Kaleidoscope Artistic Entertainment
- Hartford, CT
- Children’s Party Entertainment
- 277 Verified Bookings
Chris D. said “Professional, friendly, awesome. The kids loved Ava and had a wonderful time!”
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Hi! My name is Judy. Since 2003, I have created distinctly atypical, flattering, “spot-on” or “cute” caricature portraits (or what I have dubbed “portraicatures”) for school or corporate events, Mitzvahs, birthdays, grads, wedding, showers, plus each year. I serve Southern NE, eastern NYS (NO Manhattan or boroughs). Hourly rates: $135 per hour, plus sliding scale travel fee based on distance. I work in color or BW, ink/ sharpie markers and color marker, pastels and or pencils. References/ precise quote upon request. Book 4-6 weeks prior for best chance of availability. Can create on iPad, and email w photos or FaceTime/Zoom remotely if desired. Thanks for considering!
Absolute hit with our residents! She did an incredible job capturing everyone with such skill and charm. The only regret we have is not booking her for a longer time—she was that amazing! We will most definitely be booking her again in the future. Highly recommend!
Response from JT Art & Design / Caricatures:
Tori, thank you so much for the great review! I was almost gonna ask you if you wanted me to stay longer, but I didn’t have to turn too many people away. I look forward to doing other events for you in the future! Have a happy holiday!
We had Judy at our wedding this past October, and she was a HUGE hit! All our guests were so excited, and she had a line all night long. Her caricatures are so adorable and was a fun addition to our reception. We received one at a Christmas party a few years ago and just knew we wanted her at our wedding! She is so sweet and such a delight to work with. She even added our cat into my daughter's caricature to make it fun. If you want something other than the over played photo booths Judy and JT Art& Design is the way to go. You and your guests will love it!
Response from JT Art & Design / Caricatures:
Hi Angela thank you so much for such a glowing review! I really appreciate it and it was fun night. I always enjoy meeting and drawing people, I’ve always had a fascination with facial distinctions and this work has really brought me out of reserve as well!
Judy was a pleasure to work with. She had everyone at our event smiling! Very professional and skilled at capturing each individual's unique traits. Highly recommend Judy and hope she will join us again for future events.
Response from JT Art & Design / Caricatures:
Magdalena, it was a really nice event, beautiful weather, and I met some really nice people that I was in able to chat with as I drew quickly. Thanks for great review…hope to do future events for your organization!
I hired JT Art & Design to do caricatures at my brother's graduation party and I'm so glad I did - she was responsive, flexible, wonderfully talented and put smiles on everyone's faces. A perfect way to memorialise a great evening. Thanks so much!
Response from JT Art & Design / Caricatures:
Thank you so much for the wonderful review Sam, I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet you in person. It was a fun night!
We had the best experience! Judy is great at what she does!! She drew all our guests and everyone was very pleased with their pictures. Its truly amazing how spot on she gets it!! The plastic sleeve was a great plus!! they stayed clean and dry. I would highly recommend hiring her for your event and i look forward to having her at the rest of our functions in the future!!
Response from JT Art & Design / Caricatures:
Jennifer, thanks you so much for such a glowing review! I really wanted to make the most of my time even though things started a little slowly, so I’m glad I drew as many people as I did and that the teens were happy with their pictures! I strive to make them cute with a true likeness versus being hyper exaggerated or goofy.
We lived her work, everyone was excited to see the results Highly recommend her for any event
Response from JT Art & Design / Caricatures:
Hi Teresa, thank you so much for the great review! It was a fun party and I really enjoyed chatting with a lot of your guests and getting to know a little bit about all of them as I was drawing. It was great meeting you and look forward to seeing you sometime again perhaps if I do another job at your employers facility! Ps..food was delish!
I hired Judy for my husband’s birthday party. I told my guests their caricatures were their adult favors! Judy’s drawings are kind, not exaggerated, which the guests appreciated.
Response from JT Art & Design / Caricatures:
Carolsue, I’m so glad that everyone was happy with their drawings. Everybody was very friendly and the party was a lot of fun. I love when I have the opportunity to engage with my subjects. It was nice getting to know you and your family a little bit.
Everyone loved their caricatures! Judy is so personable and an amazing artist! We highly recommend her!
Response from JT Art & Design / Caricatures:
Thank you so much for the great review Heather, it was great meeting you and your family, lots of fun and very friendly!
She was on time and very professional all my guests loved it!!! Don't hesitate to book her !!! I will be definitely booking her again . Thanks alot !!!
Response from JT Art & Design / Caricatures:
Thanks for the great review! I am always striving for happy and satisfied customers!
Very outgoing fast and she’s so talented I would definitely book her again in the future!!!!
Response from JT Art & Design / Caricatures:
Thank you so much Jennifer! It was a pleasure drawing you and all of your relatives and chatting with them while I did it. By the way, the food was yummy...thanks again! I do hope to see you again, at your, or a relatives party!
Judy is a true professional! Amazed at how quickly she could do the caricatures and perfectly at that! She accommodated my request for a specific card stock size. All my guests were thoroughly impressed with the caricatures and they were happy to receive such a memorable return gift :-)!!
