Stuff From My Studio: Golden Noseys!

It’s time for another enthralling look at some of the stuff in my studio! Today features a couple of awards I was honored with from the International Society of Caricature Artists (aka ISCA, formerly the National Caricaturist’s Network).

The ISCA is an organization of professional caricature artists from all over the world. It started in 1989 primarily as a group of live “gig” artists but over the years has grown to encompass any kind of professional caricaturist including illustrators, animators, etc. Every year (at least ones that aren’t in the middle of a global pandemic) the ISCA has a convention/competition where caricaturists from all over the world get together. They have guest speakers, panels, and other programming. They also set up in a large ballroom and draw each other in just about any imaginable style, and then hang the work they create in their own competition wall space. At the end of the event, thousands of caricatures cover the walls of this ballroom in an art show of tremendous diversity and skill. Then the participating artists all vote on the art in categories like “Best Color Technique”, “Best Exaggeration”, “Best Live Style”, etc. up to best individual pieces and best overall artist. Watching this art get created right before your eyes over the course of several days is truly amazing.

These two awards are for “Caricaturist of the Year”, also known as the “Golden Nosey”, which I was honored to get in both 1998 and 1999. The organization was a lot smaller back in those days than it is today, and I doubt I’d place even in the top ten in a current competition. Still, they can’t take them away from me now! Also back in those days the statuettes were hand made out of painted plaster with wood bases. I believe today they are real metal (not gold, of course) and have a consistent design. I dig the handmade ones, though.

I also served as president of this organization for a couple of years, and presided over two conventions, one in San Diego in 2000, and one in Atlanta in 2001.

If you are a caricaturist and have not heard of or are not a member of the ISCA, check them out. They are a great resource and champion of the art form.

This has been another riveting episode of