This list includes both British born artists and those who were born elsewhere but did the majority of their most important drawings in the U.K. The selection is listed in chronological order by date of birth.
William Hogarth (1697 – 1764)
He was born in London and apprenticed to an engraver where he studied his trade. He became a painter, printmaker, pictorial satirist, social critic and editorial cartoonist and has been accredited with pioneering sequential art or the cartoon strip.
His output ranged from realistic portraiture to comic strip-like series of pictures called “modern moral topics”. His most renowned works are no doubt ? The Harlot?s Progress and ?The Rake?s Progress?.
Isaac Cruickshank ( 1756 – 1811)
Cruickshank was a Scottish painter and caricaturist who was born in Edinburgh. Cruikshank’s first known publications were etchings of Edinburgh “types”, from 1784.
His water colours were exhibited, but in order to make a living it was found that it was more profitable to produce prints and caricatures. He was responsible in part for creating the figure of John Bull, the nationalistic representation of a solid British yeoman.
Isaac Cruikshank was a contemporary of James Gillray and Thomas Rowlandson, and he was part of what has been known as “the Golden Age of British Caricature.
Thomas Rowlandson ( 1756 – 1827)
Thomas Rowlandson was an English painter and caricaturist. He was born in London and after he finished school he was educated at the Royal Academy. He was thought of as a promising student and if he had sustained his early diligence he would have made his mark as a painter.
But he inherited ?7,000 from a French aunt and dived into the dissipations of the town (he was known to sit at the gambling-table for 36 hours at a stretch).
He soon squandered his inheritance but the friendship and examples of James Gillray and Henry William Bunbury seem to have suggested caricature as a means of filling his stomach and purse.
He also created a collection of erotic prints and woodcuts, lots of which would nowadays be considered pornographic .
James Gillray (1757 – 1815)
James Gillray was a British caricaturist and printmaker who gained great fame for his etched political and social satires, mainly in print between 1792 and 1810.
Some of his best known caricatures were directed at the Royal Family and George III in particular. He is also responsible for probably the most famous political cartoon of all time.
It was entitled ?The Plum Pudding in Danger? . It was printed in 1805 and depicts Pitt and Napoleon carving up the plum pudding of Europe.
By 1811, madness, no doubt made worse by his excessive life-style, was overtaking him and he passed away in 1815.
George Cruickshank ( 1792 – 1878)
George Cruickshank was born in London, the son of the famous caricaturist Isaac Cruickshank and started his working career as apprentice to his father.
He later started out as a caricaturist in his own right and was even paid ?100 in return for a promise not to satirize George IV In later life he turned to book illustrating and illustrated ?Sketches by Boz? and ?Oliver Twist? for Charles Dickens.
After creating palsy he died in 1878. Punch in his obituary said ?There never was a purer, simpler, more straightforward or altogether more blameless man. His nature had something childlike in its transparency.”
If you would like one of our unique, hand-made, custom cartoons or caricatures from photos supplied by you please click on one of these links History Of Rugby. If you would like to find out more, please go to our website at Custom Cartoons.
Filed under Birthday by on Nov 26th, 2010. Comment. 
Parties are great, but when you’re hosting one you can sometimes find yourself worrying about the responsibility of making sure everyone has a good time instead of just having fun yourself. One solution is to have an outdoor party, as they’re really flexible and great for entertainment. Begin by making sure your setting is perfect: if it’s a night party, string up some fairy lights for an attractive, quirky welcome or, if it’s in the day, put up some colorful paper lanterns or streamers to give your guests a warm welcome.
Food is a great source of party entertainment and is guaranteed to keep your guests happy. Outdoor parties are great for innovative food solutions – if you’re having a summer party, you could try having a picnic on the grass and, for an extra twist, make it a theme picnic. Barbecues are also a great way of getting everyone excited and the delicious smell of the food cooking will guarantee everyone will be staying for more. Go for finger food that’s easy to eat to avoid mess and cutlery.
A fantastic form of outdoor party entertainment is a disco. Whether you choose to do the music yourself or hire a DJ to take care of it for you, it’s a great idea to make use of all that space outside and get people dancing without having to worry they’ll break anything. You don’t even need a clear day to do it – you can hire a big marquee and set it up so people will have somewhere to take shelter if it rains.
