Caricatures by John Rios

I don't pencil in the face first. My technique makes the caricature seem to come to life right in front of your eyes. This also helps with the speed of which I work so you get more caricatures for your money.

Born and raised in a small town in west Michigan, John started drawing as soon as he could hold a crayon. His enthusiasm and ability to create humorous and exaggerated art was soon noticed by his high school art teacher who would pass on his humorous illustration projects for John to complete.

In 1982 John joined the United States Marine Corps where he found himself stationed in Hawaii and traveling across the Pacific to several ports of call. To this day the faces, cultures, architecture and experiences influences his art.

After leaving the Marine Corps, John moved back to Michigan and moonlighted as an illustrator for a few years until opening his own graphics studio in 1996. We produced everything from forms to business cards as well as illustrations for publications and more. As luck would have it, a chance meeting with Rock legend Ted Nugent back then would change the course of where his art would open doors and take him.

After over a decade of John’s art being a part of the Nugent brand, Ted decided to use one of John’s illustrations on a backdrop for his tour. This opened doors with the rest of the music industry once word spread of not only his creativity but his ability to create technically sound digital files for stages that need art to reproduce well as large a 100’ wide.

Through this, John has built relationships with backdrop production houses, bands and staging companies that have produced opportunities for his art to adorn the stages of such well know bands as Kid Rock, Eminem, Alice Cooper, KISS, Rod Stewart, Little Big Town, Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Nickleback, Motley Crue, Billy Idol, Flogging Molly, Miranda Lambert, Korn, System Of A Down and many, many more.

Other noted works by John:
• Launched his own line of rear window graphics for the automotive after market.
• Designed NASCAR graphics for Mike Wallace, 2002 Daytona 500 car
• Storyboard artist for the movie “Kill the Irishman.”
• WRIF Radio- Marketing materials for the Legendary Arthur P. and WRIF Rock Girl .
• Craft segment art of Martha Stewart Show- Crafty Buffet Oven Illustrations.
• Orange County Choppers-Calendar Cover illustration
• NHL- Official Original Six Jersey, signed art print
• Entertained The Rolling Stones. Private party before the 2015 Zip Code tour. Caricatures
• Congressional Safety show in D.C. - Art Director for the Automotive Safety Council

I'll need to be within 10 feet of an electrical outlet and need at least two chairs provided to perform.