Caricature Artists - Do You Like Yours Wild Or Mild?

Did you know that not all caricature artists draw alike

? And did you know that there are many styles in caricature art? The stylized drawings of Al Hirschfeld, for example, are far different than Mad Magazine notable Mort Drucker's dead-on likenesses.

Unlike Al Hirschfeld and Mort Drucker who completed their work in a studio setting, caricature artists that work at parties must be able to deliver a completed sketch on the spot in a few short minutes with an audience looking over their shoulder. It is not work for the faint-hearted.

Nonetheless, caricature artists who work in a fast-paced party setting evolve their own distinctive styles that work for them. This is important to know, because one of the most common mistakes people make when hiring a caricaturist for their party is not matching their preferences with the artist's drawing style.

Party artist styles tend to fall into one of three categories.

The first is gross exaggeration.

These artists focus their attention on any facial characteristic that deviates from the norm by strongly exaggerating and even distorting it. Artists with this way of working will make your big nose look REALLY big and that pointy head look like Mount Everest. Some artists that use this approach pride themselves on 'pushing the envelope' and, be warned, your guests will either love it or hate it.

The next is cartooning.

Party caricature drawings created by an artist with a cartooning style will generally be the big head/little body type. If time permits, there may be a cartoony background. Popularized at theme parks, this style is seen at many children's parties where the child is drawn engaging in a favorite activity, such as 'Jenny' kicking a soccer ball or 'Johnny' shooting a basket.

The last is quick sketch caricature.

These artists often have many years of classical art training. They can create a dead-on likeness in just minutes. With these drawings you will definitely recognize the subject of the drawing, ie., "that looks just like Uncle Joe"... This milder approach is particularly well-liked by guests who are self-conscious about their appearance such as teens and people of "a certain age."

Know your audience. Some guests will be offended by the drawings of an artist whose drawing style involves gross exaggeration. And some guests may find quick sketch caricature boring.

If you have a strong preference one way or the other, it is wise to view the artist's samples before hiring. Be sure that the samples were created live at a party or event-like setting. You want to get a reasonable idea of the style you will see executed in your party's drawings.

by: Ellen Zucker

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