I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont

[TNick926]

Posted: 6/23/17 at 3:42pm

His latest, of Christine and Patti in War Paint is a case in point. Patti in particular looks more like something from the movie A Bug's Life, than the imperious, glamorous Rubinstein. He fails to capture a special sense of bigger than life theatrical magic the way Hirschfeld did, and Fallin's illustrations usually feel awkward and non-theatrical to me, and often bear little or no resemblance to the subject at hand. I guess there will never be another Hirschfeld...

https://www.google.com/amp/www.broadwayworld.com/amp/c.php%3Furl%3DBWW-Exclusive-Ken-Fallin-Draws-the-Stage-WAR-PAINT-20170623

Updated On: 6/23/17 at 03:42 PM

[brian1973]

Posted: 6/23/17 at 3:52pm

(Rolls eyes)

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 6/23/17 at 4:03pm

Agreed!

Every time I see them I think, "Oh. I miss Al Hirschfeld." They're Hirschfeld-eque without capturing the special spark Hirschfeld had... a willingness to take risks. I wish we had someone wholly original... or at least  someone who was more on the money with their attempt at copying Hirschfeld.

 

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 6/23/17 at 4:13pm

No one will ever match the legendary Al Hirschfeld. That's a given.

In fairness, I've seen good Fallin caricatures and not-so-good ones.

But ''War Paint'' opened April 6. What took so long?

Updated On: 6/23/17 at 04:13 PM

[bk]

Posted: 6/23/17 at 4:32pm

One word: Squiggs.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/23/17 at 4:36pm

I've always found Fallin's caricatures to be remarkably inert and lifeless- and I really don't love his style of putting the drawings over a colored background. It makes them look incomplete.

Squiggs' caricatures are far more bold and full of movement and character- though I think his splash page illustrations for shows can often be confusing to look at.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/23/17 at 4:57pm

considering that one of his subjects is "responsible" for his current job, perhaps there is more to this particular drawing than meets the eye...

[TNick926]

Posted: 6/23/17 at 5:00pm

Thanks for the reminder, guys, about Squiggs. He's way closer to the joy and magic in the Hirschfeld illustrations....I wish he had more high profile jobs!

[SharksVsJets]

Posted: 6/23/17 at 5:01pm

Sqiggs and Fallin are both preferable to the Sardi's artist.

[TNick926]

Posted: 6/23/17 at 5:13pm

I agree about Sardi's artist (Alex Gard). You would think of ALL places, these would be the best, but instead many remind me of that misbegotten new statue of tennis great Ronaldo:

 

http://www.highsnobiety.com/2017/03/30/cristiano-ronaldo-statue-best-memes/

Updated On: 6/23/17 at 05:13 PM

[Broadwaywest]

Posted: 6/23/17 at 7:02pm

Check out Matt Hirschfeld. Even though he doesn't do broadway. It's pretty incredible.

http://www.matthirschfeld.com/artwork22.html

[bk]

Posted: 6/23/17 at 8:36pm

Squiggs did the cover of one of my books, the one about the album producing days - he, I must say, captured me PERFECTLY.  I was astonished when I saw it.  

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 6/23/17 at 8:43pm

I can't even call the ''portraits'' at Sardi's ''caricatures.'' They're hand-drawn versions of photographs, based on the performers' headshots. Apparently, the artists have been told to go this safe route, because no one wants the performers to be possibly offended if any of their features are exaggerated. ... Really makes you appreciate Hirschfeld. With only a handful of lines, he was able to evoke and capture the essence of an actor better than most any photograph.

Updated On: 6/23/17 at 08:43 PM

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 6/24/17 at 12:59am

Sure, he's not Al Hirschfeld but who is? I agree that Squiggs has more energy in his artwork but I disagree that he's more accurate. I've already said my piece about the trading cards. It was a while ago but I think the Fallin caricatures are still up at New World Stages. I'd say they're pretty accurate for the most part and I don't mind this War Paint artwork at all.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 6/24/17 at 2:28am

i kind of like Fallin. Squiggs is terrific. whoever does the ones for Sardi's is trash.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/24/17 at 2:40am

HogansHero said: "considering that one of his subjects is "responsible" for his current job, perhaps there is more to this particular drawing than meets the eye...

 

I fvcking love the shadiness of this post. 

So much to decipher....

 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/24/17 at 2:42am

Wayman_Wong said: "I can't even call the ''portraits'' at Sardi's ''caricatures.'' They're hand-drawn versions of photographs, based on the performers' headshots. Apparently, the artists have been told to go this safe route, because no one wants the performers to be possibly offended if any of their features are exaggerated. ... Really makes you appreciate Hirschfeld. With only a handful of lines, he was able to evoke and capture the essence of an actor better than most any photograph.

 

Oh, so that explains why Norm Lewis' caricature makes him look like some white boy from Chelsea!!

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/24/17 at 9:03am

I like for folks to think

 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 6/24/17 at 9:40am

The Sardi's caricatures are truly, shockingly bad--they actually play DOWN the unique features in everyone's face; anathema to the very concept of caricature. Fallin is just uninteresting. Agree Squigs is the best we have. Hirshfeld truly was irreplaceable. 

Updated On: 6/25/17 at 09:40 AM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/24/17 at 9:51am

It's Squigs; I don't know why everyone is mis-spelling it. 

[CorkySt.Clair]

Posted: 7/7/17 at 5:05pm

Here's the latest:https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Exclusive-Ken-Fallin-Draws-the-Stage-COME-FROM-AWAYs-Jenn-Colella-20170707

Like the War Paint one, why is he doing this now? It would've been much better CFA's opening or the Tonys. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 7/7/17 at 5:07pm

It's not bad; it's just so one-dimensional. It does nothing to bring Jenn's breathtaking performance to life, off the page.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/7/17 at 5:17pm

Simply horrible.  Looks more like Mark Ballas in JERSEY BOYS wearing an airplane pilot costume. 

[CorkySt.Clair]

Posted: 7/7/17 at 5:48pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "It's not bad; it's just so one-dimensional. It does nothing to bring Jenn's breathtaking performance to life, off the page.

 

"

Yeah, I only know CFA from their Tonys performance and this gave me nothing on what her portrayal is like. 

[castlestreet]

Posted: 7/7/17 at 9:17pm

His new one looks more like Jack Nicholson as The Joker instead of a character from CFA