Goofy Faces Means Family Fun in the Sun!
If you’re planning a vacation to Florida for winter break this year, put Tampa at the top of your list for unique and memorable family fun! With beautiful beaches right on the Gulf Coast, great hotels and restaurants, and world-class attractions, Tampa has something every family will enjoy.
Capture the fun at The Tampa Zoo with a face painting or caricature by Goofy Faces.
Visit Family Friendly Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park
Travel around the world at Zoo Tampa! Besides wildlife from the local area, you’ll see animals from similar climates, such as Asia, Africa and Australia. With an emphasis on local, endangered, threatened and vulnerable species, this award-winning zoo delights kids of all ages.
Visit an African elephant herd, Patas monkeys and more on your guided tour in an open-air safari vehicle. Board the Overland Express in the Wallaroo region for a fabulous train ride around the park! Check out one of the exclusive “back stage” or animal “meet and greet” experiences offered by Zoo Tampa to really get up close and personal with your favorite animals!
What better way to remember your favorite animal than having it painted on your face! Visit the Goofy Faces caricature and face painting stand at Zoo Tampa in the Center Court, between the Carousel and Wallaroo.
The Florida Aquarium Has Something for Everyone
Remember your family fun visit to The Florida Aquarium with a Goofy Faces face painting or caricature.
In the heart of downtown Tampa and easily accessible by Trolley, The Florida Aquarium should be on everyone’s must-do list! Learn about local and exotic sea creatures and The Florida Aquarium’s many programs to save the habitats all over our planet. The sea turtle, shark and coral research and rescue programs work to protect these vulnerable creatures in Florida and around the world. More importantly, The Florida Aquarium also houses the David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center, a non-profit “acute care facility for injured, sick and orphaned wild manatees.”
If you’re feeling adventurous, try the Wild Dolphin Cruise! Ever wanted to get up close with fish, sea turtles, sharks and other underwater dwellers? You can at The Florida Aquarium with a backstage tour, sea life adventure or swim & dive experience! Be sure to schedule and book these experiences in advance (not included with admission, additional fees apply).
Remember your special family fun day at The Florida Aquarium by visiting the Goofy Faces caricature and face painting stand. You’ll find our artists in action in the main lobby next to the entrance to the cafeteria on weekends plus daily whenever school is out.
Check out VisitTampaBay.com for special pricing on combined tickets to the Tampa Zoo and Florida Aquarium.
A company holiday party is a great way to celebrate successes and promote company loyalty. Of companies surveyed, credit.com says that 73% plan some sort of holiday party. Here are a few tips to help you plan a fun and memorable event!
Start planning your company holiday party early.
Good venues get booked quickly. Weekend spots tend to fill up faster than weeknights. The holiday season is also a popular time for weddings, so have a backup location in mind when you call your favorite venue. You might need ample parking or easy access to public transportation and ride share services.
Know your holiday party budget.
Credit.com notes that $75 per person is about average. If you have 100 employees and have an employee-only party, your budget should be around $7,500. That includes event venue, food, drinks (unless you have open bar) entertainment, etc. Will it be just employees or are you including spouses/significant others/guests? Costs may vary depending on where you live and whether you include guests. Some companies let employees purchase a “ticket” for their guest at cost.
Match the menu to the audience.
A Goofy Faces caricature artist is great entertainment for your office holiday party.
Be sure to ask your guests if there are dietary restrictions. Many restaurants and banquet centers can easily accommodate gluten, nut and dairy issues, just ask! If you’re having a sit-down meal, use place cards with different color stickers showing the guest’s choice. For example, you can use red for beef, yellow for chicken and green for vegetarian. Consider a buffet with several dairy and/or gluten-free options. A top-your-own taco or potato bar works great on a buffet!
Determine appropriate attire.
If your office is generally casual, people might enjoy getting dressed up and showing off their glamorous side. If you’re office attire leans toward suits, a “holiday sweater” theme might be fun and get people talking to someone new.
Book memorable holiday entertainment (shameless plug!)
