Pin-ups, caricatures & sketch cards…
March 9th, 2010 | by Chris
Hey everybody, with summer fast approaching, that means Convention Season is here! This year, I really want to expand my convention presence and try to get as many interested parties to learn about Capes & Babes as possible but I need YOUR help.
Why do I need your help?
Well, I need help with table purchases, travel & hotel expenses and all that good stuff it takes in order to go to these conventions.
How can you help?
Well, by purchasing original art from me in the form of pin-ups and/or sketch cards.
Here’s the deal:
- I will draw 9×12″ commissions of your favorite characters (comic book or otherwise) for the low, low price of $40 ($10 goes for shipping and handling charges).
These drawings will be full-color (with Prismacolor markers), and inked with archival inks on 2-ply bristol board. Shipping in the U.S. is included in the price. I will do either a humorous version (with dialog) or I will do a traditional “silent” pin-up without any dialog or humorous slant – whichever one you want!
- For $50 Black-and-white caricatures on 9 x 12 bristol board with archival inks.
- For $70 Full-color caricatures on 9 x 12 bristol board with archival inks.
You must provide a decent close-up of the person being caricaturized. Shipping and handling is included in the price.
- For $10 a piece, I will do full color trading cards of any character you want.
Trading cards measure 2.5×3.5″ and are inked and colored on bristol board. They will be signed and dated as well. The cards will also come with a protective sleeve. Again, shipping in the U.S. is also included in the price. Shipping and handling is included in the price.
If you’d like to purchase any of the above, just shoot me an email at capesnbabes (at) gmail (dot) com and I’ll send you an invoice from PayPal!
I think this is a much better way to ask for your help then simply popping a Donation button on the site… this way, you get original art AND you help me finance my convention trips this year!
Also, thanks again for reading Capes & Babes. I truly appreciate all of your support!
-Chris
So earlier yesterday, I posted a question on Twitter (capesnbabes) asking the people who follow me: Would you rather get Capes & Babes 5 times a week but in black & white OR would you rather get Capes & Babes in color but still only three times a week?
For those of you that would like to see Capes & Babes 5 times a week, do you still feel that way after today’s strip?
For those of you that would like to see Capes go daily, I need to do a couple of things before that can happen:
1) I need to build up a bigger buffer
2) I have to write more in advance than I am now
3) I need find a full-time job to replace my old one
But I also need something from you guys too… If I go daily, we have to make it beneficial for both of us. That means you guys have to put in some work from your loose change department. And given my current situation that holds true even more.
But I’ve never been one to simply beg for now reason so I’m asking all of you… what would you like to get in return for donations?
1) Regular wallpaper designs?
2) More “Stupor Heroes”?
3) Character sketches?
Give me some suggestions here and I’ll see what I can do. In the mean time, I am COMPLETELY open for commission work. And, if you liked the design of my business card, hey, I’m willing to do one for you too!
And on the last note…
If ANYONE knows someone at LeapFrog Solutions in Oakton, Virginia, please put in a good word for me. LeapFrog is an advertising agency and I just sent them my resume and portfolio package – so if you know someone over there, let me know, okay?
Thanks. That’s all for now.
-Chris
This is a little overdue but back in early December, I was commissioned to do a Christmas present of an illustration featuring The Hulk and Chuck Norris. Because it was a Christmas present, I couldn’t post it before then and afterward, I got caught up in doing various things for the strip that I forgot about it. but there it is in the first image below.
The other two images are Twitter Avatar caricatures I’ve recently completed. If you’re interested in having a custom Twitter Caricature Avatar created for you, go to my “Commissions” page to find out more information (as well as view bigger versions of the three images below).
Custom Twitter or Forum Caricature Avatars
You can click any of the images above to see bigger versions or you can go to my Commissions Page and find out how YOU can have YOUR OWN Custom Caricature Avatar today!
-Chris
I recently did a few commissions for a couple of people. One such commission that I just finished was for my good friend and fellow Community MX partner, Kim Cavanaugh. Kim wanted me to “cartoon-ize” one of his fellow co-workers, Lee – a busy, tech-savvy hockey mom that is addicted to text messaging. Here’s what I came up with:

To see a larger version, click here.
Kim just sent me the tech video podcast he does in Florida called Palm Breeze Cafe. Here’s the YouTube video of Kim giving Lee the cartoon (above) that I did for both of them:
My illustration project is discussed at the very beginning of the show. And, if you want to learn a little bit about the program, Picasa, you can watch the rest of the video as well. Right after Lee receives the cartoon, you can also see the extra little “surprise” I add to every commissioned sketch that someone orders from me.
I also did two other recent commissions. One is for a Christmas present so I’m reluctant to show that until after Christmas but suffice to say, it involves a caricature of Chuck Norris that came out really great (I think).
Here is the Spider-Woman commission I mentioned before. It’s still a work in progress and doesn’t have any text yet (but I know what the dialog is). If you want to see the full image, click on the picture below:
Once the entire thing is done, I’ll fix the link so that the larger version is the final version.
Also, if you’re interested in getting a caricature or commission done:
Please send me an e-mail at capesnbabes [at] gmail [dot] com for prices and other information/details.
If you’re interested in getting a caricature done:
I will need to have a very good, high quality close up photo of the subject matter I am caricaturing.
All commissions and caricatures are done on 9×12″ smooth bristol board and are full color (unless specified otherwise).
The other night, while watching the old boob tube (the TV for all you youngin’s out there), I saw at least three eHarmony ads in one hour – at least I’m pretty sure it was three. It might have been four since they all kind of ran together – or might even have been the same ad on repeat.
I just thought… if I was still single and looking for a relationship, would having those ads run again and again and again in such a short time span motivate me to JOIN eHarmony? Or would they make me so mad or depressed that I would end up doing anything BUT join eHarmony?
So, I decided to create the worst named dating service possible. For all of you who get frustrated with eHarmony’s mocking your relationship life, I hope you appreciate today’s strip.
News and other stuff:
This Sunday, I will be in Richmond, Virginia attending the Virginia Comic Con. Click the link and check out their site. And, ff you’re in the area this Sunday, why not come by and see me?
For those reading the strip via RSS feed, I currently have a poll going on asking those that read the strip whether they are a Capes (m) or a Babes (f) but you can only participate in the poll from my web site. The poll is located at the top of my right hand side bar on my front page.
Commissions and caricatures
I am currently offering to do commissions and/or caricatures for this holiday season. If you’re looking for a totally unique, one-of-a-kind gift for someone this year, why not give them a caricature? If you’d like to see some of my previous caricature work, my caricature work can be found here on my portfolio web site. If interested, please send me an e-mail at capesnbabes (at) gmail.com with “Caricatures” or “Commissions” in the subject box.
Thanks!
-Chris








