John M - Arizona Caricature Artists

John made a career in Chicago as an architect, initially doing hotel and restaurant design work, and later settling into residential design for luxury chateau estate homes. Before becoming an architect, for two years he immersed himself in the creative design programs geared toward industrial design and animation. At this same time, he started doing caricatures at art fairs, city festivals, corporate events, and family celebrations. John has always been top-ranked among the major party brokers in the Chicagoland area. He's also taught "Cartooning" at elementary schools and junior colleges.

John's approach to caricature drawing was always that of a performance art - he'd draw quick marker portraits on a large easel, in full view of his immediate audience, even if it meant drawing from an awkward position from around the edge of the easel. One of his favorite compliments was someone commenting on how his portrayal looked more like the subject than the subject himself! He's found it the nature of most people to find self-amusement in making an identification with something that picks up on specific personal quirks, even if it projects but an absurdly, abstract semblance. That, coupled with some overly exaggerated physical attributes, makes for a fun interpretation on how they perceive themselves.