John Lennon
Can’t beat Mike for style. And encyclopedic knowledge about the Beatles. This month, we’re featuring this swell caricatured look inside John Lennon’s head.
A Caricature of John Lennon by Artist Mike Warden
Mike Warden’s Caricature Gallery Posts
A sample of Mike Warden’s caricature work, updated monthly.
Mike’s Caricature of Flo, the Progressive Insurance Lady
Flo, the Progressive Insurance Lady
Leave it to Mike to find a cultural touchstone that’s anchored firmly to a time and place. Anyone looking at this caricature after 2020 will be hard-pressed to remember that, for a few years, Progressive Insurance had a highly recognizable mascot in the form of Flo, an eager and helpful employee. She wanted nothing more than to help people save on car insurance. While this caricature was on display at the stand, visitors from around the country would stop, recognize her with delight, and laugh.
Then they’d laugh again upon reading some of the captions. Not that Mike felt any particular malice towards Progressive, he just managed to get in a nod to another insurance company’s catchphrase in Flo’s speech bubble.
Of course, my favorite part is the bumper sticker that says “Hit me, I need the money!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG4tLPtAMcE
Caricature of Earl by Mike Warden
Earl
And here’s a caricature of Jason Lee from My Name is Earl, by Mike Warden. It’s pretty cute… and especially funny when you take the time to read his list. He’s in Las Vegas, and the things he needs to make amends for are very Vegas-specific. You can see the remnants of Mike’s own experiences on Fremont Street there, where Earl feels bad that he “Took a picture with Sponge Bob and didn’t tip.” Fremont street is home to a wide variety of costumed actors who survive off of tips given to them by tourists after taking a photo. Wouldn’t it be just like Earl to stiff one of the poor guys.
Caricature of the Blues Brothers by Mike Warden
Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers. Mike practically draws these guys out of habit. I’ve seen a few different version of this drawing floating around, marked by only minor changes. The contrast between short, fat Jake and tall, thin Elwood makes for a pretty fantastic caricature. It’s an iconic movie, too, and always good for a second, third, or fortieth viewing.
Caricature of Donald Trump by Mike Warden
Presidential candidate Donald Trump. Love ’em or hate ’em, you can’t ignore him. Here’s a drawing of the real estate mogul turned politician doing what he does best: self-promotion.
Caricature of the Beatles by Mike Warden
The Beatles
Here’s what I love:
1: The time period Mike chose to make this caricature of the Beatles. There’s a pretty big change in their appearance from the early 60’s to the late 60’s, and he picked the funniest period. These are the post-Sgt. Pepper Beatles, and they are bizarre looking.
2: The head shapes. Mike gave John, Paul, George, and Ringo each their own totally distinctive head shape. Easy enough to do when there are two subjects, but much more challenging with four. Many professional, respected caricature artists still tend to draw basic head-shape formulas without much variety, so this piece is masterful.
3: George Harrison looks like a crazy mofo. I don’t know why. But I love that everyone else looks like a pretty sweet, harmless rock star, and George looks like he’s going to steal a car and drive it through the front entryway of a pizza parlor.
Captain America by Mike Warden
Captain America
At our Stratosphere stand, we made the entire wall of samples Avengers themed for about a month. Thanks, Jessica, for making that happen.
Mike contributed this swell Captain America, and I swear I looked at this thing for weeks before I ever noticed the fully amazing gag. It’s just so subtle. When you finally notice what he’s throwing his shield at, you get it.
Chris Evans did a fantastic job being Captain America,after being the Human Torch in the unremarkable Fantastic Four movies. I didn’t recognize him from one franchise to the next. He also had prominent roles in The Losers and Scott Pilgrim Vs the World. Comic book movie makers love this guy!
A little Wikipediaing turned up this gem:
Chris Evans is Tyler
There’s Chris Evans being a dreamboat in Hasbro’s Mystery Date game. You’re welcome, ladies who were 13 in 1999.
Penn and Teller by Mike Warden
Penn and Teller
Here’s a Penn and Teller by Mike Warden.
They’re notable members of the skeptic community, and enjoy disproving beliefs they think are untrue. Because of this, their show seems to be of the love-it-or hate it variety, which is working well for them. they’re the most popular comedy-and-illusion act on the Strip.
While this caricature isn’t as chock-full of gags as his regular work, it’s spot-on for expressions. A lot of advertisements for Penn and Teller feature them maiming, dismembering, or casually killing each other for our entertainment, so this disembodied-head-as-balloon trick isn’t too far off base. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them do this in their actual act.
Jerry Springer Caricature by Mike Warden
Jerry Springer
Here’s a cartoon of a the mayor of Cincinnati. Of course, after he was mayor for one year, he got into journalism, and from journalism, go into talk show hosting.
Remember when Oliver North and Jesse Jackson were guests on the Jerry Springer Show? No? That’s because his show wasn’t very highly rated in its early life. It was pretty much a copy of Phil Donahue’s show. In fact, the Cincinnati TV station that aired Springer’s show styled his hair and got him glasses to mimic Donahue.
This cartoon, of course, captures the Jerry Springer that we all love or hate. The Springer from the late 90’s, where almost every show featured a guest trying to whack another guest with a chair.
The Stratosphere is a nice touch. Our caricature stand is up there, and Mike tends to draw it in. I bet he put it in Springer’s drawing on autopilot. The tiny guy leaping off the tower is somehow paying attention to the foreground and validating it.
Drew Carey by Mike Warden
Drew Carey
Interesting things about Drew Carey:
He had corrective vision surgery and didn’t need his glasses to see. But he kept them as a prop, to stay recognizable.
Who’s this handsome young marine?
Young Drew Carey
Young Drew Carey looked pretty good! He’s most recognizable to us as a fat man, but in the late 90’s he lost a bunch of weight for health reasons.