Caricature is the ancient Japanese art of humorous portraiture, whereby the caricaturist exaggerates the subject's features and brings out the characteristics of the person's character, face, expressions and features. Caricature artists in Japan would work using wood block prints, and these prints would be exhibited as portraits of the patrons who obviously had a great sense of humour especially when compared to early portrait artists in the west hundreds of years later.
Today the art of caricature lends itself to a wider audience, we now see it printed in magazines, books, animated films, newspapers and editorials. It is also a means of entertainment, whereby a caricature artist like myself draws people live at an event, in my case at parties, weddings, trade shows, corporate events, product launches etc.
I started drawing caricatures when I was in school, although my favourite subject was art and drawing, I would also draw in other classes. In a boring English lesson for instance I would find myself drawing caricatures of teachers and friends, likewise in Physics, biology etc, time well spent I thought as practice in drawing was essential to improving this craft. My skills progressed through time culminating in an Honours Degree at Birmingham Poly. Here I specialised in illustration, my final dissertation centred on the art of caricature in the 20th Century. My final exhibition consisted of huge printed caricatures of various pop culture people. After college, I moved to London where I worked as a freelance artist doing editorial illustrations for NME (IPC Magazines). This involved drawing caricature portraits of various musical artists for the magazine’s LP review section. These would be published weekly, some subjects included Bjork, Shakespeare’s Sister and Shane McGowan (click more to view).
Today, I draw caricatures on the live entertainment circuit, a client will hire my talents to draw guests at parties, weddings etc. I have been hired by companies such as Virgin, Sony, Midland Bank and News International to entertain their clients at various venues and events across Britain. It is good fun, the client is happy, and the guests or clients have a memento to take away with them from the event. My lightening fast drawing coupled with an engaging personality make me a double-barrel booking with a difference that will liven up any event.
Caricatures4U is a booking website where you can view samples of the caricature artwork of Greg Owens, and possibly book him for an event of your own, whereby Greg will attend your event and draw live caricatures of your guests, clients or friends or family. Greg’s amazing talent coupled with an engaging personality adds a spark to any event, this could be a party, wedding, exhibition stand, product launch or any gathering of people that may benefit from some on the spot, light entertainment, and also have a memento of the event to take home with them.
Paper can be pre-printed with any logo or names in the bottom corner if desired, Greg will then come along at any given time during your event and draw live caricatures of your guests. He is lightening fast (approx 4 mins per caricature) with his pen and inks, and always creates a great likeness of his subjects. Greg stresses that the art of caricature is not the exaggeration of someone’s eg:‘big nose’ or ‘bushy eyebrows’ to the point that the caricature artwork doesn’t actually look like the person being drawn, but far more skilled than this. To him, it is about capturing a likeness, an expression or characteristic of the subject, this is the true art of caricature, and it is just as fascinating to watch someone being drawn as to have one done of yourself, you can guarantee that your guests will have a good laugh with each other, and leave the event happy bunnies with pictures in hand. Naturally, Greg cannot draw everybody at an event, but averages between 30 – 40 people during his time slot, others usually enjoy the spectator side of it, this way, the people that really want a caricature will be drawn, and those who don’t are spared the wit of this quick draw, pen slinging, talented and entertaining caricature artist who goes by the name of Greg Owens... pheeeeuuw.
PLEASE GO TO BOOKINGS BUTTON FOR ENQUIRIES OR QUOTES, THANKYOU...