Check Out Joel Kweskin’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joel Kweskin.

Hi Joel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m a caricaturist. Yet I’m quick to remind my subjects, once they tell me to make them thinner, younger, prettier, less bald, etc., “Hey, I’m a caricature artist, not a plastic surgeon…”

I come from a family of artists. My Dad was a professional illustrator and art director on Madison Avenue (during the “Mad Men” years); he also illustrated comics for Marvel, i.e. Daredevil, Submariner, Dr.Strange and others. My mother was a fine artist who both painted and sculpted — at one point, she was commissioned by the New York Teamsters Union to sculpt a head of Jimmy Hoffa (for all I know, it was buried with him who-knows-where). My sister dabbles as a painter presently, and my late sister both studied and taught art. So, you can say my talent comes by genetically.

Although I attended the nationally renowned High School of Music and Art in New York City, I did not pursue art scholastically; instead, I focused on writing and got my college degree in journalism, ending up writing ad and collateral copy for the in-house corporate communications department of an international financial services company. However, I never strayed too far from art, caricature art in particular. With a penchant for the humorous, I felt it natural to meld the two proclivities.

When I became a “statistic” and lost my corporate job, I first went into the marketing/advertising business for myself. I subsequently left that industry and got back to my roots as an artist. Perhaps the caricature part might occasionally compel one to, instead, put the initials “B.S.” before the word “artist”…

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road, at first, was bumpy since no one knew who I was, having transitioned out of one field of work into another, and what I could subsequently offer clients with my somewhat unique skills. So I networked at various functions, handed out a compelling business card that, to this day, pretty much elicits raised eyebrows and an accompanying chuckle.

I also decided to trade on my marketing experience and create a newsletter (now in its ninth year) that showcases my work at weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, corporate events, marketing applications, or just commissioned “portraits” for birthdays, retirements, etc.

The struggles are as with most entrepreneurial businesses — frequency of opportunity. You do the job, you get paid. But, if a recession… or, hmmm… a pandemic comes along, that sort of thing can put a major crimp in one’s earning capacity. I have found the newsletter works to, at least, (attempt to) stay top-of-mind with clients and prospects when the economy is not otherwise running on all cylinders.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a kid, I always loved to read Mad magazine — stimulated, frankly, more by the art than the actual written pieces. The wonderfully comic (and just as significant), anatomically spot-on illustrations by the likes of Mort Drucker and Jack Davis, in particular, have been a great influence on my approach to drawing throughout my career.

So, when I draw guests at a wedding, corporate event, children’s birthday, retiree’s party, whatever, I am conscious of a pledge I make to myself to not draw the caricature too outlandishly — noses too big, bodies too fat, chins too “doubled.” The subject is there to have fun, not be embarrassed or made to look (too) foolish.

I suppose if there is anything I’m known for it’s the ability to, for the most part, capture the subject’s likeness. After all, even when doing a caricature, if there’s little or no resemblance to the individual, then it might as well have been just a “smiley face” drawn. The eyes — windows to the soul, as it is said — are the one part of the anatomy that is key to achieving verisimilitude.
(I’ve waited years to use that word…)

In addition to having my work also published in national magazines and on local billboards, what I am most proud of is, several years ago, I was asked by the general manager of our city’s Palm restaurant — the national chain of fine steaks and seafood — to add my skills to the famed walls of the establishment. Where caricatures of famous celebrities, sports figures, business leaders and politicos are on display for diners to enjoy and perhaps point in recognition of someone they know or recognize. I have over 30 caricatures on the walls here at the Charlotte Palm, among whom are singers Darius Rucker and James Taylor; NASCAR driver Kevin Harnick and Carolina Panthers star Christian McCaffrey.

Elsewhere in the city is a local restaurant that I am also proud to have similarly contributed to its walls — an establishment that pseudonymously, to coin a word, displays famous “Harrys” throughout, i.e. Harry Truman, Harry Potter, Harry Houdini, Harry Styles, Harry Belafonte, “Dirty Harry” and even a “Harriet” or two — Harriet Tubman and Harriet Nelson, of “Ozzie and Harriet” fame.

How do you think about happiness?
Apart from my family — wife, children, grandchildren — professionally speaking, I simply enjoy the experiences associated with my art. Just like an actor, having someone enjoy the “performance” I’ve put on for them — at the conclusion of my endeavor, seeing the subject (or client, if a commissioned piece) smile broadly, even laugh — is my variation on an actor receiving “applause.”

Contact Info:

• Email: jk@caricaturesbyjoel.com or jdkmcm@aol.com
• Website: www.caricaturesbyjoel.com
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/caricatures-by-joel-charlotte

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