What it costs to hire a caricature artist for a party

At that pace each drawing takes about 3 to 4 minutes in black and white and 5 to 6 in color, so the hours you book matter more than the rate.

How much does a caricature artist cost?

• 1 hour: $165.
• 2 hours: $330.
• 3 hours: $495.
• 4 hours: $660.

The rate on our Caricature Artist page stays at $165 for every hour, so a 6 hour festival is $990. Divide it by the drawings and a black and white caricature works out to $8.25 to $11 each, and a color one to $13.75 to $16.50.

How many hours do you need for your guest list?

The product page gives the pace: 15 to 20 caricatures an hour in black and white, or 10 to 12 in color. Multiplied out:

• 1 hour: 15 to 20 in black and white, or 10 to 12 in color.
• 2 hours: 30 to 40, or 20 to 24 in color.
• 3 hours: 45 to 60, or 30 to 36 in color.
• 4 hours: 60 to 80, or 40 to 48 in color.

For 50 guests in black and white, that is 2.5 to 3.5 hours, so book 3 or 4 ($495 or $660). The same 50 in color take about 4 to 5 hours ($660 to $825).

Count the guests you expect to sit for a drawing, not the whole invitation list.

Black and white or color?

Color takes longer, so the same two hours draw 30 to 40 guests in black and white and 20 to 24 in color. Pick color when the drawing is the gift and the guest list is short. Pick black and white when the line is long and you want everyone to leave with one.

Who is the artist?

Our caricature page describes a professionally trained animation artist who worked on projects at Perennial Pictures Film Corporation, an Indianapolis animation studio founded in 1979, and later as a freelance animator for DreamWorks Animation, Universal Studios and Saturday Night Live.

The page carries one review:

What does the artist need from you?

A place to work. The booking lists "Customer Provided Table/Chairs/Tent or Shelter," the same arrangement our balloon artist, face painter and glitter tattoo pages spell out: you provide a table, chairs and suitable shelter. The outlet field on the caricature page reads 0, so the artist needs no power.

Indoors, any table and two chairs will do, which makes the artist an easy fit for an office party, a hall or a living room in December. Outdoors, our 10x10 canopy tent is $100, and its page says it fits two tables and 12 chairs.

What goes with a caricature artist?

If the line will be long, a second artist can work beside the caricature artist. Our entertainers run at similar rates:

• Balloon Artist: $165 an hour, about 20 designs an hour.
• Face Painting: $165 an hour.
• Glitter Tattoos: $150 an hour.
• Airbrush Body Art: $199 an hour, with a 3 hour minimum and about 20 kids an hour.

A caricature artist and a balloon artist for the same 2 hours come to $660. For a company or neighborhood event, our corporate event rentals page notes that many HOAs book "a tent, tables and chairs, and even a concession machine or entertainer" from us.

How do you book a caricature artist?

By phone. The caricature page is direct about it: "You cannot book our artists online. Please give us a call to discuss your event." Call (317) 316-8465 with the date, the hours, how many guests you want drawn, and whether you want black and white or color.

We are based in Westfield and serve the Indianapolis area.

Common questions