1 – I got to a live drawing gig with few markers, so I drew some in pencil. Reminds me of the immediacy of my sketchbook days. The marker step visually confirms lines but it’s not the only way to draw. Of course the custom work may start with a sketch like this, but I have time to improve as I do several sketches then get my favorite approved or changed before the final.
2 - I was drawing at an outdoor party at an adult daycare. The DJ announced the food being ready. He said “Only one line” I quipped; “ I can’t draw much with only one line.”
3 - As I was drawing someone, they said; “This is great!” I countered, “ Wait til you see it from this side.”
4- As I was waiting for sitters at the Virtu art fair in Westerly, I was sipping coffee. I was holding it at waist level. I lifted it to take a drink, and found the base of my necktie in the cup. Oops.

I was drawing for the CT Childrens Medical Center on Superhero day today, so I added bodies. I was caricaturing via Zoom. Child life staff brought I-pads to the bedsides. The logistics work surprisingly well. I have a cam on me and another on my paper. I draw quickly. So fast that I didn't wait for spelling of kid's name.
They said his name was Xaier. It sounded like it started with ‘Z”, so I put a "Z" on the shirt. When I leaned about the X spelling, I said, “know what the “Z” is for?... Zuperman. When I do a custom order for you I'll have time to get the name right.

Some ask; "How do I know I'll like the art that CaricatureDrawing.net creates?" We've added a step that will answer that. When we get your photo reference, notes and payment, we draw a preliminary sketch.When you receive it by email, you check it, and indicate changes or a "go ahead to final art" comment. There are usually no problems, but sometimes we get a comment on likeness, like "Make the chin squarer." Or and extra detail in the extras, like "Write 'Texas' on the shirt, and make the hat red". We adapt the sketch and send another proof. If all is OK, you can trust that the final will match the sketch. It will look better of course, due to refined lines and color.

Our monthly E-newsletter lets you know of recent and upcoming artwork and activities. The two samples are not current, but give a good idea of the type of material included. are  You'll find it interesting. Artwork samples are of custom illustrations and caricatures. There is quite a variety of style and uses. We draw at pretty interesting events, so the "upcoming" section can offer tips on where to go on a weekend. I come up with cartoon ideas, and this e-news is often the only place to see them. Anecdotes from my caricature chair are amusing. The newsletter is made and sent from the MailChimp service, which is very secure, and your email will only be used for this monthly emailing. Sure, I make posts on my Facebook at "Caricatures by DougalArt", but I save the best stuff for these newsletters, so opt in via http://goo.gl/NinwF4.

How to make an art easel, portable desk for laptop, or projector stand…
I make my drawing easels out of photo tripods
WHY?
-lighter and easier to set up than French easel
- less footprint
-adjustable re; tilt and height
HOW
Find a heavy duty tripod. Used is an option. Most important; tilt mechanism should stay firm.
Either use the ‘head, by drilling from it’s plate into board… either
a.    Thick enough like ‘11x14 or I like 14+x14 +so I can turn 11x14 paper either way. OR
b.    B. Thin board like ¼”luan or masonite, with a 1x4 cleat to screw into. The cleat can be screwed or bolted where the heads wont be in the way
-If you remove tripod head you can attach a slanting unit to the pole. Like https://www.toolsplus.com/kraft-tool-cc800.html?gclid=CjwKCAiA1uKMBhAGEiwAxzvX93dxAtruByubg0_grSAfbE82eVQzUgHYgnl2iS05zRaZ5VoT9aXkcBoC-_0QAvD_BwE
OR a home flagpole bracket https://www.google.com/search?q=1+in.+Adjustable++Flagpole+Bracket&client=firefox-b-1-d&channel=cus5&ei=C3uZYf2MNs_btAam6Y9w&ved=0ahUKEwi9vqjugqj0AhXPLc0KHab0Aw4Q4dUDCA4&uact=5&oq=1+in.+Adjustable++Flagpole+Bracket&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBQgAEM0CMgUIABDNAjIFCAAQzQIyBQgAEM0COgcIABBHELADSgQIQRgAUPMEWPskYPYyaAFwAngAgAFiiAGWApIBATOYAQCgAQHIAQjAAQE&sclient=gws-wiz
Possible problem; If tripod pole is diff than slant unit hollow pole, you must adapt. I use Velcro to thicken pole.

Another option from the music world…
https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Pro-Pyle-16-28-PLPTS2/dp/B003GEKXRM/ref=asc_df_B003GEJ5PI/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312154365034&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15722181131082155625&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1014882&hvtargid=pla-436804196548&th=1

The State of Connecticut voted Bill an Arts Hero In 2019.

