Featured Vendor: Hunter Art Studio
Hire a caricature artist!
No one wants to attend a dull, lifeless wedding reception. Couples can be assured to interject fun and laughter by hiring a caricature artist to entertain guests throughout the evening.
Guests will go home marveling at the fun they had during the event because the host spent a little extra time and attention with them in mind. One often overlooked entertainment option is to hire a caricature artist for the wedding reception. Guests, young and old, will have a blast with hours of smiles and laughter as they share cartoon-like pictures with others. This type of art is memorable and helps keep guests actively engaged, especially during the reception when there is a lull in the event’s activities.
The Man Behind the Sketch Pad
“I do art,” these words were spoken by Byron Hunter, a local fine artist who specializes in caricature art, enthusiastically declared in a recent interview.
Hunter shared for a little as $150 per hour with a two-hour commitment; he can impress wedding guests with his creative one-of-a-kind pieces of art. These gifts are not only memorable, but it is a perfect wedding favor for guests to take home and cherish the special day.
“I’m an illustrator, well really, I’m a fine artist. I’ve been freelancing for 30-years. I started caricatures back in 1990. I pretty much do any form of art”, states Hunter.
His specialty is doing illustration, portraits, and caricatures. Over the years, he has been recognized for his unique satire-styled drawing.
Hunter, an art instructor at a local school, juggles helping his students develop their artistic skills while managing his thriving art studio business, Hunter Art Studio. Yet, even with all of this, he keeps physically active and frequently travels abroad.
“I love to travel. I’ve been to seven countries. Also, I’m a marathon runner. So far, I’ve run in 16-states and two continents”.
He indicated that he likes creating and keeping an open perspective by not narrowing his art pieces into a specific category. “I don’t want to focus in on one area. I want to keep it broad and open. I do art!” he states.
These words help pave the path to the future for which he hopes to expand his business further and open up an art school.
Types of Available Art Services
So, what types of services are available, and what is the difference between them? Hunter gives a brief explanation of the different kinds of services he offers.
“Caricature is a form of art derived from portraiture. I started out doing portraits when I was a kid, doing portraits and comic book art. I would do portraits because that is where the recognition came in. If I draw someone’s portrait, automatically, they will say it looks like them, or it doesn’t. I liked getting that feedback and recognition. Caricature is part of my personality. I like to have fun. I like to have a good sense of humor.”
He further explained that a caricature exaggerates a person’s features creating a satirical picture.
He continues, “Fine art is basically art. It’s sculpture, it’s painting and drawing. It’s not put into a box. Illustration is something I went to school and majored in. Illustration art is more about visual storytelling; telling a story with pictures.”
He shared there are different ways that he creates his caricatures. Clients can hire him to do an illustration or a live sketch. The illustrative version is used when clients provide him with photographs, and he creates the art pieces in his art studio. These drawings can be exaggerations or realistic replicas. On the other hand, live sketches are performed at events sites and are more spontaneous and whimsical.
“I do them at parties, weddings, and all different types of social events,” he continues.
Whether it’s a birthday party, bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah, family reunion, or another social event, Hunter believes each is a perfect occasion to add the talent of a caricature artist.
As he reflected over his past event engagements, he laughed, saying, “I think the only type of event that I haven’t done is a funeral, but they might be coming.”
Why Hire a Caricature Artist?
When asked why should someone hire a caricature artist for their event, he responded,
“It’s fun. People have fun when they do this. They get to take it home and hang it on their wall. It’s something that they can keep. Normally, when you go to a party, you don’t take anything home with you. This is something personal. It’s unique. It’s not cookie-cutter. You’re getting some artwork of yourself.”
Another benefit of hiring a caricature artist is that the host needs no additional special planning or prep work. Hunter shared that he comes fully supplied when hired for an event, requiring only a space to work and a chair.
“I set up, people sit down, and I draw them in about 4 to 5 minutes per person in black and white, or 6 to 7 minutes in color. Then, I give them the artwork, and it’s on to the next person,” he says.
Of course, there are times when his art subject has naturally prominent features; therefore, he is careful not to offend them but rather be light-hearted about their uniqueness.
He continues, “I always work with my board held up so they can’t see it until I’m done because a lot of time, people get self-conscience. But some people are into it and want you to exaggerate them to the full extent. They’re cool with it.”
Hunter then said light-heartedly with a chuckle, “As a rule of thumb, I’ve learned you don’t exaggerate the women. I don’t care what they say. You just do it! It’s not good business. Instead, you take their positive features, and you expand upon them. If they have beautiful eyes, you make those eyes pop. You pop the cheekbones out. You tuck in what might be out. You work it, so it’s flattering. It’s good business to make sure the woman is happy.”
Artist to the Stars
Over the years, Hunter has been privileged to draw hundreds of people, including several famous personalities. He shared one memorable experience early in this career.
“I did Aretha Franklin’s birthday party at her home. It was scary. I had only been doing caricatures art for about five years when I met her sister. I used to do the caricatures at Trapper’s Alley before it was Greektown Casino. I met her sister who said, ‘I’m Aretha Franklin’s sister, and she is having a birthday party at her house. Would you be interested in doing this?’ I said absolutely. During the party, someone said, ‘ReRe, come on over here and get your character done. It’s your birthday’. Everything was cool until she sat down, then everything changed. I started getting nervous. My hand started shaking because I was drawing the “Queen of Soul” in her house. The pressure was on. She was cool. She calmed me down. It all worked out.”
Another milestone achievement was his drawing of Detroit Piston’s Coach Daly, published as the Volume II issue 6 Pistons Insider magazine cover.
He shared some of his previous pieces of art. He indicated that he has one unique creation he hopes to soon give to Vice President Kamala Harris.
What’s Next?
Hunter is currently planning a series of murals and paintings at the David Ellis Academy, paying homage to Bishop David Ellis (his former Pastor), the Ellis family, and the school at large.
“My foundation has been at David Ellis academy. The school and the family have been everything to me”, he says with gratitude.
He also has several public projects that he is working on, including participating with a group of local artists creating a mural that depicts the history of Detroit and Highland Park.
Visit detroitweddingday.com/gallery/hunter-art-studio to contact Hunter Art Studio.
