(No Generative AI Used, Tim Lee’s Original art | Oil Markers and Color Pencil on Bristol Paper)

Before I became the only commercial caricature artist in Montana, I drew caricatures in Orlando, Florida at some of the resorts and theme parks. On this day, I was at a quiet resort that usually didn’t send a lot of clients by the booth. But on those nights when you expect to be at a quiet booth, you plan to enjoy the drawings you do and not rush through them to get as many clients done as possible. You knew you would be able to take your time and create something a little extra special for your clients.

My night had gone very slow, I probably drew 10 caricatures of myself and my wife to get attention to the booth and didn’t have any takers. It happens, and right near the end a man and his very pregnant wife came up and decided to get a drawing done. As they sat with me and I took the first 30 seconds to get to know them, this was their final hurrah before their child was born. In my head I could clearly see this woman took VERY good care of herself. Except for the baby bump (which was more like a baby mountain) she was toned, chiseled, and may as well had been a female body builder. She was very attractive, and no hair was out of place. I remember asking her what she looked forward to once the baby had arrived and I remember her saying “martinis”.

Looking over at her husband I could tell they probably met at a gym. He was well built, muscles protruding through his polo shirt, and he held a beverage in his hand with his arm over his wife’s shoulder’s as they sat together and shared a bit about their life with me. I could tell they were both in a very good mood, the day at the theme-parks had done them some good, and they were excited to end their day sitting, not waiting in lines for rides, being able to breathe because they had no-where to be except right here getting their caricature done.

I think that was the reason I liked sketching out my designs with a pencil first. I wanted time to get to know my people. In the time I had gotten to know them I figured out a beach scene would be a good fit for them, and that they wanted it in color, so I had sketched out a very rough layout of the beach and two bodies in the waters. But, then my brain clicked. I could tell they would enjoy something a bit more exaggerated, and I would be sure to oblige.

“You guys mind if I take a little artistic liberty with your caricature?”
“Absolutely! Have at us!” the husband replied,
“Ok, I have a strong idea in my head I think your wife will love, but, you’ll have to carry the load a bit, that ok with you?”
“Yep!” He said back without waiting a beat.

Ok, I had consent. With one big swing of my wrist, I made a circle around his chiseled abs I had sketched in and grabbed my eraser and turned that “6 pack” into a “big gulp” (7-11 gas station reference).

It didn’t take me long to see I was right on the money, the more we laughed together the more I knew their spirits were going to love this final result. Giving her the body I knew she would find flattering, and placing her favorite drink in her hand I knew would be an instant win as soon as she saw it. Then I doubled down and I made sure to show a tired husband, doing his best with all the muscles he had to carry the weight of their new child, putting the perfect amount of shine on his stomach to clearly show that that skin was at it’s max. The boy looked like he swallowed a self-filling beach ball and it was about to make its exit.

I spent about 30 minutes on this drawing, quite a bit longer than you should if you want to get a bunch of clients done, but no-one else was around, and our laughter bounced off the walls of the empty lobby echoing proof that we were the only folks there. Didn’t bother me one bit because I knew I was going to walk away from this drawing with an emotional win, they were going to love it. As I flipped the page around and showed it to them, I watched as they both smiled, they liked it. Then, CLICK, they saw the belly, and their eyes got huge and the smiles turned to choking laughter as the story clicked in.

“I think its only fair you should carry the weight while you two are on vacation…” I said to the husband as he took the caricature out of my hand to study it more closely.

That night I got a good tip, and a great story to tell. Its been over 15 years since that day. Probably longer, and I can only assume the young boy or girl that now looks at this caricature of their parents might be a little grossed out at the thought.

Hope you enjoyed this little story, its a true story by the way.
Tim

Who is Tim Lee?
Tim has been jokingly dubbed “The King Pin of Caricature” by his clients and is in high demand in Montana and the surrounding states. If you are looking for a caricature artist in Montana, Tim will probably be the only local artist you will find. Tim is available for hire for special events, corporate events, and weddings, and will travel anywhere, no matter how far, to do them. Learn more on our caricature services page.