Dan Almariei - CaricatureHut Caricaturist from Gulfport, FL

So you're looking for a caricature artist. Let's skip the part where you wonder if this is worth it, because it is. By the end of this page, you'll know you found the right one. Here's why: I know how much work you've put into planning an event like this. The detail guests remember most is rarely the one you stressed over. It's the caricature stand, the only thing on your vendor list that puts their actual face on it. LITERALLY! They leave smiling, already eyeing their wall. And they will frame it. Every. Single. Time. And you will look like a HERO! Plus, your event goes viral: guests will flood Facebook, Instagram and TikTok with their drawings, tagging you and shouting out how awesome your event was. I'm Dan. 34 years of caricature experience, 20 of them in France, and a past life as a sculptor restoring monuments in Paris (yes, the Louvre, the Opéra Garnier, Basilique Saint-Denis,etc). Working as a sculptor taught me to see faces differently. I see light, shadow, and volume the way a sculptor does, and your guests will see it too, right there on paper. I draw with Cretacolor leads, a shaded technique (or as my wife likes to call it, "The French Style" - her words, not mine :) - the kind of drawings that look more like charcoal portraits than anything you'd expect at a party, on 12"x18" premium Bristol paper. Fast enough to keep the line moving, detailed enough to make them stop and stare. It starts as entertainment. It ends up on their wall as real Art. For what it's worth, and I think it's worth something, people kept handing me trophies, so I have a list now: ISCA (International Society of Caricature Artists) First Place for Outstanding Black & White Technique. First Place for Best Likeness. Caricature of the Year. Caricaturist of the Year. And it goes on and on... Published in France, Italy, Romania, and Ireland. Featured in Wired Magazine. Corporate events for Sephora, Saks Fift Avenue, MoMA, Giants, Royal Caribbean, Kellogg's, Hard Rock Casino, and many more. Museum events at the Dali, Museum of Fine Arts St. Pete, and the Museum of Art Tampa. Most recently aboard Explora 2, Explora Journeys' flagship luxury cruise, where my wife Melissa (Gigi) and I were the first caricaturists ever hired for that ship. Oh, and we've been featured THREE times on Tampa Bay News TV as well. Just like "AS SEEN ON TV!" What guests say: "His work should not be confused with what you see on the streets. These aren't disposable sketches, they're keepsakes that get framed." "There was an hour-long line at my wedding. The picture of my husband and me was so perfect it became the centerpiece at our reception." Don't take my word for it, scroll through my reviews. PERFECT 5-star ratings across the board, and they keep saying the same thing. Honestly, I never get tired of reading them. Available for weddings, corporate events, private parties, and luxury occasions. Home base: Tampa Bay. Range: unlimited. New York, New Orleans, Vegas, Savannah, and yes, international waters, been there, drawn that. If you can get me there, I'll be there! Fluent in English, French, and Romanian. Italian? Let's say I'm fluent in the gestures. The actual words are still a work in progress, but the guests always smile. Expecting a big crowd? No problem, I have the solution. My wife Melissa, also known as Gigi, is also an amazing caricature artist. Her "Cuticatures" are sweet, warm, and cartoon-adorable, the kind that make guests go "Awwww" the moment they see them. My work? Some say I lean into the exaggeration. What can I say? I'm a caricaturist, it comes with the job. One recent wedding client nailed our duo dynamic perfectly: "If guests wanted funny and exaggerated, they went to Dan. If they wanted flattering, they went to Gigi. Both artists were quick but thorough and really engaged with our friends and family. I looked like a genius for booking them." Together we're two different styles, two different techniques, and TWICE THE FUN. She makes you look adorable. I make you look...ummm...memorable. :D Between the two of us, every guest leaves happy! *** Fair warning though: we're always the last ones standing. The DJ is packing. The photographers are at the bar. We're still drawing. Every time!!! Oh yes, for the planners and coordinators reading this: Fully insured and Background-Checked. We got your back! Now you know why I'm worth it! We're gonna make your guests line up and have fun. Just hit that Request Free Quote button and let's make it happen!