Caricature artist David Seery will be flat out with his black texta as he captures the likenesses of people attending the Humans in Geelong Expo on this Sunday October 6, Deakin Waterfront.
David likes to start his caricatures with the eyes, which he says captures the essence of a person. “Its always a thrill to see their reaction once I have finished drawing them. It’s their happy reaction that makes the drawing process so fun,” he adds.
David is a self-taught artist, and has been drawing caricatures for 30 years. As a young man in NZ he worked on a Warner Brothers traditional flip animation, however says that he was influenced by one of Australia’s best-known caricature artists William Green. He was known as WEG to Melbourne Herald readers and was most famous for his annual AFL Grand Final posters.
Like WEG, David is a quick and prolific caricaturist. He is able to produce between 10 and 15 drawings an hour, and is rewarded when he sees “my drawings bring happiness to people”.
David says that he plans to stick with the traditional ‘pen and paper’ when he draws, rather than drawing on tablets: “As people really value being given the original sketch.”
His ability to produce work quickly and with flair has led to an eclectic range of work opportunities – corporate functions, wedding receptions, festivals, promotional events and private functions, as well as customised colour commissions. These make great gifts and come mounted and fully framed.
David fits his busy creative life around his part-time work with Gateways Disability Support Services. The latest project that he is working on is a series of paintings aimed to highlight the achievements of men within the community and also to raise awareness and funds for men’s mental health and support groups.
He is currently painting Geelong’s Chris Hall, who has raised almost $30,000 for Motor Neurone Disease. Chris is confined to a wheelchair, and started Wheel4MND in 2015 after the death of a work colleague to the disease.
David aims to hold an exhibition next year aligned with Mental Health Week and Humans in Geelong Expo, that will feature the works that he has been undertaking and combining them with the stories of men he has been inspired by.
Story and photo: Deb Howcroft
HuG 