The Connecticut Office of the Arts writes:
“Bill provides laughter, creativity and smiles from ear-to-ear to children at the Connecticut Children's Medical Center (CCMC). His talent for creating a caricature at lightning speed has children in awe and helps them forget why they are in the hospital for a little while; and that means to world to the children and the parents. Bill is an Arts Hero at CCMC!”
Their 44 sec. Video interview...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxmC5piZdRA

Bill’s acceptance speech.
Thank you so much! I hesitate to say I deserve it. I think you folks (at the Children’s Hospital) are heroes. I cheer the kids once a month. You do it daily. And the CT Office of the Arts are heroes, the way they champion arts.  Another arts hero is EncourageKids Foundation. They arrange for me to go there.
I don't save lives, but I can make folks forget their problems for a bit, with an artistic treat.  I don’t have powers like a super hero, but I have the power to give people smiles… Two smiles; One on the picture and one on their face.
My caricatures are complimentary. In more ways than one.  My contact at Natchaug Hospital says the kids get self esteem. What do I get? Well, making art makes me happy. And I find that the art I make makes people happy. Which makes me happy again. It’s a vicious circle of happiness. [I’ll tell ya.}
When It comes to teaching, I love using a variety of formats. I’ve done that through Hartford Performs and places like Camp Horizons and The Autism Center. Traditionally teaching is a pretty dry affair.  But as a teacher, I’m all wet. Especially when I teach about fish. I may use song. “I saw a sea star. Saw a squid. Saw a blue lobster. Yes I did. At the seashore.” I use humor to teach character values. Cowboy Billy says. “You should never spit in the sheriff’s face. Unless of course his moustache is on fire.” I use art to teach about fractions. Half way down are the eyes. ¾ down is the top of the mouth.
(Seriously…)I like to put my artwork to work. My motto is “art for the people”
Say it with me. 1,2,3… “Art for the people”. [[1,2,3… “Art for the people”. ]] Alright! If there‘s any squirrels in the audience… sorry. No art for you…. [opt; maybe next year]. (Thanks again.)

Yes, it’s possible. 20 years ago I wouldn’t have said that. But now technology made it possible, and the pandemic made it needed. Let’s go back in time. Picture a caricature artist drawing at an easel among party guests. Onlookers are entertained, and the sitter walks off with a personalized portrait. This can work in a similar fashion in the virtual world. Picture the artist joining your meeting or party on zoom, or a similar platform. He signs his camera in as well, so you can all see the likeness develop. After the virtual event,, the artist scans the pictures and emails them. Party art can be a cool addition to any event… Personal ones like parties for birthday, holiday, anniversary, reunion etc. Business ones like meetings, client or employee appreciation, conferences etc. The caricatures are usually “quickies”; black & white head shots. This gets the most folks drawn; usually 12-15 per hr. Or I could do a Cadillac version of one person for a special gift, with body activity and color. Good for a birthday, for instance. Of course folks can always chat as they watch, and I draw. People that plan parties and events have always considered entertainment. The smart ones have discovered the popularity of caricatures. Of course, Custom caricatures from photos are still great for gifts, and the place for online orders is www.caricaturedrawing.net/shop.html . But virtual caricaturing gets people drawn by the hour, with the added value of entertainment. So, now virtual event planners need to get hip to virtual caricaturing. Their people will thank them.

Artists are creative. That’s a given. Painters as diverse as Norman Rockwell and Picasso had their own way of interpreting reality. People who give gifts can be creative as well. The first step is to free yourself from the mindset that manufactured items are the only way to go when it comes to gifts. Places to find gifts are not limited to malls, and internet sites like Amazon. A caricature artist is waiting to create a work of art based on a photo of the person you are giving to. You’ve seen famous caricatures. Celebrity caricatures are cool, but cartoon portraits of regular folks are just as cool. I think of caricatures as “art for the people”. When I draw at a fair or event, citizens of all walks of life enjoy seeing how the artist sees them. Sometimes the art is funny caricatures. Sometimes it’s a portrait sketch. This depends on the style of the artist you choose. You could also tell an artist like Bill Dougal that you want it conservative or exaggerated. You can ask the artist to make decisions on the look of the piece, or you get specific.  In that case, you are the art director, choosing activity, clothes, background, colors etc. You probably know your giftee well enough to specify an activity. It could be a golf caricature, baseball caricature, or beach caricature.  Some clients come up with pretty creative scenarios for caricature drawings. Dori and Bill Dougal have had request for tightrope walking, A doctor fixing a guitar, and being run over by a steam roller. But even if the theme isn’t that crazy, the person who gets a caricature will enjoy the stylized portrait, and think you’re pretty creative to think of such a personalized gift.

