Facing The Faces in Your Cartoon Journal

Caricatures and pops of color for this week.

Feb 10, 2025

It's time to share some caricature collages I worked on in my sketchbook last week.

It's not exactly "journaling," but it is a snapshot of consistent study that shows how to challenge your skills in a fun way. These are done inside sketchbooks, so I do have a place to look back to and see where my drawing abilities were at that time and assess how I’ve improved.

I usually open earthsworld.com, find interesting photos, and draw with a pen without first using a pencil. How many faces can I fit on a page? Usually, three to five.

I enjoy using Japanese ink pens, such as a Tombow Fudenosuke (above) and a Kuretake Fudegokochi brush pen, like the ones below. They give a smooth, thick-to-thin line weight.

Working on making faces from photos more cartoony. Comparing the top guy with a snake helped me see how exaggeration can work.

Adding a pop of color with colored pencils gives the pages a lovely contrast and a bold look. It makes me feel like I made a work of art as a collage, not just face drawing practice. Looking through my sketchbook, I see them having a more finished feel.

Try drawing three faces you find online and add one color to the background.

Since this is Cartoon Journaling, you can do this in a sketchbook, a lined notebook, or even on a piece of printer paper. Use whatever pencils or pens you have around the house.

No fancy supplies are needed—just the fun of drawing practice!

Here’s another page next to the one at the top. They look good together.