Today in Lansing: Free caricatures at Silver Bells

Free caricatures at Silver Bells

5 to 7 p.m.

Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center

119 N. Washington Sq., Ste. 101, Lansing

Click here for event page

FRIDAY, NOV. 16 — As Christmas cheer whirs outdoors for Silver Bells, the Lansing Art Gallery will host free caricature portraits by local artist Paul McNeilly.

“We are here to have fun. So sit there, relax and there’s no need to hesitate,” McNeilly said.

Starting Ugli Studios in 1995, McNeilly primarily does freelance design work, but does caricatures for special events each month. His work can be seen on many Lansing company T-shirts and MSU’s Spartan marching band apparel.

McNeilly said local artist and former LCC instructor Dennis Preston taught him the craft.

“I’ve always been a drawer and an illustrator. He gave me an opportunity and a lot of guidance. Now it was one of the most fun things I can do.”

The trick to being a good caricature artist is to not take it too seriously, he said.

“I asked Dennis, ‘What happens if they don't like it?’ and he always told me, ‘If they cant see themselves in their drawing it is lack of vision on their part.’”

Some caricature artists focus on exaggerating one particular feature, but McNeilly does a general silly drawing of the person, he said.

Despite being a Lansing native, Silver Bells is a relatively new experience for McNeilly. He often did caricature work in CATA during the celebration with Preston.

“I’ve always loved downtown, even in its not so great days, and after I got to look at what it was, I see it’s grown into an amazing thing for downtown Lansing.”

“Doing caricatures brings me enjoyment, because I am happiest when I'm making other people happy. I like to see the surprise and the people I draw cant see me drawing them. It is always a big reveal.”

For more info on McNeilly, visit www.shopugli.com

More events in Lansing:

Sam Corbin live at Blue Owl Coffee

7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Blue Owl Coffee, 1149 S. Washington Ave., Lansing

John Splithoff at Silver Bells

8 to 9 p.m., Lansing Center, 333 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing

Indonesian Cultural Night 2018

6 to 8:30 p.m., Erickson Hall, 620 Farm Lane, East Lansing