Lenn Redman’s ultimate goal was to prepare artists to draw quickly and confidently from life. Once you memorize his geometric templates and feature classifications, the transition to live drawing requires speed and observation.
Lenn Redman wasn’t just an author; he was a prolific animator for Disney and Hanna-Barbera who drew over 200,000 faces in his lifetime. His approach simplifies the complex human face into manageable concepts that anyone can learn. 1. The Core Concept: The "In-Betweener"
His first victim was Mr. Henderson, the grocer with a nose like a ripe bell pepper. Following Redman’s advice to find the "rhythm" of a face, Arthur drew a nose that took up sixty percent of the page. Underneath, he tucked a tiny, surprised mouth. When Mr. Henderson saw it, he didn’t get angry. He let out a belly laugh that shook the canned peas on the shelf. "I didn't know I was that much nose!" he wheezed.
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Redman introduces the idea of comparing a subject's face to an average, idealised face shape. By identifying where the subject deviates from this "norm" (e.g., closer-set eyes, a longer chin, a wider forehead), the artist knows exactly which features to exaggerate. 2. The "Law of Redirection"
Redman introduces the concept of using a "standard" or "in-betweener" face as a reference point for comparison.
You can use the Liquify tool in programs like Procreate or Photoshop to experiment with Redman’s exaggeration theories on a standard portrait sketch. Lenn Redman’s ultimate goal was to prepare artists
Redman breaks down the process of creating a successful caricature into actionable phases. 1. Finding the Primary Shape (The Envelope)
Get ready to unleash your creativity and start drawing caricatures like a pro!
Redman’s teaching centers on the idea that every face can be broken down into five essential shapes and their unique relationships to one another. How To Draw Caricatures: Redman, Lenn - Amazon.com His approach simplifies the complex human face into
Lenn Redman's How to Draw Caricatures is widely considered the #1 bestselling instructional book on the subject, serving as a foundational text for both amateurs and professionals for over 40 years. While the physical book is the primary format, digital versions like PDFs are often used for educational study and can be found through digital libraries like the Internet Archive and platforms like Key Techniques in the Redman Method
Redman dedicates significant portions of the book to showing how muscles move during laughter, anger, or confusion. He teaches artists how to capture a fleeting expression and lock it into a static drawing. Chapter Breakdown: What to Expect
Instead of focusing on tiny details like eyelashes or wrinkles first, Redman taught artists to look for the big picture: