We caught up with Veteran Caricature Artist Joel Kweskin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Joel, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a minor in marketing/advertising. So when I graduated, I thought the latter would be the career path for me. And for a good number of years, it was. But after leaving the corporate world of the salaried employed, I struck out on my own. But it was more difficult to acquire clients on my own. Moreover, the length of time to get marketing material created and approved would be maddening. Not to mention the time it often took to get paid. Meanwhile, I had also been blessed with the talent to draw, which I come by “genetically” since both my parents were artists. I would draw — portraits and caricatures — on the side from the marketing “gig.” But seeing more expeditious success with that skill made me realize more and more that I could be — could always have been — doing this “caricature art thing” all along. In retrospect, I wish I had made the transition to caricature art earlier in my “freelance” career. It has proven more exciting, more fulfilling, more fun. And it pays faster.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

I’ve always drawn, certainly ever since I was a little kid. Both my parents were artists as were my two sisters. I attended the High School of Music and Art in New York City which famously produced many leading artists, musicians and actors. As mentioned previously, while working in corporate marketing and advertising, I maintained a “side hustle,” drawing for friends as well as other corporate clients and magazines. My “stock-in-trade” was/is portraiture. And when coupled with my natural penchant for humor, it turns into caricatures. At present, I mainly draw caricatures but, also, the occasional corporate cartoon to illustrate a different approach to the predetermined subject. While not necessarily solving a client’s “problem,” the work I do as a caricaturist can be applied to everything from weddings, corporate events, birthdays, anniversaries, bar-bat mitzvahs and holiday parties to retirements, family reunions, community festivals, retail events and social media. Within that wide milieu, one of the proudest achievements for me was to draw caricatures of noted local and national politicians, business leaders, sports figures and entertainers onto the walls of the nationally famed Palm restaurant.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative?

We artists are not much different from entertainers, such as singers or comedians. Our “stage” is a table we might be situated at to draw attendees at a conference or a business gathering or a birthday party. And, just like singers and comedians, we’re there to entertain with our unique skill sets. When I present the finished art, usually just five minutes later, I am, more often than not, greeted with huge smiles and even gales of laughter. It’s an endorphin rush to engender such a cheery response. It’s one of the reasons I continue to enjoy what I’m doing.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I have previously taken a workshop with one of the leading professional caricaturists in the country; I further plan to attend an international convention of caricature artists that will feature competitions among the attendees, along with opportunities to hear lectures, view the works of leading caricature artists from literally around the world, and pick the brains of these and other professionals. As such, a “goal” or “mission” in my creative journey is to learn new tricks, new approaches, new disciplines to make myself better at what I do. Will the customer know? Not necessarily. But I will.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.caricaturesbyjoel.com
• Youtube: (1) Caricatures by Joel (2) Carolina Caricature (Joel Kweskin)
• Yelp: Caricatures by Joel