first sketches of 2010

Not too long ago I came across some Marx Brothers movies real cheap at our local Big Lots.  I sat up late last night watching a couple of them and had the urge to pencil sketch Groucho.  After Groucho, I turned the page and scribbled Harpo.  I had to improvise on Harpo because he's a moving target.  He was never still enough in any scene to make out facial detail.  Even if he did stand still - Harpo was constantly making faces.  I thought Chico was going to be the reel challenge - but he was actually my favorite of the brother's to draw.  Like Buster Keaton - Chico was a comedian with a dead-pan face.  Chico could have been his own straight man.  Growing up, I enjoyed Groucho and Harpo the most.  Watching these old movies again though, I've grown a new appreciation of Chico's talents.  Each of these illustrations, I feel, capture a little of the personality and energy of their characters.

This afternoon I scanned the three images into PhotoShop and merged them all together as one playful image.  I wanted each of the penciled caricature to remain unique, so I gave each brother their own color hue.   Looking at all three images together makes me think of the old cartoon imagery used in the old Marx Brother's publicity material.