When you hire a caricature artist for your office holiday party, you get both entertainment and a great keepsake! Caricature artists are fun to watch. Not only will you keep your guests entertained – especially if you chose digital drawing with eSketches™ – but the artist also creates unique, one-of-a-kind art for your guests to take home and remember what fun they had! Recent client Jill W. raved about Goofy Faces at her event, “Everyone loves him and his drawings! Would definitely recommend and use again!”
Click here to find the right Goofy Faces Caricature artist for your company holiday party entertainment. Weekends and evenings fill up first so contact Michelle@goofyfaces.com to reserve an artist today.
What do you think about when someone says “coaster?” The ever-present drink coaster as we know them today has been around nearly 140 years!
A Brief History
In 1880 Friedrich Horn, a German printing company, designed the first cardboard beer mats, as they are sometimes called. Shortly after, the Robert Sputh Company of Dresden started making them out of wood pulp.
Today you can find drink coasters protecting tables and bars from condensation in nearly every bar, restaurant and home. They come in many materials, including wood, cardboard, bamboo, cork, marble, sandstone, slate and unglazed ceramics. The best drink coasters are porous and absorb condensation from the glass.
But the very best coasters are by Goofy Faces Caricature Artists!
How did It Start?
Goofy Faces has been offering caricatures on 4×4 cardboard squares since 2017. That year Lear Corporation hired us to help them celebrate their 100th birthday at their headquarters in Southfield, MI. Instead of traditional caricatures or even eSketches™, they asked us to draw on 4×4 pieces of cardboard.
While it was a new medium for us, we discovered a few exciting things about drawing on such a small space.
- Volume – a traditionally drawn caricature can take 4-5 minutes. One artist can draw about 15 caricatures per hour. A coaster can be done in about 90 seconds, so we can draw up to 35 people per hour!
- They’re easy to take home. Just drop it in your purse or slip it into your wallet, it’s less likely to wrinkle!
- Branding – Hire a Goofy Faces caricature artist for your next corporate event and we’ll help you get your logo or promotional message printed on the back! Find the right artist here.
- Goofy Faces Caricature Coasters are better as drink toppers! Set them on top of your glass or mug so you remember which drink belongs to whom. (To protect the artwork, we don’t recommend setting your drink on the coaster.)
- Coincidentally, and because you’re probably wondering, the first roller coaster opened at New York’s Coney Island just a few years later, in 1884. It cost just 5 cents and went all of six miles per hour. We sure have come a long way!
Book your coaster caricature artist today! Contact michelle@goofyfaces.com or use the artist request form on goofyfaces.com.
Three Ways eSketches™ Benefit Your Trade Show Booth
Three things you want from your Trade Show Booth are traffic, impact and recall. Your booth has to stand out so people find it. Once they get there, you want them to have a great experience. And after they leave, you want them to remember you. A Goofy Faces caricature artist using eSketches™ is the perfect way to do all three!
Hire a Goofy Faces eSketches™ caricature artist to draw and keep traffic at your trade show booth.
eSketches™ attract people to your booth
“Hey, what’s going on there? Let’s go check it out!”
eSketches™ are caricatures that are drawn and colored digitally, live, at events, trade shows and parties. Artists use a digital drawing tablet to work their magic in minutes. Each eSketch™ takes shape on a large screen that captures attention and draws attendees to your booth!
eSketches™ keep people engaged while at your booth
At most Trade Show booths, people come by, pick up swag, maybe take a quick look at your product or service, collect a brochure and leave. How long does that take? 30 seconds? 90 seconds if you’re lucky. When people sit for a custom caricature drawing, they are in your booth and in a chair for 5 to 8 minutes. This is a great time for your company representatives to connect with them!
We help you choose just the right artist who will keep your guests engaged and interested in what you have to say. Click here for our complimentary concierge artist selection service.
eSketches™ help people remember you
Goofy Faces eSketches™ can feature your company’s product or logo.
eSketches™ make branding easy. Each finished image can include your company logo and even show the guest using your product! More importantly, since their booth swag features them, you know they will show it to their friends and colleagues – and maybe even keep it in a frame on their desk. What a conversation piece!
In addition, your company will get a link to all the eSketches™ drawn during the event. Now you can share them with your guests, clients and post them to your web site and social media accounts like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!
If you want to add a cutting-edge artistic element to your next function or event that will attract guests, keep them engaged and help them remember you, call Goofy Faces!