Whether your outdoor party is for adults, kids or both, it’s a great idea to have a few party games ready to spice things up a bit. Outdoors is great for playing hide and seek, particularly if you’ve got a big garden or space. You could have little prizes as rewards for the winners to encourage them to play. Alternatively, one party activity that’s guaranteed to get people interested is the piata. Hang a piata full of sweets from a tree, get a stick and bash away for instant entertainment.
If you’re feeling inventive, or want some more entertainment ideas, why not hold a couple of races? If you’ve got lots of kids there, this is a great way to use their energy and, for adults, the competition can produce loads of laugh. For maximum hilarity, try having a sack race or getting people to walk fast with a cup of water balanced on their head. Or, there’s always the old favorite egg and spoon race. Keep it light rather than competitive and everyone will be have a brilliant time.
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Filed under Birthday by on Nov 24th, 2010. Comment.
Almost everyone anxiously awaits Christmas. This is the time of year we have the opportunity to spend treasured moments with families and friends, have turkey, pumpkin pie, and enjoy holiday cheer. The kids anxiously wait for the day they can open their gifts, hoping to get some of the hottest Christmas toys on the market. So if you’re hoping not to disappoint them, you may want a few ideas to help you with your shopping list.
If you want to surprise your kids, plan ahead and research the hottest Christmas toys this year on your list. Plan early to buy. You’ll sometimes see the price rise the longer you wait. There’s also the risk that they may be all gone when you wait too long. Of course, you don’t need to buy everything on your child’s. The best way to go about it is to match the toy to your child’s interest and decide whether this will end up in the corner collecting dust or be a favorite toy.
For the third consecutive year one of the hottest Christmas toys and most favored and most wanted gifts is the Wii game console. This gaming system that easily hooks to your TV has action games that are almost real life. It offers a lot of interactive play that makes it so fun with the baseball, tennis, bowling and other games that you can play with all the family members. Even exercise is made enjoyable with the hot Wii Fit.
For a video gaming system that has a host of activities in addition to games is the PS3. This like the Wii provides hours and hours of fun. There are games to play for all ages and it has other entertainment features and activities. With the capacity to store your games, videos, photos and music, the PS3 represents an excellent value as one of the hottest Christmas toys that the entire family can enjoy for years to come. The built-in Blu-ray player will deliver eye-popping, high-definition video as a welcome bonus for this machine.
PS3 and Xbox 360 have their own motion sensor tools that allow the PS3 and Xbox 360 to work like a Nintendo Wii. In fact, many people believe that the new systems, Move and Kinect will be even better than Wii. As they have just been released time will tell.
Several action figures available this year lead the most wanted toys list. These action figures come with vehicles, swords, sounding devices, and more action packed fun. Those making up the hottest Christmas toys list are the Bakugan 7 in 1 Maxus Dragonoid, Transformers, and Ben 10. This type of gift will be a hit with both boys and girls. Some of the other hottest Christmas toys this year are anything having to do with spies and action play with infrared and night vision equipment, and tracking systems.
For little girls who like to play house, there is a ton of great toys. Dolls including Barbie are always a hit. This year will be the fiftieth anniversary of Barbie, so you can expect a lot of interest in commemorative or special editions to top the hottest Christmas toys list. The most popular items going are anything you can cook on, for real or play. Easy bake ovens, pizzerias, and cupcake and candy makers are perennial hits. For the pretend set, the top seller is the Melissa & Doug cook sets. From Pizza Party to Slice and Bake Cookie Sets, your child will enjoy many hours of imaginative play.
For old fashioned fun, there are old favorites still topping the hottest Christmas toys list. These are musical entertainment toys like guitars, interactive pianos with lighting and a variety of sounds, music mixers, and karaoke toys. The most popular board games providing hours of fun are Monopoly, Sorry, Uno, and even Candyland. Bear in mind that it doesn’t need to be the latest and greatest in technology to be fun for the kids. Family game night still is one of the best activities you can do with and for your children!
Looking for Christmas toys for kids ? How about the Mindflex Game from Mattel.
Filed under Presents by on Nov 20th, 2010. Comment.
