Winner!

Here's my February Facebook page competition winner, Peta Baker!

She managed to get over 170 'likes' in about 2 days which was amazing.

I really could do with some new competition ideas, so send me yours!!!!

Beefy's Daily Doodle: SCUM, a modern remake...

Well, after chatting with my friend at work yesterday, it seems I set myself the challenge of trying to draw a quick daily caricature of something topical as a way of keeping the blog fresh...

So with that in mind, here is my first one! As the ConDem's start their posh boys fight over the Alternative Voting System, my response is a slightly less masculine re-take on the 70's film 'Scum'.  "Where's your tool...?"

Meetings and college course doodles

What do you do to help yourself concentrate in long meetings or long university lectures?

I find myself doodling all the way through them as a way of trying to concentrate on what is being said. I just let my hand move and scribble and the doodles pretty much draw themselves.  Anyway, I realized that I produce lots of these little brain spills and thought I would start posting them to see what weirdness leaks out! Here's a few from my CIM Marketing course I was at tonight...

Clever chocolate packaging

Went to the supermarket last night and was dragged down the chocolate aisle by my primary school teacher wife, looking for party items. 

Now if you know me well enough, you will be aware that I am trying hard to keep my new year resolution of losing weight (2 stone so far) so I was doing my best not to look at all that lovely chocolate flashing its tasty wares at me, when I stumbled upon some really interesting packaging...

Its made by Bloomsbury & Co and I think they have done a great job at differentiating their product from the myriad of others competing for shelf space and our attention. Love it. Didn't buy one though, MY WILL POWER IS TOO STRONG FOR YOUR CHOCOLATY WARES!!!

Dr Sketchy Nottingham!

Ah man! What a brilliant day out in Nottingham I had yesterday! Up early for a visit to my local art shop to pick up some new watercolours and a nice fat mop brush ready for a day of drawing and titty tasseling at Dr Sketchy's Alternative Art School!

Hosted by the delectable Scarlet Daggers (Robin Hood) and the dastardly Charlotte Thompson-Morley (The Sheriff of Nottingham). The new venue of Nottingham's Glee club was brilliant, with really friendly and welcoming staff and little tables for everyone to draw on.

The performers, Parma Violet, Ditzy Diamond and ***Kareena***  were so good and made for a proper fun afternoon - and it was packed out!

Here are a few pics I did - I even won a prize too! ha ha!

You wanna find a Dr Sketchy's near you 'cause it's the best Saturday afternoon I've had for ages!!!!

New networks and listings!

I'm now a member of the International Society of Caricature Artists! Come and check my page out:

http://www.caricature.org/artists/markdickson/

I also got myself a profile on Superted! 

http://www.superted.com/beefys-caricatures-nottingham-wedding-party-ca/

 

Great review received!

Had this posted to Freeindex the other day!  I love getting feedback on my party caricature services and really want to go beyond what the client is expecting.  Anyhoo, here it is:

"Beefy attended AASE Graduation 2011, organised by British Swimming. The service provided was exceptional and truly added to the event.

Our graduates, guests and VIPs were all impressed and no one, not even Olympic Medallist Steve Parry, left disappointed.

We will definitely be booking again in the future."

Kieran Walsh – British Swimming Event Officer

New bookings!!

WOW! What a weekend!

I have had loads of inquiries this weekend and 4 confirmed bookings! Wahoo! Love it when that happens!

Been spending the rest of the weekend writing an assignment for the CIM Professional Certificate of Marketing course I am taking.  The assignment is on Marketing Information Research, and although it sounds as dull as dishwater, it's actually quite interesting - I might even write an online survey to get some valuable feedback on my site!

Also, been totally addicted to True Blood!  Just on epidsode 7 of the 3rd season and it is utterly captivating.  I'm really not in to vampire stuff, or sci-fi for that matter but this is brilliant, and really RUDE!!!!!! ha ha!

I've also got a few gift caricatures to be getting on with, and 2 wedding stationary caricatures too! Where do I get the time to fit it all in!?!

New Banner Stand!!!!!

Wahey! I got my banner stand at last! (sorry for the crappy iphone pic!).

Unfortunately it is a cheaper version than the one I ordered (got a refund) but still, I LOVE it!!! Can't wait for my next booking! I'm gonna look like a right bobby dazzler!

Beefy's Nottingham Gift Caricature!

Here are a few gift caricatures I have been doing lately. I love doing these, especially when I have lots of unique touches to add. I'm currently working on a wedding stationary caricature and a wedding anniversary gift commission - will post soooooooooon! :P

British Swimming Awards

Here's some pic's from my booking last Saturday at the gorgeous Colwick Hall Hotel for the ASA British Swimming awards.  I even got to meet Olympic bronze medalist, Steve Parry and presented him with a framed caricature. Really nice bloke!

Gift Caricatures

Here's a selection of gift caricatures I have completed for clients in and around my home town of Nottingham. More to be uploaded soon! If you want to see more, or even place an order, check out my site here:

http://www.beefys-caricatures.com