New Live Caricature Video!!

Live Caricature Video: Are Caricature Supplies Cursed???

A new Live Caricature video where AJ Jensen draws two customers - with some heavy exaggeration - at the Yellow Daisy Festival. During the video AJ gives his thoughts on the experience with this caricature and the lessons he has learned to get where he is as a caricature artist. Also AJ shares his thought process with drawing these two customers.

"I love talking about Line Work - as it's one of the first aspects of caricature I really concentrated on. During my caricature journey, I always was inspired to get crisp Line Work. After hundreds of Line Work Exercises - I feel like I am finally at a place where I am happy with it. Yet, it took a LONG time to get there." -AJ Jensen

AJ has always struggled with perfectionism. Through this live caricature it started to pour down raining. During that time, AJ went from a high stress situation to just letting go. He admits that the rain wasn't this destructive force that was planning on ruining his drawing - it made the environment go to a relaxing place. AJ admits that sometimes you just have to ENJOY THE RAIN.

Meaning sometimes we get so wrapped up in the stress of improving that we forget to look around and appreciate where we are right now. As artists—especially caricature artists—it’s easy to constantly think about where we want to be instead of recognizing how far we’ve already come.

Our journey is linear. There’s no skipping chapters, no jumping ahead years of drawing experience. Every line, every sketch, every imperfect drawing is part of the path. Trying to force a drawing today to look like something you’ll naturally create ten years from now only leads to frustration. Growth doesn’t work that way—and it’s not supposed to.

Caricature, at its core, is about observation, play, and exploration. When we slow down and allow ourselves to enjoy the process, we start seeing more, feeling more, and drawing more honestly. That’s where real progress lives—not in rushing results, but in showing up, drawing consistently, and being present with the work in front of us.

It’s okay to be exactly where you are right now. The lines you’re drawing today are building toward the artist you’re becoming. So take a breath, enjoy the environment around you, and lean into the adventure. This isn’t about arriving somewhere fast—it’s about enjoying the artventure while you’re on the way.

" Are caricature supplies cursed? They come and go. Maybe it's to help caricature artist not get too comfortable with a system or routine - as that is such an easy trap to fall into as a caricature artist. Maybe it's a good thing... but it is frustrating."

-AJ Jensen

Are caricature supplies cursed? They seem to arrive, become essential, and then quietly disappear. AJ Jensen reflects on how tools that once felt irreplaceable often vanish just as artists grow comfortable using them. That comfort can quickly turn into routine, and routine is one of the easiest traps for a caricature artist to fall into. Still, even if there’s a hidden benefit, it doesn’t make the loss of trusted tools any less frustrating.

Over the years, caricature artists have watched staple supplies get discontinued one after another. The dependable Dixon Markette were phased out, followed by the stinky and gross Chartpak markers. Later, Prismacolor Art Stix—known for their bold color and fun texture—also disappeared from shelves. Each change forced artists to adapt, rethink techniques, and rebuild systems they once relied on.

Today, many caricature artists have shifted toward Crayola markers like the ones AJ recommends here: https://amzn.to/4kVWqUk, Paired with NeoColor I's like these: https://amzn.to/3XBB1qb. While different from the tools that came before, these supplies have pushed artists to explore new approaches and break away from autopilot. AJ Jensen notes that this constant evolution of tools may actually serve a purpose—forcing caricature artists out of rigid routines and keeping the craft flexible, responsive, and creatively alive.

GIVE THE NEW VIDEO A WATCH, A LIKE, AND A COMMENT IF YOU CAN. You can find more caricature tips and journeys on The ToonHeadz YouTube page at www.youtube.com/thetoonheadz Thanks for reading, watching, and keep drawing!