There simply is no other toy around like the Lego building set. Most of us can remember our childhood moments that were centered around Lego building, constructing and knocking out only to build up once again. Anyone with a Lego building set had one of the best toys ever made and kids took full advantage of the hours of fun and creativity Legos offered.
The Lego building set gives a kid a chance to create where there are no annoying limits or boxes in which you need to think inside or outside of. There is only the imagination and the self imposed limits of one’s ability to use it. While this is a toy that definitely sparks some of the best imaginative games around, it also has come in handy as a learning tool for many different skills.
The Lego building set is well known world wide and has numerous applications that make building more fun. Whether you choose to get your child a Lego set that has a theme or you opt for the original version, your child’s imagination and creative thinking skills will end up in creating something truly unique. It’s the perfect combination between play and learning skills that most kids don’t even realize how much they are gaining from their favorite toy.
With different Lego building sets available for all age groups, your child can master skills like color separation, dexterity, and basic mathematical concepts. Kids can play in groups or they can build massive structures on their own. There is no conceptual way that creativity is supposed to bloom.
Rainy day boredom does not need to plague even the most active child with a Lego building set. While other kids are zoned out in front of the TV on a rainy day, your child can be creating whole new worlds with fantastic inhabitants or building skyscrapers for their giant stuffed lizard to destroy.
There is no wrong in building something completely unrecognizable or creating something that has never been created before. In fact, there is nothing wrong with setting out to build an airplane only to realize it looks nothing like an airplane at all and thereby deeming it a spaceship carrying life from Mars. Kids have to try hard enough to get things right in the world. There shouldn’t be a right way or wrong way to play with their toys.
The more your kids play with their Lego sets the more they start to develop a strong sense of personal independent thought. When they try something and it doesn’t work out so well, they have the ability to change it up, try again, or decide that their mistake is the next great invention. With a good imagination a child can put together just about anything with a basic Lego building set and move on to greater challenges with one of the themed sets like Star Wars.
If lego is not for you or your children then how about a Robotic dinosaur as a christmas present ? Kids love Dinosaurs so this might be a winning idea. Otherwise, what about a Clone trooper helmet with voice changing capability ? Anyone, young or old, who likes Star Wars will like to role play as a clone trooper in a clone war on some far flung planet.
Get all your Christmas toys, like the lego city advent calendar or if you are looking for other ideas, check out the great christmas gift ideas
Filed under Presents by on Nov 19th, 2010. Comment.
Are you stumped about what to get the man in your life for Christmas this year? Would you be interested in a few gift ideas-ideas which are always a hit this time of year regardless of how difficult your man may be to please? If so, you may be in luck. In this article we’ll provide a few can’t-miss gift ideas guaranteed to please even the toughest man on your list.
Does he like to shop for clothes? Probably not, right? And that’s exactly why it’s so important that you do it for him. Clothing always makes a great Christmas gift for men and gives you a chance to purchase something nice for him to wear-something that he wouldn’t ordinarily buy himself. Items such as jeans, shoes or even a nice designer shirt are practical gift ideas that will help bring a smile to his face (and yours) on Christmas morning.
Sporting goods or outdoor supplies also make great gifts for the men on your Christmas list. Gifts such as golf clubs or apparel, fishing equipment, or team jerseys often go on sale to attract customers during the Christmas season and are items he’ll use almost every weekend. Getting your man some of his favorite sporting goods will go a long way towards ensuring his Christmas is just as perfect as your own.
To say that men love electronic equipment would be a world-class understatement. The truth is that if it plugs in or has batteries he’ll probably love it. Depending upon your budget this year you could choose from higher priced items such as televisions, stereos and mobile phones, or those electronic gifts which are a bit more reasonable such as iPods, music and video games. Chances are, if it’s in the electronic section the man in your life will love it, regardless of what you buy.
It may sound cliche, but finding the perfect gift for the man in your life does not have to include a huge price tag. Maybe you could make a homemade video telling him how much he means to you, or plan a romantic weekend where the two of you can get away for awhile. Giving the perfect gift is really not about the gift, but about the person behind it.
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Filed under Presents by on Nov 16th, 2010. Comment.