Find an Artist
Make Memories Last Longer with a Custom Caricature
The good and the bad of having a camera that fits in the palm of your hand
If you’re of a certain age, you remember taking pictures on a camera – with film. Back in those dark ages, you waited, several days even, to see if the pictures were any good!
That Was Then
Remember how exciting it was to open that envelope and see if maybe, just maybe, there was one good family picture? Then you proudly showed it to everyone and displayed it in a photo album or frame. Every time you walk by it you fondly remember that special moment!
This is Now
Today we have some of the most sophisticated photographic tools in the palms of our hands, our smart phones. But when was the last time you printed a family picture from your phone and put it in a frame? Most people don’t.
Goofy Faces will be at the Paint Creek Center for the Arts Art & Apples Festival(r) September 6-8, 2019.
When you take hundreds of pictures at time, it can be overwhelming to choose just one. Oftentimes the images live on our phones and in our social media feeds, but they rarely make it to a coveted place on the wall for all the family to enjoy.
Make it Memorable
When you and your loved ones sit down for a custom, family caricature, you get a one-of-a-kind piece of art, featuring you! It’s more than a photo, it’s hand-drawn memory you will treasure forever. As summer winds down and kids head back to school, there’s still time to make memories and get a custom keepsake caricature you’ll treasure for years to come.
Enjoy an outing to your local zoo or aquarium. Most retail stands are open daily through Labor Day weekend, then weekends only through Halloween. Click here to see if we’re at a location near you!
Or check out local events like the upcoming Art & Apples Festival® in Rochester, MI, sponsored by Paint Creek Center for the Arts. While there, get your face painted or family caricature drawn by one of our artists so you can capture the moment and remember this special time.
The Facts About Face Painting
Face painting only became popular at children’s parties, theme parks and events in the 1980s, though for centuries, human beings have painted their faces and their bodies.
During tribal ceremonies, military actions, sports activities and religious rituals, putting paint or ink on our bodies has been a part of the human experience for as long as history has been recorded. Even permanent tattooing, while long stigmatized as rebellious or undesirable, is increasing in popularity.
Today, face painting is soaring in popularity. It’s a great way to raise the bar on the entertainment value of any party or corporate event. Kids and adults both love the long-lasting sense of fantasy it creates. They also love that it’s non-toxic and easy to remove. So what is there to know about face painting?
A lot! Here are some basics:
Who does face painting?
The face painters that you can hire through Goofy Faces are artists first, face painters second. Many make their living with their art and travel the country working at events. We recruit and vet each artist to make sure that they have both a strong talent and solid customer service skills because we want your guests to have the best possible experience.
How is a face painter trained?
Most face painters have attended multiple workshops and seminars to learn their craft. Face painters are required to create realistic-looking scales, horns, fur, feathers, butterfly wings and more textures and designs. These techniques take hours of practice to master. We also train our artists on popular designs and characters.
What kind of products do face painters use?
Goofy Faces artists use high-grade professional body paints and glitters, in vibrant colors that don’t fade. These cosmetic-grade, non-toxic products are not permanent or even semi-permanent, so they’re relatively early to remove. Our artists also follow standard sanitation practices, cleaning brushes, stencils and other materials with industrial-strength disinfectant products.
It’s a bad idea to cheap out on your face painting artist.
A true face painting artist can add something really special to a party. Whether they’re painting crowns on princes and princesses, turning little boys into lizards or livening up an adult party, most people love the experience. It’s Instagram-ready, too.
Unfortunately, if you’re not careful, you can end up with an inexperienced artist whose work may disappoint your guests. You can avoid that by reviewing the artist’s portfolio of images, to make sure their artwork meets your standards. (Or just hire one through Goofy Faces – our artists are all good!)
Considering a face painter for your next party or corporate event? Start your search here: https://cobs.goofyfaces.com/caricature_new/
We Love to Draw in the D!
We’ve had a whirlwind few weeks of drawing in the Motor City this summer so we thought we’d share all of the exciting events we’ve been a part of so far this season.
