Getting Started

I’m self-taught and have been researching and studying caricature art for 20 + years. I first made the decision to become a caricature artist in 1995 when my wife and I were honeymooning in Florida. We had our caricatures drawn by a talented artist at Disney Village. We had a brief chat with her and she was very encouraging…so I made my mind up and off I went into the crazy but wonderful world of caricature art!


Growth

I started doing live caricature around 2000. My first live gig was at the July 1st Canada Day celebrations at the Sydney Boardwalk. The lineup was two hrs long. I was drawing till well after dark but luckily there was an electrical outlet and I had a light with me. Prior to that, I was only doing caricatures in my studio.

Initially, I was getting practice at caricature drawing when I was teaching children’s cartooning classes. I did a 11 x 14 colour caricature of each student as part of the program. This amounted to literally hundreds of caricatures, and terrific practice!


Ready, Set, Draw!

Doing live caricatures is a big leap from studio work. At home, you have all the time in the world to “perfect” your work. Live caricature requires speed and output. The game is highly stressful from this perspective, especially if you have a high standard and strive to produce a quality drawing that is lightly exaggerated, humorous, and actually resembles the subject. No complaints yet! Over time, you evaluate and learn from each outing. Today I’m more confident doing live work, (and faster) with a time of 3-4 minutes per face, black and white.

I’ve also produced numerous 24 x 32” – full colour – town posters/maps of various Cape Breton Communities. We would print off 6-8 thousand of each of these and distribute them to the tourist through the various tourist bureaus around Cape Breton. (Glace Bay, Sydney, North Sydney, Cheticamp, and Baddeck)

I’ve also produced several site posters for various resorts in Cape Breton. (Inverary Inn, Dundee Golf Resort, the Silver Dart Resort). These would be reproduced in 11 x 17 format and a copy would be given to each guest. Find them in my portfolio section.

There were numerous other clients over the years requiring hand drawn renderings and/or illustration work for special promotions, bands, CD covers, fund raisers and engineering projects (Sydney Tar Ponds Clean-Up).

– Ron


8 Replies to “About Me”

  1. Ron’s caricature’s at our wedding reception were a great hit with both adults and children. Our guests genuinely enjoyed the experience that Ron was able to offer through his talent of showing individual personalities in his art. If you are looking for a unique experience at an upcoming event that’s suitable for all ages, I would suggest contacting Ron.
    Krista and Jamie Mills
    Thanks again!!!!!!!!

  2. I had asked Ron to do caricatures at my wedding August 2018 and I could not have been happier with his service. He accommodated everyone, he was polite and charming, and best of all his talent made so many smile! A dear friend had their 50th anniversary on the same date and they were able to take their caricature home to signify their beautiful day, and ours.
    You absolutely will not regret reaching out to this man! –
    Candice MacKenzie

  3. We had Ron come and do caricatures at a reunion we held last fall. We cannot say enough positive things about Ron. Prompt, professional and great to deal with. If you’re looking for something a little different for your next gathering, this is something you should do. Great value for money, he drew the entire time he was with us and everyone was thrilled with their pics. Great guy! Great fun!
    You won’t be disappointed!
    Lena Morrison, North River School Reunion Committee 2018

  4. It was a pleasure having you at our last two Safe grad functions ( 2017 and 2018) and the kids absolutely love your creations. You have a unique talent that helps make a special night in their lives even more memorable. Thanks again, and if there is anything else I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to ask.
    Take care,
    Shannon Worth
    Riverview Rural High

  5. I hired Ron to do caricatures at my wedding and he did an amazing job! Everyone was happy with his work and everyone kept saying to me “what a great idea to have a caricature artist here!” It’s something different and people like that! Ron was very easy to get in touch with and quick to respond back to any questions I had, which was a huge plus in my book!! His prices are great and overall, he is just awesome and super talented!
    I highly recommend him for all your caricature needs! 😊
    Ashley O’Day

  6. “If you’re planning a wedding and are looking to provide a unique and fun experience for your guests as a keepsake, look no further! We hired Ron’s Caricatures for our wedding reception. He did beautiful black and white self portraits of our guests, and even managed to do the bride and groom one in color (which was a nice touch).

    The setup is very professional and would not clash with any color or decor on our big day. Also, he brings guests up by number; to avoid any possible lines across the dance floor. Which I thought was a great idea because as the bride, that did cross my mind.

    This is such an interactive experience for your guests I promise you, it will not disappoint! I still get complements to this day about what a cool idea this was to have at a wedding. And the day after so many people framed them and posted to Facebook! Worth every penny! Thanks so much Ron!!”

    Cheers,

    The Binns-Boutilier’s

  7. “Ron’s Caricatures has been part of Festiville Baddeck for the last few years, and has consistently been one of our most successful vendors. Ron has a lineup of customers well into the night! He is a perfect fit for us, and a welcome addition to any gathering, large or small!”

    Joanne Dunlop
    Festiville Baddeck Committee

  8. What an addition to our Bar mitzvah event! Ron’s artistic talent, coupled with his great personality made for a fun time for our guests. Everyone was raving about their personalized momentum. Ron is very personable and easy to do business with. We can’t wait to have him at our next event!

    Shayna Strong

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