Thinking about buying an Amazon Kindle? Well if you happen to be an avid book reader, you definitely want to get your hands on one as soon as possible. The brilliant e-book reader has been with us for approximately 2 years and it’s popularity has not only increased, it’s also being upgraded. It’s light weight of under Ten ounces means it is so easy to carry. You are able to heaps publications on the reader to read whenever it suits you. Just think of how awesome it would be to have easy access to all of the books you love to read in handheld device.
In the hustle and bustle world of today, readers whom get great pleasure from reading frequently find they have no opportunity to actually digest a book. With so many other things taking up our time it is often near impossible to get to a book shop and have enough to look through the many titles you can buy.
To be fair, there are quite a few other e-book readers you can buy however none of these competitors have as many titles to purchase as the Amazon Kindle. Kindle is owned and operated by Amazon, hence being desirable to the biggest book publishing companies whilst permitting a heap of new book publishers the ability to get into the book market. This is just one of the main reasons why Amazon has around 2,000,000 titles for download to the Amazon. The Amazon Kindles sleek look in combination with the range of titles and genre’s makes the Amazon the must have for this year’s Christmas list.
Amazon now has a wide range of titles of books in a digital that you can quickly download anything you would like to read and have a wide selection of material to read available at any time. The Kindle offers many more books than a lot of book shops due to its download format. This gives you a larger range of options for reading and as digital delivery is a much lower alternative to the usual hardcover and paperback books. For those of you with a passion for finding rare and obscure titles, this nifty little device offers some great alternatives
The Kindle has been a massive hit for almost two years. It’s popularity has skyrocketed and the cost has dropped dramatically. Consider getting your hands on an Amazon Kindle as a Christmas gift for yourself or another reader this Christmas. Buying publications in digital format often allows you, the buyer, a much lower price for the publication itself. The cash savings on paper books alone will see your Amazon Kindle pay for itself in no time.
To check out more Chrismtas Gift ideas take a look at Best Christmas Gifts For 2010 and Hottest Toys For Christmas 2010
Filed under Presents by on Nov 13th, 2010. Comment.
Ronald ‘Carl’ Giles was one of the most well-known British post war cartoonists whose output appeared in the British newspapers The Daily Express and its sister paper The Sunday Convey between the dates of 1943 and 1991.
He was born Ronald Giles in Islington, London in 1916. His school-friends dubbed him ?Karlo? after the actor Boris Karloff to whom they thought he bore a resemblance. This was later shortened to Carl and it stayed with him for the remainder of his life.
He left school when he was 14 years of age and started working as an office boy for a Wardour Street film company where he was later promoted to an animator for cartoon pictures. This led in 1935 to his employment by the famous producer and director Alexander Korda on the first full-length British sound-tracked colour cartoon film, The Fox Hunt.
After a spell working in Ipswich, he joined Fleet Street in 1937. He worked as a cartoonist on the weekly newspaper Reynolds News where his efforts came to the attention of the editor of the Sunday Express and he was offered a job working for both the Daily Express and Sunday Express at the not petty salary of 20 guineas a week. His first cartoon for his new employers was published in the Sunday Express in October 1943.
The 20 guineas a week proved a portent of greater fortunes to come as by 1955 he was being paid no less than 8,060 GBP a week for an output of three cartoons. He was now a wealthy man.
In 1959 he was awarded the OBE and among his greatest admirers and fans were members of the Royal family who frequently received originals of his work.
His most famous character creations were The Giles Family who first appeared in August 1945. They were a family from the more well off side of the British working class living in a suburban semi-detached house. The head of the family was Grandma a real battle axe of a person who anyone crossed at their peril. She is now immortalised as a bronze statue standing in Queen St Ipswich looking up at the office where Giles used to do his work.
They were utilized by Giles to comment on a current events in the news of the day and proved to be highly patriotic although wary of authority. One remarkable attribute of the family was that although their homes, hobbies and clothes reflected the changing values of the day, their ages were unchanged although the cartoons ran for 46 years.
Today any middle-aged, middle class Englishman ( or woman) will have happy memories of the Giles Annual. This was a very welcome addition to the Christmas stocking and contained a assortment of Gile’s work for the previous year. For many years this collection was selected by Giles himself.
Carl Giles died in 1995 and in 2000 he was voted ‘Britain’s Favourite Cartoonist of the 20th Century’.