We love drawing cartoon portraits of regular folks like you. They are often used as unique gift art. Trump news is all over the place, and lately we have been asked to make custom drawings of Donald Trump. No, the presidential potentate didn’t make an online order for the portraits. Avery Soda of New Britain commissioned Dori Dougal to draw the Donald, for use on a novelty soda label: “Trump Tonic”. That was prior to the 2016 election. She also drew Hillary Clinton for the “Hillary Hooch” bottle. I gather these are now collector’s items. The Trump bottle has been reprinted for the 2020 election. But there is a new bottle on the shelves now; “Biden Berry”.  Bill Dougal thinks his wife did an especially good job on Joe Biden. Perhaps folks will decide who to vote for based on the tastes of each soda. Not likely.
People’s tastes in presidential politicians are based on other factors… study of their stand on issues, a feeling based on their personalities, or their party. On the home page of CaricatureDrawing.net, you’ll see two caricature sketches of Trump. One has the slogan, “I Hate Trump”, and He has horns added. The other says, “I Love Trump”. So, whether you love or hate trump, I have you covered.
I had a caricature request to draw Trump for a political cartoon. This was for a concept by Steven Wisensale, wherein Trump was in a mugshot, holding a sign with a prison number that was the number of Co-vid deaths at the time. The CT Mirror published the cartoon, as did the East Hartford Gazette.
Whether you are running in the presidential election or not, you can get  your caricature drawn through our shop page.

These days we are used to buying ready made items. We forget about the joy of getting things made by hand just for us. Original artwork is one of the things that comes from the imagination and skill of an artist. We don’t buy it off a rack of hundreds of pieces that all look the same. People have different tastes. Artists have different styles. People look different, so a portrait of a person will look different than a portrait of someone else. A portrait of that person by a different artist will differ from one by another artist. All this helps make life interesting. A caricature of a person has even more chance of variation and interest. This is due to the nature of caricature. A caricature is meant to be an interpretation of the physiognomy of the person. This calls for an artist that knows anatomy, can determine the reality of the face, and make creative variations to create a portrait with spirit. I have heard that there are computer programs that can create a caricature. I don’t think this is a job for a machine; it is job for a person. But the job starts with the customer. When they decide to commission a caricature, they have made the first creative decision. Choosing the artist is the second. The other creative decisions are made by the artist as they create the cartoon-style portrait. Elements of the face drawing may be conservative, while others may have some whimsical distortion. This makes sense since a likeness must be maintained, yet a fanciful look may be desired. If the caricature request involves a little body engaged in an activity, the artist will be making lots of decisions; thinks like angle and pose of the figure, color, and background setting. Don’t think that ordering a custom piece of art is expensive or difficult. It’s easy with an e-commerce website like www.CaricatureDrawing.net. Just view samples, and choose how you want the picture. Basic options are head and shoulders, with activity body, black & white or color. Make a few notes to personalize the order; things like name, eye color and activity. You can make any specific suggestions as well. For instance… leave off his moustache, and give him a shirt that says, “Howdy”. Almost anything is possible. This is a custom art experience. You have the chance to provide input. If you buy a clock from Walmart, you can’t specify how you want the face, but you have a say in the face in the caricature. Then you can upload or email a photo for reference. The last step is paying with card or PayPal.
I’m the type of an artist that enjoys putting my talent to work for a particular purpose. Some artists create a painting and hope someone hangs it on a wall. That is a very noble endeavor. I enjoy the challenge of meeting a need and having a subject to portray. I meet this with creativity and skill, and work towards a result that will please the client and the artist.
     Custom work has a history, and implies quality. Before the industrial revolution, in the late 1800’s, everything was custom-made. Manufacturing strides made it possible for mass quantities of identical items. Businesses appeared based on reselling items. This didn’t require expertise. On the other hand, I admire craftsmen because they have unique skills and experience. They use their minds and make things with their hands. Each item they make is a bit different, but may fall within the same style of the maker. This is true of artists as well as craftsmen. These people are experts in their fields. This is the opposite of some other professions. Take for instance a salesman; he could sell any product or service. Some would call him a generalist. If your business involves custom work, you can be proud.
     Clients can benefit from a professional with experience and flexibility. [Example; Mildred Davenpoot has an unusual shaped body; thin here and thick there. Buying clothes off the rack doesn’t always work. Suzanne Nipnip is a tailor. She can create clothes based on an individual’s measurements. That’s where the term ‘tailor to…” comes from. [Examples; Marcus Bootberry bought ready-made kitchen cabinets, and they met his needs. Paul Pickleton had a logistical need for cabinets to wrap around corners. He also had an aesthetic desire for federal style molding with hearts placed in key areas.] A practitioner of custom carpentry was needed.
     The bottom line is that custom caricature art makes for a unique gift. A one of a kind picture of someone will make the recipient feel special. They will also appreciate that you thought enough to arrange for such a personal present.