Odd one out

[Calavera]

There's not much to me, really. I'm not a clown, I have no intention or dream of being so and in short, I'm the unfunniest person on the face of the earth. If a non-clown joining the forum is against the rules, I am sorry. I didn't see anything saying that but if I missed that rule, then I will be polite and leave.
I'm here majorly to learn. In my spare time, I like to practice artistry and when I work on a big project (such as a painting) I have to learn about my subject before I can really paint. My cousin is about to give birth in about 6 1/2 months and she's turning to me for a big part of the baby's room. My cousin is nuts about clowns and is going with that theme. She's got clown blankets for the kid along with wallpaper, toys and what have you. She wants me to paint a picture of a clown to hang up on the wall. Now, the only experiences I have with clowns are not so child friendly. I am a huge King fan so I naturally have read "It" several times over. I love true crime stories, so I know Gacy up and down. I love bad horror films so I have seen Killer Klowns From Outer Space too many times. All of those mental portraits I have are not really fit to go up on a baby's wall, so I'm just here to get to know the clown that's supposed to be friendly and make you laugh. I have done some reading about the subject so I know the difference between a Whiteface and an Auguste and so on and so forth. However, I have no personal experience. Clowns have always kind of freaked me out so I try to stay away from them, which is no big challenge. I am and have always been an antisocial and somewhat cold person who had no reason to go out to a circus, to a fair or to a birthday party.
So, long story short, I'm looking to gain some experience to cast clowns in a more friendly light. Every clown I try to sketch on the canvas turns out looking evil and I think it's largely due to my mentality.
Thanks.

[Paboberto]

Well welcome to the Forum!

I am really glad you are here asking clowns about clowns, instead of just simply assuming a whole bunch of things and painting what you think clowns are, and never trying to figure out if that is true. The later seems to be the trend, and the results are almost always horrific.

I am sure others here have more helpful tips, but I just want to say, that to capture clowns well in a still image is hard. Still is not what clowns are or do, they are full of energy, and movement. Even if they are not hardcore knock-about slapstick clowns, they all have lots of life to them. A good painting or picture of a clown will capture that. It will really capture the the clown as a actual person, because that is what we are, no matter what kind of clown one is, not a idea of a human shaped creature that is all fun games and laughter, which a idea that applies really only to August clowns traditionally. White face clowns tried to be serious, and character clowns were just their characters... but more so.

Really to get it right you are going to have to face the freakieness, and go meet and watch some good clowns.

Interesting side fact: Bill Balintine, the first dircetor of Ringlings Clown College was actaully first a magazine artist who got a assignment to draw the Ringling clowns. They got him into some makeup and costume, and gave him a puppet snake in a basket, one night and got him into the ring. I think he ended up touring with them as a clown for about four years.

[Lolly Plop]

Hi Calavera. All are welcome to this site. Clowning is a performance art so we are kindred spirits. For a baby's room you want the sweetest and gentelest of clowns. Look at some of the clown pics here, visit some of our web sites for more pics. Razzle Dazzle is a sweet faced clown. The one pic he had up here for a while was a side view and the expression captuted a look of total innocence and wonder. Razzle can you post that picture for our artist friend?

[pixcoco]

A lot of people have pics on thier websites. You could look up some of the famous clowns in history. Lou Jacobs comes to mind. And he we the first person to have his likeness on a postage stamp while he was still living. I'm sure you can find it on the internet. Some other personal favorites are Jackie LaClaire. Emmit Kelly is well known of course. Mark Anthony Had a sweet face also.
A friend of mine had a mural done of clowns. She used a cepatone look. (sp?) with these historic clowns, with an elephant behind them. Her grandson touches each nose before being put to bed.

More current favorites are Prisilla Mooseburger. If it is a girl that would be a good one. Leon McBride has a great bold face. You could also try Tommy and Tammy Perish. All of these were on Ringling Bros.

Jim Howle is a clown and also an artist who paints clowns. Try google-ing for some of his things. Clowns from a clowns point of view. He was Ringling also.

Good luck.

[Calavera]

Well, I have to say that I didn't really expect to be met with kindness, so I suppose that's one stereotype I have busted. Thanks to everyone for the words and the advice. I'll see you in other threads, I guess.
LOL, I've got to tell you, I expected to be shooed out of here and it feels nice to be wrong this time.

[Fitzwilly]

Calavera, welcome to the Forum. I understand about being a bit distant in life, although people who meet me know wouldn't know that. I went to see Ringling for the first time Last fall, after being a clown for 19 years. Pricilla's website is Pricilla Mooseburger Originals and another site you might want to peruse for some ideas is Angel Contraras' website Welcome to the Art 4 Clowns Website! He draws coloring sheets for many in the clown community, in a more cartoony way not so much like a charactiture artist does. Clowns of America International has on their website (Clowns of America International) has the pictures of competition winners from the last year, as do many of the regional clown associations.

[tim]

Many people have misconceptions about clowns. They either think of them (too simplistically) as silly, stupid, funny, sad, angry, or mean. At times, there have been people who have abused the possibilities of disguise and differentness available to a clown - thus making a bad name in the extreme for public perception - even to to point of striking fear. The reality of a clown, however, is merely to reflect the human condition in all of its fullness, but in satirical charactature of human foible. The idea is to offer, via humor which unites us as people, in laughter, thoughtfulness, and life - by connection to our very real emotions and experiences that everyone understands. Ultimately, this ought to lead all towards genuine joy.

[Calavera]

I try to understand that, Tim, I really do. What's strange about me is that I do not find evil clowns to be scary at all and even own a large doll sold under the name "Cadaver Clown" at Spencers. Rather, it's the ones that look happy that I find unnerving. I wouldn't say I have coulrophobia and I don't hate them. I think it's great that there are people who want to make others happy.
I think it's something about the makeup. It makes me feel like they're hiding something, like the makeup is a mask. I suppose it might tie in with my urge to always be in control and to perpetually be aware of everything. Anyone who knows me knows that I hate secrets.
Or maybe I just have something against being happy, which is a possibility. Basically, I'm the one systematically bursting party balloons because they're far too fun for me.

[pixcoco]

I believe the make up (aside from it's theatrical reasonings) allows the clown to drop his/her gaurd and act on desires without filtering what they are doing. Sort of an artificial bravery for some. Permission to have fun. The ability to be what they really are. I believe people are good at heart so being themselves is a good thing.
It would be interesting to see what sort of clown you would be.

[Calavera]

Hmm...me as a clown. Nah, the funniest thing I've ever done in my life was faint at my mother's wedding.
I am a virtually humorless person.