If you want one of our unique, hand-painted, custom cartoons or caricatures from photos suppled by you please click on one of these links History of Golf. If you want to know more, please go to website at Custom Cartoons.
Filed under Birthday by on Nov 11th, 2010. Comment.
When the leaves start to fall and the weather begins to cooler, thoughts of Christmas Gifts start to come to mind. This can be a very stressful time of year for a lot of people, but it doesn’t have to be.
The right present is hard to find. Anyone who’s tried knows this is a daunting mission. Even more so with finances being so tight for so many these days. All the time there are more and more people that need to know that they are appreciated. Friends and family are obvious, but co-workers are also a biggie. Drawing names in the office or on the job is common and its tricky shopping for an associate. This is all a source of stress and anxiety. Everyone is familiar with the panic and confusion in seeking an appropriate gift. In both price and value. Not to mention tasteful to the recipient of the present.
Everyone loves food. You may want to find out what a persons favorite dish is and cook that up and wrap a bow around it. You can bake cookies or even cakes in different shapes and use your imagination to come up with all kinds of neat looking treats. Colorful balls of tasty popcorn are given as gifts quite frequently, as are other sweets.
Getting discounts, especially during the xmas season is something a lot of people look forward to. Money can start to wear thin, pretty quickly, during this time of the year. So coming up with inexpensive gift ideas could help save you a lot of money and headaches. It’s really not that hard to do, just think outside the box a bit and all kinds of ideas might come rushing in.
Most people repeatedly hear “Christmas is a time for sharing”, and “It’s better to give than to receive”, these words may ring loud and clear all season long, but you still may be faced with buying a present for someone who just can not be pleased. If this is the case, you don’t have to put a whole of thought into what you’re giving, but there are many stores that will allow gift exchanges and returns.
Personalized gifts are always a good idea. A gift certificate for a favorite store or shopping center is always safe. A recipe book of favorite foods would also be sweet and clever. Getting things online or used but in great shape is another smart way to get a valuable or wanted item without breaking the bank. Private sales such as garage and yard sales in the warmer times of year are amazing places to find treasures. Having the gift recipient in mind helps in these situations. Shopping year round with a sharp eye for bargains will save a fortune.
Perhaps you like to paint, if so creating a special piece of art for the ones you love, could be a great idea. Spend a few bucks on a nice frame and there ya go. The same can be done with poetry. If you’re really good with your hands you may be able to mold things out of clay or shape some rocks as gifts for everyone.
Regardless of the Christmas gifts given in the holiday time of year, it should be given in the spirit of caring and appreciation. Most grown people are more about the thought and the act of showing you care rather than the actual item they receive. Kids are really the heart of the season. Children love to get all kinds of gifts and the greater the number and quality the happier they become. Its easy to remember the joy of waking up early and running to the living room to see what wonders may be waiting. When shopping for children its always wise to find out what they are into and even asking them about their favorite things or even what they might want isn’t out of line at all.
Find a wide range of unique and distinctive Christmas Gifts that will fit all of your requirements and needs! When you are looking for affordable and fun Christmas Trees, you can find them easy and fast!
Filed under Presents by on Nov 6th, 2010. Comment.
Have you finished getting all the gift items on your Christmas List yet? How about that “special someone”? Are you going to get them the “same ole’ same ole”…just like last year? Well, time is on your side… With a bit of homework on your part you can get them something really special this year. Here are a few tips…
a) The Boy Scouts have a motto, “Always be prepared”. This not only works for those cold nights on the camping trail, it is a good motto to have while you are compiling a Christmas List as well. Why? From this moment on, when you are around the person you plan to give a gift to, keep your eyes and ears open. This simple fact will often give you all you need to be able to ascertain that perfect gift for them. This is especially true if you happen to be in a store with them, and they are surrounded with “stuff” to buy. They will often pick something up and make a comment, such as:
“This is nice, I’ll have to keep it in mind”.
“If only I could afford this”.
“This is a great idea, but it would be better if it was in red”.
