News on your favorite shows, specials & more!
pixeltracker

I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont

I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont

TNick926 Profile Photo
TNick926
#1I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/23/17 at 3:42pm

His latest, of Christine and Patti in War Paint is a case in point. Patti in particular looks more like something from the movie A Bug's Life, than the imperious, glamorous Rubinstein. He fails to capture a special sense of bigger than life theatrical magic the way Hirschfeld did, and Fallin's illustrations usually feel awkward and non-theatrical to me, and often bear little or no resemblance to the subject at hand. I guess there will never be another Hirschfeld...

https://www.google.com/amp/www.broadwayworld.com/amp/c.php%3Furl%3DBWW-Exclusive-Ken-Fallin-Draws-the-Stage-WAR-PAINT-20170623

Updated On: 6/23/17 at 03:42 PM

brian1973
#2I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/23/17 at 3:52pm

(Rolls eyes)

KJisgroovy Profile Photo
KJisgroovy
#3I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/23/17 at 4:03pm

Agreed!

Every time I see them I think, "Oh. I miss Al Hirschfeld." They're Hirschfeld-eque without capturing the special spark Hirschfeld had... a willingness to take risks. I wish we had someone wholly original... or at least  someone who was more on the money with their attempt at copying Hirschfeld.

 


Jesus saves. I spend.

Wayman_Wong
#4I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/23/17 at 4:13pm

No one will ever match the legendary Al Hirschfeld. That's a given.

In fairness, I've seen good Fallin caricatures and not-so-good ones.

But ''War Paint'' opened April 6. What took so long?

Updated On: 6/23/17 at 04:13 PM

bk
#5I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/23/17 at 4:32pm

One word: Squiggs.

Kad Profile Photo
Kad
#6I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/23/17 at 4:36pm

I've always found Fallin's caricatures to be remarkably inert and lifeless- and I really don't love his style of putting the drawings over a colored background. It makes them look incomplete.

Squiggs' caricatures are far more bold and full of movement and character- though I think his splash page illustrations for shows can often be confusing to look at.


"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

HogansHero Profile Photo
HogansHero
#7I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/23/17 at 4:57pm

considering that one of his subjects is "responsible" for his current job, perhaps there is more to this particular drawing than meets the eye...

TNick926 Profile Photo
TNick926
#8I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/23/17 at 5:00pm

Thanks for the reminder, guys, about Squiggs. He's way closer to the joy and magic in the Hirschfeld illustrations....I wish he had more high profile jobs!

SharksVsJets
#9I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/23/17 at 5:01pm

Sqiggs and Fallin are both preferable to the Sardi's artist.

TNick926 Profile Photo
TNick926
#10I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/23/17 at 5:13pm

I agree about Sardi's artist (Alex Gard). You would think of ALL places, these would be the best, but instead many remind me of that misbegotten new statue of tennis great Ronaldo:

 I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont

http://www.highsnobiety.com/2017/03/30/cristiano-ronaldo-statue-best-memes/

Updated On: 6/23/17 at 05:13 PM

Broadwaywest Profile Photo
Broadwaywest
#11I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/23/17 at 7:02pm

Check out Matt Hirschfeld. Even though he doesn't do broadway. It's pretty incredible.

http://www.matthirschfeld.com/artwork22.html

bk
#12I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/23/17 at 8:36pm

Squiggs did the cover of one of my books, the one about the album producing days - he, I must say, captured me PERFECTLY.  I was astonished when I saw it.  

Wayman_Wong
#13I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/23/17 at 8:43pm

I can't even call the ''portraits'' at Sardi's ''caricatures.'' They're hand-drawn versions of photographs, based on the performers' headshots. Apparently, the artists have been told to go this safe route, because no one wants the performers to be possibly offended if any of their features are exaggerated. ... Really makes you appreciate Hirschfeld. With only a handful of lines, he was able to evoke and capture the essence of an actor better than most any photograph.

Updated On: 6/23/17 at 08:43 PM

VintageSnarker
#14I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/24/17 at 12:59am

Sure, he's not Al Hirschfeld but who is? I agree that Squiggs has more energy in his artwork but I disagree that he's more accurate. I've already said my piece about the trading cards. It was a while ago but I think the Fallin caricatures are still up at New World Stages. I'd say they're pretty accurate for the most part and I don't mind this War Paint artwork at all.

gypsy101 Profile Photo
gypsy101
#15I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/24/17 at 2:28am

i kind of like Fallin. Squiggs is terrific. whoever does the ones for Sardi's is trash.


"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."

CarlosAlberto Profile Photo
CarlosAlberto
#16I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/24/17 at 2:40am

HogansHero said: "considering that one of his subjects is "responsible" for his current job, perhaps there is more to this particular drawing than meets the eye...

 

I fvcking love the shadiness of this post. 

So much to decipher....

 

CarlosAlberto Profile Photo
CarlosAlberto
#17I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/24/17 at 2:42am

Wayman_Wong said: "I can't even call the ''portraits'' at Sardi's ''caricatures.'' They're hand-drawn versions of photographs, based on the performers' headshots. Apparently, the artists have been told to go this safe route, because no one wants the performers to be possibly offended if any of their features are exaggerated. ... Really makes you appreciate Hirschfeld. With only a handful of lines, he was able to evoke and capture the essence of an actor better than most any photograph.

 

Oh, so that explains why Norm Lewis' caricature makes him look like some white boy from Chelsea!!

 

HogansHero Profile Photo
HogansHero
#18I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/24/17 at 9:03am

I like for folks to think I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont

 

Scarywarhol Profile Photo
Scarywarhol
#19I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/24/17 at 9:40am

The Sardi's caricatures are truly, shockingly bad--they actually play DOWN the unique features in everyone's face; anathema to the very concept of caricature. Fallin is just uninteresting. Agree Squigs is the best we have. Hirshfeld truly was irreplaceable. 

Updated On: 6/25/17 at 09:40 AM

HogansHero Profile Photo
HogansHero
#20I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 6/24/17 at 9:51am

It's Squigs; I don't know why everyone is mis-spelling it. 

CorkySt.Clair Profile Photo
CorkySt.Clair
#21I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 7/7/17 at 5:05pm

Here's the latest:https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Exclusive-Ken-Fallin-Draws-the-Stage-COME-FROM-AWAYs-Jenn-Colella-20170707

Like the War Paint one, why is he doing this now? It would've been much better CFA's opening or the Tonys. 

BroadwayConcierge Profile Photo
BroadwayConcierge
#22I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 7/7/17 at 5:07pm

It's not bad; it's just so one-dimensional. It does nothing to bring Jenn's breathtaking performance to life, off the page.

BrodyFosse123 Profile Photo
BrodyFosse123
#23I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 7/7/17 at 5:17pm

Simply horrible.  Looks more like Mark Ballas in JERSEY BOYS wearing an airplane pilot costume. 

I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont


CorkySt.Clair Profile Photo
CorkySt.Clair
#24I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 7/7/17 at 5:48pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "It's not bad; it's just so one-dimensional. It does nothing to bring Jenn's breathtaking performance to life, off the page.

 

"

Yeah, I only know CFA from their Tonys performance and this gave me nothing on what her portrayal is like. 

castlestreet Profile Photo
castlestreet
#25I want to like Ken Fallin's caricatures, but I dont
Posted: 7/7/17 at 9:17pm

His new one looks more like Jack Nicholson as The Joker instead of a character from CFA


Videos