Caricature Artist Nirvana

If you draw caricatures for a living, the annual convention and competition of the International Society of Caricature Artists is as close to utopia as you are likely to find…. and I’m not just saying that because I used to be president of the organization. It really is an amazing event. Imagine over 200 caricature artists set up in one huge room drawing each other silly for four days using almost every imaginable medium and technique in between daily workshops, guest speakers and presentation by some of the most talented caricaturists working today. By the end of the week every square inch of wall space is crammed with thousands of pieces of caricature art ranging from the gentle to the brutal to the flat out amazing. That’s the ISCA con.

The 2010 con is coming up November 7th-12th at the Alexis Park Resort in Las Vegas, NV. The guest of honor is caricaturist/animator Bill Plympton, who will be giving a keynote address as conducting a workshop as well. Other workshops and seminars include those by illustrator Court Jones, cartoonist Lar de Souza and animator Stephen Silver as well as several others and a few surprises no doubt.

The cost to attend is quite reasonable considering everything you get: multiple presentations, seminars, workshops (Bill Plympton’s workshop is an extra $5.00 which goes directly to Bill) a couple of meals including the ending awards banquet and 5 days of hanging out with an incredibly talented and diverse group of artists. All this for $200 (you must also be a member of the ISCA) IF you register before Oct. 1st.¬¨‚Ć It’s $250 after Oct. 1st. They have also negotiated an excellent room rate of only $89 a night in this all suite resort.

Professional ISCA membership costs $60 a year and includes a free ISCA directory webpage, access to the ISCA members-only Forum, eligibility to compete at the annual ISCA convention and of course the quarterly magazine Exaggerated Features. New members may join the ISCA at a special rate of $50 for the first year.

Anyone who does caricatures for a living needs to attend this convention at least once in their lives. It is a career boost of the first degree… no one ever leaves the convention without a huge dose of inspiration and an infusion of energy and passion about their art.

Sadly, I will not be attending this year because I will be on another cartoonist USO tour overseas at the same time the convention occurs, or I would say “see you there”.