Deconstructing: Al Hirschfeld

[Ugga Bugga]

I thought it would be fun to deconstruct the work of Al Hirschfeld, who, in my opinion is one of the greates characature artists in history.

The purpose of this thread is to identify techniques and approaches that work, or don't work, with a view to improving our own visual storytelling techniques.

If you like something, let us know what it is that you like. If you don't like it, identify the flaw, and perhaps suggest what would work better.

[Ugga Bugga]

[Ugga Bugga]

[Ugga Bugga]

[jeremy dale]

First rule of talking about Al: Spell "caricature" correctly.

I'm familiar with the guy's work-- it works pretty well because of the economy of line, emphasizing only the needed facial characteristics for recognition.

- jeremy

[Ugga Bugga]

First rule of talking about Al: Spell "caricature" correctly.

I'm familiar with the guy's work-- it works pretty well because of the economy of line, emphasizing only the needed facial characteristics for recognition.

- jeremy

spelling is for babies

my spell check missed it. I use my own special spell check.

[Phil Clark]

What I always found interesting was the way he worked the name of his Daughter into all of his art. Look closely and you will see the name Nina everywhere in his art. Hair, clothing wrinkles... wherever he could get it to work.

He was a true genius at conveying a likeness with very few lines. I have a TV Land print of his work. It is the pride of my collection of original art and art prints.

[NickRocks]

What I always found interesting was the way he worked the name of his Daughter into all of his art. Look closely and you will see the name Nina everywhere in his art. Hair, clothing wrinkles... wherever he could get it to work.

I dont see it.

i love hirschfield. theres a certain joy you get from conveying something with a single line that one loses when you start to fall in love with illustration...I believe will eisner said that.

Hirschfields art is so simple and elegant, always great to look at.

[lost-spartan]

I dont see it.

One of them;

[jharker]

What I always found interesting was the way he worked the name of his Daughter into all of his art. Look closely and you will see the name Nina everywhere in his art. Hair, clothing wrinkles... wherever he could get it to work.

Apparently the US army even used it as a training excersise for bomber pilots to spot targets.
I also read he found that repulsive, but I can't help but find it interesting that his art works on that kind of level.

I love this video of Al Hirschfeld just drawing away at his table; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC1t2...ext=1&index=13
I love that his wife keeps asking him to stop, to get ready for dinner, and then he just keeps on drawing some more