How Do I Become a Caricaturist?

The path to become a caricaturist often includes art school to receive formal training in art and cartooning, although some people simply start working and develop skills on their own over time. Training is not necessarily required, but it can help artists develop and refine their skills and might provide access to professional connections. A skilled caricaturist can find employment at a newspaper or magazine or might work independently as a freelancer.

It helps to have some aptitude for art. High school students who have an interest in caricature might want to take art classes and work on developing their technique and skills through practice on their own as well as by completing assignments for class. This also can help build up a portfolio for art school applications. Some art schools specifically offer training in cartooning and caricature, and it can help to apply to these if you want to become a caricaturist.

Art school students have opportunities to take a range of classes on the theory, history and practice of art. Many students also seek employment in the art world. For a person who wants to become a caricaturist, this employment could include work in environments such as editorial newsrooms or street fairs where passersby pay for caricatures produced on the spot by the artist. This work can provide valuable experience in addition to funds to help pay for art school.

Over the course of an art school career, a student might develop a specific style and tone. The creation of a distinctive artistic style is part of the process for an artist who plans to become a caricaturist, because artists usually want their work to be recognizable even without a signature. Students can build up professional portfolios of their finest art school work and can use these in job applications. Over time, the artist can rotate items in and out of the portfolio to showcase his or her strongest and best work, and he or she might develop different portfolios for specific kinds of jobs.

Art is often a freelance industry. A person who wants to become a caricaturist might consider submitting work to newspapers, magazines and other publications to start building up publication credits. These might lead to a full-time job or the development of a stable freelance career. Other caricaturists might focus on selling directly to customers through fairs, gallery shows and other events. Flexibility can be useful for an artist who plans to become a caricaturist, because the ability to caricature a variety of subjects and topics can help expand a portfolio and attract clients.