STRAITS Times' artists were out in force at the Star carnival yesterday.

By the end of the day, they had drawn 43 caricatures and 16 photo-illustrations.

Readers had to pay $15 for a caricature and $10 for a photo-illustration.

All the money went to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, which helps lower-income school children with their school expenses.

Among those who thronged the booth was events manager Victor Yap, 44. He went in costume as Captain America, as he was also taking part in the Cosplay competition at the carnival.

He had his caricature done by Mr Tang Wee Cheow, 34.

He said of the artwork, which had him brandishing a shield: 'You wouldn't usually get such good work for so cheap.'

Deputy art editor Lee Chee Chew, 45, illustrated one reader's photo by poking fun at her shopping habit with a drawing of her clutching a fake Louis Vuitton bag.

He said it was harder work than he had anticipated.

He sometimes takes up to a few days to think up the punchlines to his cartoons in the paper, but yesterday, he had to come up with concepts for the photo illustrations in five minutes.

'It's quite stressful, but it's for a good cause,' he said.