How To Draw Caricatures Lenn Redman Pdf

Lenn Redman's How to Draw Caricatures , originally published in 1984, remains one of the most influential foundational texts for aspiring caricature artists. Drawing from his experience of sketching over 200,000 faces, Redman provides a comprehensive workflow that focuses on identifying and amplifying the unique "deviations" in a subject's face. Core Methodology: The "In-Betweener"

A central concept in the book is the "In-Betweener," which represents the "average" human face. Redman teaches artists to:

Establish a Baseline: Memorize the proportions of the "average" face as a reference point.

Identify Deviations: Observe the subject to see what is out of the ordinary compared to the average—such as an unusually long nose, a prominent chin, or widely spaced eyes.

Exaggerate the Difference: Push those specific features further to create a humorous but recognizable likeness. Key Features and Content how to draw caricatures lenn redman pdf

The book is structured to guide readers from basic shapes to advanced full-body illustrations:

Five Essential Shapes: Redman breaks faces down into simple geometric foundations (circles, ovals, triangles) to simplify the sketching process.

Feature Breakdown: Detailed sections explore the nuances of eyes, noses, mouths, and hair, explaining how to alter them while maintaining personality.

Full-Body Caricature: Unlike many other guides, Redman includes instructions on caricaturing bodies and postures, including some sections on human anatomy. Lenn Redman's How to Draw Caricatures , originally

Diverse Examples: The text features a wide range of facial types across different ages, backgrounds, and genders, often pairing a photograph with its caricatured version to show the transformation. Accessing the Book

While you are looking for a PDF, be aware that the book is still under copyright. Official digital and physical copies can be found at major retailers and educational archives:

Borrow Digitally: You can borrow a digital version through the Internet Archive.

Purchase: New and republished editions are available on platforms like Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats. Exercise: Set a timer for 30 seconds

Previews: Sites like Scribd may host user-uploaded summaries or partial previews of the book's techniques. How To Draw Caricatures by Lenn Redman - Book Review

Day 1: The Scribble Warm-up

Redman started every day with scribbles. Not random scribbles—emotional scribbles.

  • Exercise: Set a timer for 30 seconds. Look at a photo of a celebrity. Scribble the "feeling" of the face. Angry = spiky lines. Happy = round, smooth loops.
  • Goal: Remove the fear of making it "pretty."

7. Copyright, ethics, and fair use

  • Personal practice and study are fine; distributing scanned copyrighted PDFs without permission is illegal.
  • For public sharing, create original caricatures or obtain permission to reproduce pages from the book.
  • When caricaturing real people, be mindful of defamation and do not publish harmful false claims.

Inside the Book: What Will You Learn?

If you are looking for the PDF to guide your studies, here is a glimpse of the curriculum you will find inside its pages:

What You’ll Find in the "How to Draw Caricatures" Lenn Redman PDF

If you locate a digital scan of this out-of-print classic, here’s what you can expect:

  1. The "Gesture First" Approach: Redman teaches you to capture the "pose" or "attitude" before you draw the face. He argues that the body language is 50% of the caricature.
  2. Exaggeration Rules: Simple, memorable formulas for which facial features to stretch (the ones that already stand out) and which to shrink (the subtle ones).
  3. Live vs. Photo Drawing: Redman was a purist. Much of the book focuses on drawing from a live, moving subject—a skill that forces you to simplify and memorize shapes.
  4. Inking & Shading Techniques: Specific brush and pen styles that give caricatures that classic "theme park" energy.
  5. Hundreds of Examples: Sketches of real people (not celebrities), showing both the "straight" portrait and the caricature side-by-side.