It's cool to be kind

Today I’m here to talk about kind and fun caricatures. It’s a topic that means a lot to me as a live cartoonist, and it’s not spoken about enough.

Ever stop to think about how much mean-ness there is in everyday life? People shouting abuse from their cars, train passengers refusing to give up their seats for pregnant women, the fact that it always starts raining the moment I step outside. Okay, that last one isn’t really ‘mean’ per-se, but if it happens one more time this month I will start telling people that the weather has a vendetta against me.

My point is that people can be unpleasant. And the last thing that I, Edward’s Caricatures, want to do is put more unpleasantness out into the world. Who needs it? And in the context of party caricatures, who wants to sit down and wait for live hand drawn illustrations that are going to leave their insecurities exposed and feelings hurt?

There’s a misconception when it comes to the UK caricaturist scene (I can’t speak for anywhere else) that the business is all about mocking people, that cartoon faces exist to make folks look ridiculous and affordable caricatures must necessarily come at the expense of someone’s feelings. That’s just so not true. In fact, it runs totally counter to the way that I like to work.

So, here’s how I create kind and fun caricatures that boost confidence and encourage warm conversations:

When you’re at a party, or a wedding, or a corporate event, and you’ve sat down in front of me, I’ll first take a good look at your face. Actually, that’s not true: I’ll say hello first. It’s a bit weird otherwise. But AFTER I’ve said hello and we’ve had a nice little chat, I’ll take a proper look at your face. What am I looking for? The feature that brings out the best in you. You’ve put work into looking good, especially if you’re at a wedding or a party, and I’ve honed the skill of spotting the features you’re most proud of.

Then, I’ll get to work, like any good live cartoonist does. I’ll get your face shape. I’ll capture all the features that make your face uniquely yours. Your hair, clothes accessories: all of these things that create an image of you as a unique individual, I will lay out onto the canvas. 

And at the end, you’ll be happy, you’ll have an ideal memento to remember the night by and we’ll all have a good laugh together. And, personally, I hope you’ll also understand what makes Edward’s Caricatures special. After all, it’s the kind and fun caricatures that hold the warmest memories. That’s one thing I’ve definitely learned over the years.

So that’s it. As with most things in life, it’s warmth and sincerity that wins over cynicism and harshness. Funny that, ain’t it?

Are you interested in having live hand drawn caricatures at your next party, event or function? Get in touch with Edward’s Caricatures for a quick chat! I’m always fast to respond, and I always aim to leave your guests smiling!