To help you get started with your caricature drawing journey, tell me:

Look for legitimate digital lending libraries like the Internet Archive (Open Library), where out-of-print instructional art books are often legally scanned and available for public borrowing.

Lenn Redman was also a man of principle. His dedication to art was matched by his commitment to human rights. After the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, he devoted his later years to combating prejudice. He authored a second book, What Am I? , an illustrated poem promoting diversity and inclusion. He took his mission on the road, performing as "The Artists with a Message" at schools to promote racial harmony and global unity. This rich, multifaceted background is the secret ingredient that makes How to Draw Caricatures so effective; it’s a book born from a lifetime of experience as an artist, educator, and humanist.

Redman, a legendary caricaturist, broke down the complex process of capturing a person's essence into a logical, step-by-step system. Below is a comprehensive guide to why this book is a must-read and how to apply its principles to your own art.

Lenn Redman (1912–1987) didn't just draw funny faces; he lived a life of deep conviction and artistic range. He began his career at just 21 during the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, drawing live caricatures for the "Artist Colony". His talent eventually took him to Hollywood’s "Golden Age of Animation," where he worked for Walt Disney on classics like Fantasia and later for Hanna-Barbera on Saturday morning hits like Superman . How To Draw Caricatures by Lenn Redman - Book Review

However, if you are on a budget, digital archives and educational repositories often host versions of this classic text for students. Just ensure you are downloading from a reputable source to avoid malware.

Before we talk about the book, it is important to understand the author. Lenn Redman was not just an artist; he was a master of likeness. He spent years working as a caricaturist for newspapers, advertising agencies, and even on the convention circuit. His style wasn't just about making people look "funny"—it was about capturing the soul of the subject through the distortion of features.

| | Description | Where to Find It | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 📖 Print | A 176-page paperback, the most traditional way to enjoy the book's hundreds of illustrations. Great for having open on your desk. | Amazon, eBay, Powell's Books, ThriftBooks, and other major online booksellers. | | 📱 Ebook | A digital version for Kindle, Apple Books, and other e-readers. Available now, can be read on any device. | Amazon Kindle Store, Apple Books, Google Play Books, VitalSource. | | 🏛️ Library | The original 1984 edition is available in many public and university library systems. A great free option. | Your local public or university library catalog. You can often request it through inter-library loan. |

Compare the mouth to the chin for placement.

The book includes diverse examples, encouraging artists to try different facial types, ages, and backgrounds.

The book is still in print and widely available. Buying a physical or used copy often comes with a digital download code if purchased new, or you can have a physical copy scanned for personal use.