A caricature is a portrait that exaggerates and possibly distorts the essence of an object to create a likeness that is easily identified by looking at it. The object could be living or non-living. Caricature Artists recreates objects using an exaggeration of some characteristics. The finished objects could be complimentary or insulting or both and usually serves for entertainment or carry a political overtone. Editorial cartoons usually feature political caricatures while those of celebrities are plied in various entertainment mediums.

The accepted conventional rule is that the characters ‘loaded’ must either possess objective sets of physiognomic features to draw upon for reference, or, in case of inanimate objects such as cars or coffee mugs, the anthropomorphic depictions thereof. Renowned Caricature Artists have often said that it is difficult to draw a caricature of an animal that works as best as those of human characters. Caricatures dates back to the olden days where famous artists sort for deformed models to feature in their works. They strived to represent the original image in a way more striking than portraits. This whole art was born out the need to load as much meaning to an image as possible. Caricature Arts used to be distributed among closed groups just for the mutual enjoyment it created.

Nowadays, the art has gone public with many artists plying their trade commercially in public places such as parks, beaches, and other frequently visited tourist attraction spots. It is now a full time employment opportunity and the art is even taught in colleges and universities as a subject. In the past, it was just a natural talent or one picked up by sheer posterity or opportunity. part from the traditional political and celebrity satire use, most modern caricatures often drawn by fulltime or part time street vendors are used as gifts or souvenirs. Often popular at street functions, carnivals, and even weddings, caricatures can be quickly drawn to specification for random clients for a token fee.

These days, caricature artists are popular at lots of events. Event organizers are trading in the usual photographers for these artists for virtually any occasion, may they be grand openings, birthdays, company picnics, awarding ceremonies or weddings. The charm of caricature artists is almost as old as the art itself.

Did you know that not all caricature artists draw alike? And 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.

Most caricature artists produce portraits pretty quickly. They can do about 12 to 20 portraits in an hour. Just tell them who your important guests are, and they will take care of capturing their personalities in just a few strokes. You can either give the portraits to the subjects as they leave, or keep them for yourself as remembrances. You can even ask the artist to inscribe special messages.

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 and really 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. Your guests will either love it or hate it, but they will definitely have an opinion.

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 Johnny kicking a soccer ball.

The last is quick sketch caricature. These artists, many with classical art training, 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 preferences and know your guests. Then look at your artist’s party samples to decide if his style is for you.