Bark in the Park
The Detroit Tigers held another Bark in the Park on June 25th at Comerica Park during a Tigers’ home game. Once again, Goofy Faces was hired to draw FREE caricatures of pets with their owners. This event was sponsored by Pet Supplies Plus and it was a howling success!
Hockeytown Draft Party
The Detroit Red Wings brought in Goofy Faces to light up their draft day party with both event caricature art and face painting. Hockey fans were thrilled by both the draft and the art!
Yelp! Party
Goofy Faces had an artist on-site drawing live eSketches™ for a huge party sponsored by Yelp! at the Boathouse on Belle Isle. The “Nauti by Nature” event was a benefit to support the Boathouse renovation fund.
Freedom Boat Club Summer Kick-Off
The Freedom Boat Club is nationwide organization that allows its members access to boats from coast to coast, without boat ownership or maintenance! They held a Summer Kick-Off event at Sindbad’s in Detroit and we were there drawing caricatures for guests. WLLZ’s own Doug Podell broadcast live during the party.
The Detroit Fireworks
Once again, UAW-Ford brought in a couple of Goofy Faces artists to draw & entertain school groups and guests during the Ford Fireworks Festival at the UAW Program Center in downtown Detroit
Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau
The DMCVB booked 2 Goofy Faces artists to draw caricatures of guests from the Society of Government Meeting Professionals while they attended a party taking place at The Fillmore. Guests from across the country got to experience the best that Detroit and Goofy Faces has to offer.
UAW-Ford Safe Overnight Summer Camp
UAW-Ford hosted a Safe Summer Camp experience at Riverside Marina over the 4th of July weekend with fun and educational outdoor activities. Goofy Faces was hired to provide 2 caricature artists to entertain happy campers with their kids.
Goofy Faces books events nationwide and is proud to provide art & entertainment in our home town of Detroit, MI.
Consider adding event caricature art and/or face painting to create a more memorable experience at your next private party or corporate event. Learn more: https://goofyfaces.com/events/
Hiring an Event Caricature Artist Through Goofy Faces
If you’ve never hired an Event Caricature Artist for a party or event, you may not know exactly how to go about it. Here, we’re answering the typical questions we get from customers who hire our artists for bridal showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, kid’s birthday parties, corporate events and more.
What kinds of caricature art can I choose from?
At Goofy Faces, we have several offerings for event caricature. For a more traditional approach, consider having a few artists draw black & white or color caricatures on card stock. For something unique, consider Caricature Coasters. They are smaller and quicker black & white drawings on 4” x 4” thick cardboard coasters. Or, go high-tech and hire an eSketch™ artist, who will work on a digital tablet with a large color monitor where guests can watch the work come to life. Full color prints are provided for each guest!
Can I get an event caricature artist in any city in the U.S. through Goofy Faces?
We have artists in most major markets throughout the United States. So if your party is in Miami or Memphis, Detroit or Dallas, we probably have someone nearby. Simply plug in your zip code on our Book an Artist page to find an artist near you.
How many event caricature artists should I hire for my party?
That depends on how many guests you will have at your event and how long it will last. You can count on about 60% of guests wanting to have their caricature drawn. Our artists average between 10 and 15 B&W drawings per hour (one person per drawing), or 5 to 7 color drawings per hour.
Here’s an example for a wedding reception:
To do some quick math, if you have 200 guests, 60% of them are getting drawn and the event lasts for 3 hours.
200 guests x 60% = 120 black and white drawings
120 drawings / 10 drawings per hour = 12 hours
12 hours / 3 hours = 4 artists
In this case, we would recommend you hire 4 artists to ensure there is plenty of time to cover the guests who would like a souvenir drawing from your party.
How do I hire event caricature art?
This part is super easy. Once you’ve found the artist you’d like to work with on our Book an Artist page, you’ll click on their profile listing to see more details about them, and click the “I’m Interested in Booking an Artist” button. Then you’ll be able to fill out a form to check their availability and get the process started.
Of course, you can always call us at 866-886-6640 during our business hours – 9AM to 5PM EST, Monday through Friday, and we’ll answer any questions you have and help you book your event caricature artist.
What Your Event Caricature Artist Wants You to Know
Let’s say you’re at a grad party or a wedding reception and there’s an event caricature artist drawing away. People are gathered around, laughing and talking about the drawing. As you’re watching, do you ever wonder what the unwritten rules are? Is it okay to talk to the artist? We spoke to our team of event caricature artists and here’s what they told us.
