Ever wondered what it’s like to be a full-time caricature artist? We sat down with MAD Magazine illustrator Tom Richmond to learn about the art and business of caricature. From theme park concessions to big-name publications, Tom illuminates every angle of this illustration niche.
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SHOW LINKS
Jake Parker’s Kickstarter, Kepler’s Intergalactic Guide to Spaceships, is LIVE! Check it out and show your support here.
Tom Richmond: tomrichmond.com, Instagram @art4madEpisode 118: Are Caricatures Considered Real Art?International Society of Caricature ArtistsMAD MagazineCharles SchulzDavid LevineMort DruckerJack DavisAndrew LoomisFun with a PencilWally WoodFrank FrazettaWill ElderHermann MejíaPeter de SèveCarter Goodrich
KEY TAKEAWAYS
If you want to be a professional caricaturist, draw from life. Go to coffee shops and practice drawing people in real time. Volunteer to draw caricatures for free at local school fairs. Work at theme parks in the summer. Accept any opportunity to gain experience!
The best live caricature artists know how to entertain their customers as well as capture funny likenesses.
Caricatures made for publication are much more involved than those you see at theme parks; you’ll need to be able to illustrate full bodies, props, and environments.
Be prepared to reinvent your career every so often to keep up with changes in the industry.
BIO
Tom Richmond was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin and attended Art College in St. Paul, Minnesota. To pay for school, he took a summer job drawing caricatures at Six Flags Great America in Illinois, where he discovered his love for the art of caricature. Tom started his own caricature concession operation in Atlanta, Georgia, and served as president of the International Society of Caricature Artists for two years. He began working for MAD Magazine in 2000, and his other clients have included AOL Digital, Cracked Magazine, National Geographic for Kids, and many more. Tom resides in Minnesota with his wife, and they are the parents of four children. Learn more at tomrichmond.com.
LINKS
Jake Parker: mrjakeparker.com. Instagram: @jakeparker, Youtube: JakeParker44
Will Terry: willterry.com. Instagram: @willterryart, Youtube: WillTerryArt
Lee White: leewhiteillustration.com. Instagram: @leewhiteillo
Daniel Tu: danieltu.co.
Lily Howell: lilycamille.com
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