Response from JT Art & Design / Caricatures:
Thank you so much! I really enjoyed the evening and I’m glad the girls enjoyed chatting, their pictures and had fun.
This was perfect everyone Enjoyed this activity at our wedding. We love it! Thank you for giving our wedding a sweet touch !
Response from JT Art & Design / Caricatures:
Thank you so much Magdaly! It was fun and I was glad I was able to stay as well as Bob to get some additional people drawn. Time does fly with two hour gigs. Best wishes in your married life!
JT was very professional and was thrown into a very chaotic environment and handled it beautifully. I really appreciated her ability to manage the kids! On top of that, she is a very skilled artist and produced top-rate pictures quickly. I would definitely recommend her for your event!
Response from JT Art & Design / Caricatures:
Thanks, Gabriella! It was a pleasure--and when opportunity, I did enjoy chatting a bit with the kids and loved hearing their comments, always positive! Fun, engaging environments are always energizing!
Very good and friendly for our large party of kids! Punctual and needed no guidance!
We used JT Art & Design for my daughter's Bat Mitzvah party. Judy's caricatures were great and provided a lot of entertainment value. The kids had fun both getting their drawings and watching their friends get theirs. Great value and a really nice addition to our party.
Response from JT Art & Design / Caricatures:
Upon research on Gig Salad, I did not realize I never responded to this review submitted over 4 years ago! I apologize! Thanks for the positive feedback!! Hope all is well.
Price Range: Contact for rates
Gig Length: 120 - 300 minutes
Languages: English
Insurance: $1,000,000 - Commercial general liability
Caricatures are great fun and are the only “permanent” product of artistic entertainment at parties, providing children and adults alike with uniquely personalized mementos/souvenirs from any festive event. Being a self-taught caricaturist/portrait artist (and formally educated graphic designer), I have always loved to draw people in particular, with a knack for capturing a true resemblance. As a natural extension of my talent for being able to capture a person, I have developed a unique caricature style. There is a style out there for everyone, and you should not be disappointed! I am proud to have pleased many customers over the years who have often said I made them look "better" than they felt they looked in real life! no kiddin! I bring my own materials, tabletop easel (for use on a table provided), paper and plastic bags for protection, clip on light, and or tripod, or digital lights, if necessary, as well as an outgoing, engaging personality and will help to make you feel at ease.
A full-time graphic designer for over 20 years, after a layoff, I forged head on into the world of self-employment, trying to best utilize my God-given talents and interests, one being a fascination with the distinctness in faces, and an enjoyment and ability to draw them accurately!
As a result, I have increasingly drawn live caricatures, and gift caricature commissions for business, school, non-profit, corporate and private customers, for everything from first birthdays to lots of weddings in recent years especially — to corporate events, and have had a number of repeat gigs and customers. Because of my natural ability to capture my subjects, I developed a unique caricature style-- really a hybrid of a portrait and a caricature “portraicature”, decidedly different than the over-exaggerated or “cookie cutter” look alike theme-park style, which may be unkind or grossly inaccurate in portraying a person’s distinctive features. I strive to capture my subjects in a flattering but unique way!
Being a down-to-earth and social person who loves people, I find this work is not work at all, and I am often energized by the process…especially folks gathering around to watch, while chitchatting a bit when music is not too loud, and or there's not a major line. My specialty is not only to provide personalized souvenirs or keepsakes to be taken home, (or hand-drawn "selfies"), but also to serve as a distinctive entertainer. I can enlist other trusted, unique and talented artists for customers requesting more than one, or if I am personally unavailable.
Be sure to ask for a custom quote!
Good or Adequate lighting is requested, or at least 1 outlet to plug in clip on lamp (and table edge or chair back to attach to), pr advise and I can bring digital lights for 2 hour events. If event is outdoors, moderate temps are best, and or shade or under cover. Though I will not hold multiple dates for inclement weather/Acts of God postponements, I will do an alternate date (and may honor initial deposit depending on time, season ) provided I am available, or make every attempt to secure replacement artist in if I am unable to get there, or deposit will be refunded. Otherwise, deposit is non-refundable except in rare circumstances. I normally do not take meal breaks, other than for events during dinner hour that are 3 hours or more for which meal/apps will be provided.
Some caricaturists of note, though very different than my style: Al Hirschfeld, Jack Davis and Tom Richmond come to mind as extremely gifted!
2 or more chairs
Lighting (or nearby outlet and notiflying me to bring light) if darker environment
Cold beverage, preferrably water
Positioning away from DJ speakers
Chris D. said “Professional, friendly, awesome. The kids loved Ava and had a wonderful time!”
Clemence J. said “We had a great experience with Kenny the clown. He ran a 30 min show for the kids and then balloon twisting for 1h30. The show was fun. And he made so…”
Susan K. said “I got the face paint and glitter tattoo package for my daughters second birthday, and we absolutely loved Chey. Not only was she so entertaining kind,…”
Jill B. said “Dave was easy to work with before hand with scheduling and explaining packages! Colleen came on time and was twisting balloons her entire time at the…”