Back around 1995 while still in art school, I took a summer job drawing caricatures at a local amusement park. It was the first job where I actually got paid to draw, and it was a tremendous learning and growing experience for me. Sort of an art boot camp. I was very shy and insecure (and frankly not very good at caricatures), but I learned how to draw fast and under pressure, and I also learned a great deal about dealing with people and building my artistic confidence. All of those things have been a tremendous help to me as a freelancer.
Why am I telling you this? Because my boss was Tom Richmond, an award-winning caricaturist and illustrator who has since become a leading artist at MAD Magazine. I just learned Tom has a new website to showcase his amazing work, complete with a blog. Tom is a seasoned professional with a lot of experience and insight, not to mention a boat load of talent and a fun drawing style. Had I been wiser, I would have used that summer in ’94 to get to know Tom and pick his brain a little. Instead I’m looking forward to following his blog and seeing what insights he has to share.