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“Humour is the shortest road from one person to another.” - Georges Wolinski
Caricatures and satirical drawings can make people laugh, make them angry, but they won’t leave you indifferent. As an expression of freedom of speech, they’re not going anywhere, either. Caricature drawings are a type of portrait where the likeness of the subject undergoes huge amounts of exaggeration for comic effect. So what are the secrets of a good caricature? How can you draw and exaggerate a portrait? You’ll find the answers in this article.
The History of Caricatures
While many people are amused by caricatures and the humorous way they portray people, they were first and foremost designed to mock, denounce, or draw attention to certain ideas. 
“a picture, description, or imitation of a person in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect.”
To caricature somebody requires a keen eye. The artist or cartoonist needs to draw the most defining features of the subject, exaggerate them, and ensure that they’re funny. Under the EU Copyright Directive, ‘the purposes of caricature, parody or pastiche’ are not infringing on copyright. After all, you see plenty of caricaturists working in busy tourist areas and have examples of famous people. Just have a look around the busy parts of London. Additionally, if you go to a theme park, amusement park, or trade show, you might run into someone who can do a caricature portrait of you for you to take home as a keepsake. Check out our article on getting started with drawing.
The Basics of Caricature
You won’t become a caricaturist overnight. Even though certain caricatures may seem simpler to do than a realistic portrait, it isn’t always the case. You need to be able to draw a face before you can draw a caricature. Only by mastering the fundamental drawing techniques can you begin to deform them. Discover the most promising drawing classes in the UK. 
Caricatures: Finding the Most Important Features
Once you’ve mastered the basics of drawing portraits, you can get started with caricatures. The key to caricature is observation. You can’t rush it and you shouldn’t be in a rush anyway. You need to take the time to observe the person. The most effective way is to see which features jump out at you immediately. You could draw your caricature with piercing blue eyes. If they have long hair, you can make their hair even longer than it really is. They may have a prominent nose, a big forehead, a beauty spot, pursed lips, etc.
Remember that satire doesn’t always mean vulgar or hurtful.
If you know the person well, you’ll probably understand better which features you can exaggerate. You can also draw someone as angry or in love. It’s the whole picture and situation that’s designed to make people laugh or smile. This is the model that those working in the press follow. You can also add text. You’re not writing a novel but something short and snappy, maybe something they often say or a title that sums up the situation and you could even exaggerate clothing or a treasured object. For example, why not draw someone with a snorkel and mask if they’re a fan of diving? You could also exaggerate their earrings or other fashion accessories. Caricatures act as a whole, after all. Learn how to make your own comics.
Finding Your Style when Drawing Caricatures
Each caricature artist draws differently. Each artist has their own style which is how you can recognise their work. They may be influenced by manga, realism, portraiture, or regularly do caricatures of the whole person and not just their face. Find good drawing classes here. 
Media for Drawing Caricatures
What techniques should you use when drawing a caricature? This is a question that most caricaturists have probably asked themselves. When it comes to drawing, there’s plenty of different media. You could use charcoal, coloured pencils, markers, watercolours, gouache, graphite pencils, etc. A lot of caricaturists prefer charcoal or pencil as you can simply use a rubber if you make a mistake. Sometimes, these are the only medium they use. Caricatures aren’t always in colour, after all, and once you’ve finished a drawing in charcoal, you can just add a bit of lacquer to it. If you want to colour your cartoon caricature, you can go over your charcoal or pencil sketch with paint, for example. Once you feel comfortable, you might start painting your caricatures directly in colour.
How Can You Teach Yourself to Draw Caricatures?
Getting a caricature right requires a lot of practice. So how do you do it? Who should you use as a model? Don’t panic if your little brother or husband doesn’t want to sit in front of you for hours while you draw and ridicule them. You could always practise without a subject. 
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