Remember to write these comments down when you get a free minute. Comments such as these are gold mines for great gift giving…
b) Does that “special someone” have a favorite hobby or pastime? Do they enjoy following a particular sports team, or partake of a particular hobby? If so, there is often something that you can get them to help them enjoy their pastime all that more. The key is, what is it? Even if you are not an expert on their pastime, there is someone out there who is. You could call up your local hobby store, or perhaps post a question on an internet forum. Ask them “what is the perfect gift for someone who enjoys “…fill in the blank…”? People love to talk about their hobbies, and I’m sure they would love to help you out.
c) Friends can be a literal goldmine of information on that “special someone”. Ask their closest friends for gift giving suggestions…but before you do, have some gift giving suggestions of your own. If you ask them directly they will often draw a blank, but by having a few suggestions of your own you can “jog their memory” a bit. It might be a good idea to bring along some photos or pictures of what you were thinking of getting. Why not cut out some pictures from an old catalog? The key is to “jog their memory”…they might have that perfect gift idea lurking in the back of their mind somewhere….
So, there you have it…some simple ideas to get you started in determining that perfect gift for people on your Christmas List. Want more specifics? How about the “Hot Items” for Christmas this year? If so, check out the blog: www.ExcellentChristmasList.com
If you want to find out more about Xmas List, then visit Emily Latimer’s site on how to choose the best Christmas List for your needs.
categories: christmas list,christmas presents,christmas gifts,christmas,holidays,gifts
Filed under Presents by on Nov 2nd, 2010. Comment.
Are you a parent? If so, there is a excellent probability that you already know just how much children like the holidays. That is why you may want to think about letting your children aid you to decorate for Christmas. In fact, in addition to just letting them assist you to hang Christmas ornaments, you may also want to let them make their own handmade Christmas decorations. Not only will you find that there are a number of advantages to doing so, but you will also find that there is a number of fun and exciting Christmas ornaments that they can easily make.
Almost every family that celebrates Christmas has a Christmas tree; therefore, there is a good chance that your family will have one. One fun and exciting Christmas craft that your children could be involved in is making their own Christmas ornaments. Christmas decorations can be made from regular paper or any other type of fabric. In fact, you can purchase a number of Christmas decoration guides from your neighborhood craft store. These ornament pieces are probably plain, but already shaped like something, such as a star or a cross. It would be up to your child to paint their ornament. This type of Christmas decoration craft project is great for small children or those who may be making their own Christmas decorations for the first time.
In addition to Christmas trees, a large quantity of families have small Christmas pictures throughout their home. These signs often state a Christmas message or have a picture of Santa. Your children could easily create their own paintings or drawings, often with the supplies that can already be found around your home. Your child?s picture would likely look great on your refrigerator or you could even frame the picture and hang it up somewhere. This type of Christmas ornament craft project is ideal for children of any age and it is a great way to save money since you likely already have all of the materials you need.
Another fun Christmas ornament that your children could do is a centerpiece for your dinning room table. In fact, you may also want to use that showpiece for your Christmas feast. If you are looking for a somewhat stylish showpiece, you could easily have your children make their own. You can do this by buying artificial flowers, a large bowl or vase, as well as other decorative matter. Your children can organize these items to create their own unique centerpieces for your dinning room table. Your child may also be able to create a centerpiece in the shape of Santa or a Christmas tree by using stiff paper and a few other small supplies.
The previously-mentioned Christmas craft ornamentation ideas for children are just a few of the many that exist. In addition to using your own craft ideas, you can also find a quantity of other fun Christmas craft tasks for children online. You can find a collection of ideas by performing a standard internet search. Also, in your neighborhood library or at one of your local book stores, you may also be able to find a collection of Christmas craft books for children. These books tend to outline the supplies needed, as well as giving detailed directions on how to make Christmas decorations.
Regardless of which kind of Christmas decorations you permit your child or children to make, they will probably enjoy the experience, especially if you join in as well. Children like to see their Christmas drawings hanging on walls or their Christmas ornaments hanging on the tree. That is why you are advised to let your children make their own Christmas decorations.
Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on a lot of subjects, but is currently occupied with American Flyer Train Sets. If you would like to know more about train sets for kids, please go over to our website for some great offers.
categories: toys,children,christmas,birthdays,train sets,family,shopping,hobbies,recreation,entertainment,fun,parenting,happiness,other
Filed under Birthday by on Nov 1st, 2010. Comment.