We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marietta Williams a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Marietta, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

The concept of success is highly individualized, so I can really only talk about what it means for me. My definition isn’t about making the most money or being the most well-known. Success means being comfortable and happy. If I can pay my bills and keep a roof over my head, slow down to enjoy life and take breaks as I need while doing what I love for a living, then I’m successful. It means setting some boundaries with my job, accepting the ups and downs of the income, and being confident enough with my skillset to know that more work is coming eventually. It also means that if I’m not taking appropriate breaks because I’m working too much, then I’m not really doing what I want to do.

In 2022, I made more than I have ever made in my nearly 20 years at drawing caricatures, but I also didn’t take as many breaks as I would have liked. I worked for 23 days straight in August and 18 days straight in September. Some may see that as proof of success, but what they don’t know is that I ended up with clinical exhaustion! Especially as we emerge from the pandemic where my industry was limited, it’s hard to relearn balance and boundaries with the job. That’s something I’ll need to work on for 2023! But I know that if I’m comfortable, happy, and relaxed, my clients will reap the benefits of that and be much happier with my services!

Marietta, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Marietta and I’ve been an event caricature artist in the Kansas City metro area for nearly 20 years under the name Caricatures by Marietta! That means that I offer caricatures as both entertainment and a party favor for clients at their parties – everything from weddings, birthday parties, and company picnics to corporate events, trade shows, and charity galas. I draw very fast at just three minutes or less per person in black and white, which means 20 people or more an hour walk away with a unique, one-of-a-kind, custom drawn gift when I’m hired for your event. I started drawing caricatures at Worlds of Fun when I was just 15 and I’ve honed the skill into my full-time job thanks to a lot of other talented artists who trained me along the way, My goal with Caricatures by Marietta is to make unique art in a live setting that is accessible to everyone, which in turn makes your event something your guests will never forget! They’ll have a caricature from your party hanging in their home for years to come.

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

For me, caricature is a celebration of our individuality. Everyone’s face is a unique formula pf their heritage, culture, and experiences and I’m here to honor that. Because of my mission with my work, my caricatures tend to be on the fun and flattering side. I don’t think any caricature artist draws with malice, but I particularly want to bring out the happiness and joy in someone – not just what they look like but who they are. All of my caricatures are drawn with the utmost respect and I hope that shows through each and every time.

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

My favorite part of my job is turning my drawing around and letting someone see themselves through my eyes – seeing that respect and honor, the joy and happiness that I’ve been able to capture: A caricature that shows four generations. Parents with their baby as their first family picture. A drawing of a pet owner and their pet. A family caricature where I’ve added someone who has passed into the drawing. Having a young child exclaim “That’s me!” with glee. The hug of a mother who is in tears because she’s seen her adorable children in the drawing. The laughter of a lifelong group of friends and the high fives all around. That’s what makes the job worthwhile.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mdartist.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caricaturesbymarietta/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caricaturesbymarietta/