A likeness, with a little extra.

Drawn by hand, one face at a time.

I’m R Koka, and drawing faces is my favourite way to spend an evening. What began as doodling the people I admire has grown into a collection of caricatures, portraits and charcoal studies.

A good caricature is still a likeness first. I look for the one or two things that make a face unmistakable, whether it’s a grin, a brow or a jawline, and then push them until the personality shows. Actors, cricketers, musicians, thinkers and a few villains have all sat for me.

Caricatures are mostly line and colour. Charcoal is slower, with soft shadows and a lot of smudging. I like switching between them, because each teaches me something the other doesn’t.

Thoughts, feedback or just want to say hello? I’d love to hear from you.