Yes, it’s okay to talk to us while we draw.
At Goofy Faces, all of our artists are screened for their ability to converse with the crowd. We may not answer your question or comment right away if we’re concentrating, but we typically don’t mind chatting as we draw.
Don’t get mad; find your sense of humor.
Event caricature art is meant to be satirical. We’re designing a funny cartoon, based on your specific features and your unique personality. It’s not a literal representation so please don’t take offense. In fact, we’ve all had our own caricatures done of ourselves so we know what it is like to be in the other chair!
We all have a unique art style.
If you’re looking to hire an event caricature artist, it’s best to find an artist who has a style that you like, rather than trying to push your artist to rework their style to your preferences. That’s just one reason we offer you a portfolio of art to review BEFORE you hire the artist.
It’s not as easy as it looks.
Many artists wish our subjects knew that, although it looks easy, event caricature art is actually much more difficult to learn than traditional portraiture. It requires the same degree of understanding of a human face of traditional artistry, but it takes more imagination and a lot more speed.
Please don’t ask us to start early or end late.
Unless you’re willing to extend the financial contract, please don’t ask the event caricature artist to start before their scheduled time or work past their set end time. If we’re not too tired, we might do it but the simple act of waiting in line does not mean that we will be able to draw every person in line. An experienced artist (like the ones you hire through GoofyFaces.com) will let you know how many more people they can do before their time is up.
Do you have more questions about hiring an event caricature artist? Start with our FAQ page here: http://bit.ly/GoofyFacesFAQ
The Early Incarnations of Caricature
We’re Caricature Art geeks so, of course, the history of the art form intrigues us. Since so many people enjoy getting their caricature drawn, we thought you might find its history interesting, too. While there are pages and pages of historical reference on this art style through the ages, we’re going to give you a brief background of caricature.
What is it?
Encyclopedia Britannica defines caricature as:
“ … the distorted presentation of a person, type, or action. Commonly, a salient feature or characteristic of the subject is seized upon and exaggerated, or features of animals, birds, or vegetables are substituted for parts of the human being, or analogy is made to animal actions. Generally, one thinks of caricature as being a line drawing and meant for publication for the amusement of people to whom the original is known; the personal trait is usually present.”
A great caricature artist knows how to look at an individual, determine what features make them unique—like their larger chin, high forehead or unique eye placement—and exaggerates those features to create a stylized, typically humorous, image of the person.
Where it began
Did you know that caricature art, also known as satirical art, has been around since our earliest history? Examples of this art form show up in cave murals and Egyptian tombs. However, it wasn’t until the sixteenth century that the word caricature evolved from the Annibale Carracci and his brother Agostino. The word Caricature was used to describe the exaggerated portraits they sketched in their art school in Italy in the late 1500s.
The early incarnations of caricature
Throughout the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, caricature style was being used as commentary on public figures and politics. Social satire was popular for centuries in Europe and the U.S. As printing technology began to develop in the 17th century, artists could have their work distributed widely on cards and bulletins, which further elevated the art form.
Royal family members, political figures and wealthy celebrities were the primary targets of the satirical artists, who weren’t the least bit afraid of being biting or even cruel in their art.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, when monthly magazine publications like Vanity Fair were launched, caricature art became even more popular. The artists made statements about cultural and political happenings, gaining huge audiences for their wit and rancor.
Today, with a global political climate that’s as lively as it’s ever been, caricature art is still popular in both printed and online publications.
The Event Caricature Artist
Many caricature artists “perform” live, creating their artwork at events or entertainment venues. From museums and weddings to boardwalks and beach parties, thousands of artists in the United States currently make a living doing live event caricature art. It’s a position that requires training and practice, which all of our Goofy Faces artists get before they join our team.
Throughout human history, caricature art has been a way to communicate and connect with others. Today, you can hire artists to create custom caricature for your guests at your wedding, retirement party, fundraiser, picnic or any other event. We’d love to provide the event caricature artist for your next party. Get in touch or book an artist here: http://bit.ly/GFGetInTouch
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