THIS Guy Should Do the Sardi's Caricatures.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 4:29pm

Amazing. I seriously think he's the new Al Hirschfeld. He gets commissioned by cast and crew members of various shows to create cast caricatures and then posts them online.

The Addams Family


La Cage aux Folles


A Little Night Music


[title of show]


The 2009 Best Musical Nominees:

Full Gallery

[B3TA07]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 4:39pm

I mean they look good, but aren't they more of a Hirschfield parody than an individual style of caricature?

[SNAFU]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 4:48pm

They look very much like Hirschfeld knock offs. Many charicaturists today just do variations of Hirschfeld.

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 4:59pm

Here's the bio and FAQ from his website. He was inspired by Hirschfield:

http://www.squigsink.com/biofaq.html

[CapnHook]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 5:25pm

I've posted about him before. I like his work.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 5:45pm

Oooh, I do like. Hirschfeld himself took much inspiration from Edward Gorey not to mention Japanese line drawing (which is a major influence on all illustration, pretty much). Very little is truly original.

[morosco]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 5:47pm

Whatever happened to Norn who used to post here? I loved his work!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 6:06pm

I much prefer Norn. Let Hirschfeld's style stay with him.

[musicalbluemirror]

Posted: 4/28/10 at 8:48pm

this guys work is great!
i believe he was at the last flea market doing pictures for people
its nice to have someone do that Hirshfeld looking style

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 4/28/10 at 9:22pm

Hirschfeld didn't invent the style, though he highly personalized his own version of it. Squigs is no copycat and is highly talented in his own right. He freely admits to being influenced by Hirschfeld, but the style lends itself very well to theater, and to me, Squigs is clearly the heir apparent.

Love Norn, morosco, but I personally don't find his style in keeping with Broadway. I like him for other things. Pm me if you'd like to discuss Norn more. He's still around.

ETA: Look at a Hirschfeld and Squigs side by side. Hirschfeld was a less is more kind of guy, making every line count, very spare. Squigs expounds upon that theme, adding color and more detail, and to me, is really more connected with his subjects than Hirschfeld - not saying either style is better or worse, they're just notable differences. Hirschfeld had a lifetime to refine. I think Squigs is off to a great start.

Updated On: 4/28/10 at 09:22 PM

[musicalman2]

Posted: 4/28/10 at 11:04pm

I think Squigs is fantastic. His Oleanna one was wonderful. One of my favorites

[otis33]

Posted: 4/28/10 at 11:49pm

I love his artwork - and, he a fantastic performer as well.

[Squigs2]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 12:10pm

Hello folks! I just discovered this thread. Thanks so much for the comments about my work. I feel so honored even to be discussed... and blown away even to be mentioned in the same vicinity as Sardi's caricatures.

It's very true that I'm heavily influenced by Al Hirschfeld's work. I love it and I still regularly get excited about it. I'm SO grateful that he left us such a great collection of brilliance. I've done my best to give a distinct nod to him (and those who came before him) but still have my own spin on the style.

My art isn't going to be everyone's favorite, and I'm okay with that. ("I'd rather be nine people's favorite thing...") But that's one of the happy things about art. There's something for everyone's tastes. I have been hugely inspired by many distinctive caricaturists: Hirschfeld of course, Miguel Covarrubias, Sam Norkin, Robert Risko, John Kascht, etc. And I'm grateful and proud to be amongst a few folks who feel passionate about carrying on the traditions of theatrical caricature. Check out Ken Fallin's fantastic recent sketches of Barbara Cook and Sheri Rene Scott here on BroadwayWorld.com. And I love Norn's work... so full of color and life. Matt Logan is another fab artist. And many of those I previously mentioned are still creating amazing art. (Sam Norkin is working on another collection of his work.)

There's so much to celebrate in the theatre, and more is created every day. I look forward to many more years to learn and improve and make some good art. I'm open to constructive criticism (he says, half-ducking) because I want to be the best I can personally be. I'm doing my best to put out fresh art weekly, so if you want, you can see the progress (link below).

And since I've been working from Los Angeles until very recently (and I already miss my family of friends there), I'm excited to be moving to NYC next week. See you fine folks around the theatre. Best wishes to you.

Sincerely,
Justin
aka Squigs


My Facebook gallery... Updated On: 5/7/10 at 12:10 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 1:04pm

Squigs has done his artwork for several productions I've been associated with. I first brought him up on this board about three or four years ago.

The work he does is so much more than just brilliant. He not only conveys the characters in the shows, his drawing also show the actor beneath the role.

There was one production he did a drawing for where the show had 4 actresses who played members of a girl group. And while the girls all had a similar look, you could see the individuality in every person in the drawing.

And YES, he should be doing the Sardi's drawings, because who ever is doing them now should go back to the theme park they were working at.

Updated On: 5/7/10 at 01:04 PM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 1:18pm

Very talented! Thanks for sharing!

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 1:45pm

Hi Squigs,

I just learned about you from this thread. I totally agree with others who said you not only capture the character - but the person behind the character - in your drawings.

You would do a great job for Sardi's. Let's hope someone from there is reading these threads.

In the meantime, here is a thread I started a while back:


Sardi's caricatures are soulless Updated On: 5/7/10 at 01:45 PM

[Squigs2]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 2:02pm

I'm so grateful for all of the encouraging words. Thank you so much!

Regarding Sardi's, I need to remain objective in the discussion. But I can say that in whatever time in the future a new artist might eventually be sought, I would be incredibly honored (floored, aghast, shaken to the roots...) to even be considered for this iconic position.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 2:44pm

Justin your work is terrific, and I love the affectionate nod to Hirschfeld.

It would definitely change the look of previous Sardi's portraits, but I think that's a good thing. I hope they're open to a change, especially in right direction.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 5/7/10 at 7:18pm

Squigs' drawings are always amazing and they're WAYYY better than the current Sardi ones!

[TimesSquared]

Posted: 5/8/10 at 3:23pm

Squigs' portraits have more than a passing resemblance to Hirschfeld's style, I can almost see the 'Ninas' in Alice Ripley's hair. I'd be more put off by the appropriation of another artist's signature style...if they weren't so damn good! Since they are, I think they honor Hirschfeld. But I do wonder what the Hirshfeld estate thinks of Squigs' work.

[Squigs2]

Posted: 5/8/10 at 3:36pm

Thanks so much, TimesSquared. I appreciate the encouraging comment.

I too have wondered what the Hirschfeld estate (and the Margo Feiden Gallery, his sole representative) might think. Style is an interesting thing, and I do freely admit being heavily influenced by Mr. Hirschfeld. But others also have similar styles. Sam Norkin, a long-time revered caricaturist, has had a long career full of wonderful work. His style has often been compared to Hirschfeld's. Ken Fallin hit the scene parodying Hirschfeld's style for Forbidden Broadway, much as FB parodies Broadway shows. He's now putting his own spin on the style. I've typed Hirschfeld's name so much in this paragraph that I now realize I should have just copied and pasted. :0)

Whatever one's feelings on the topic, I strive to give a salute to the past while celebrating the present and looking to the future. I hope y'all will keep an eye on my art to see what journey it might take. (I'm interested to see where it goes too.)