Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Sauer.

Hi Jason, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I love people and I love art, so being a caricature artist is a natural fit for me. I originally went to college to be a medical illustrator at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD, which is where I grew up. I was an art major with my primary focus being on drawing. This involved drawing nude models, still life, and improving my illustration skills. However, I also enjoyed being around people and the marketing side of business. Therefore, I ended up with a Business Degree with a Marketing emphasis and minors in Art and Communication. I was accepted as a Marketing Intern at Six Flags Elitch Gardens here in Denver during my senior year of college and eventually hired full time after graduation. While there, I noticed the caricature stand and said, “I can do that!” So, during the weekday I worked my full time marketing and sales job, and during the weekends and evenings, I would draw caricatures at the amusement park. A few years later, I went to Regis University and graduated with my MBA in Marketing. While getting my MBA, I started my own caricature/illustration business in 2008. My business has grown over the years that I have recently been able to go from doing this as a side business to making my passion of caricature art and illustration my full time business now.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
If there is no struggle, there is no progress. The mantra at a startup I worked at full time while growing my own caricature business on the side was, “Stay Humble and Keep Improving.” I take that to heart and it is still my perspective today. One challenge at the beginning was evolving into my own style of drawing, which takes a lot of time and practice for an artist.

Another challenge for a caricature artist is getting comfortable drawing in front of a crowd of people. A “live” caricature artist is not only an artist, but an entertainer. I primarily draw caricatures at private corporate events, weddings, concerts, sporting events, and other public events, so when Covid happened, there was a drop in social events. However, I was able to get creative in offering caricatures from photos virtually. Getting comfortable with different markers, paper, and digital tools has also been something that I have adapted too and enjoyed the challenge. I now draw digitally as much as I do on traditional paper.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have been a professional caricature artist for 25 years in the Denver Metro area. Every event I draw at is some sort of celebration and I love that I get to be a part of making it more memorable. Some of my favorite events are when I get hired to draw for the professional sports teams in Denver, which I have done several times. Drawing for the Colorado Avalanche during the Stanley Cup Finals home games was amazing! I have gotten to be a part of Denver Nuggets playoff rally events and draw the passionate fans. I recently drew caricatures on baseballs for the Colorado Rockies organization. This past summer the band, Cold Play, hired me to draw caricatures at their concert at Empower Field at Mile High.

For several years, I have drawn caricatures for the Children’s Hospital, which is such an honor. Events at the colleges and universities around the state are blast because of all the unique hair styles, beards, piercings and individual expression going on in that stage of our lives. Weddings are some of my favorite events to draw caricatures at because of all the details that go into making it such an amazing celebration. I love that I get to be a part of a day that the couple will remember for the rest of their lives. There are several annual events that I keep getting invited back to that many families have made it a tradition to get an annual caricature from me as their kids keep growing up. As a husband and a father, it means a lot to me to be a part of this family tradition for them.

Some things that set me apart is my individual illustration style and how genuinely interested I am in getting to know the people I am drawing. I would much rather be drawing someone live at an event than in my studio at home drawing. For example, by the end of a wedding reception, I know where each side of the family is from, who is a friend or relative of the bride and groom, and what each of them do for a living all while drawing a caricature of each of them to take home and laugh about. Putting smiles on faces is what I do, and it puts a smile on mine too!

How do you think about luck?
I love how Oprah Winfrey defines luck as “preparation meeting opportunity,” meaning that luck is not a matter of chance, but the result of being prepared when the opportunity arises. Of course, some things considered “luck” in my life are out of my control, such as being born into a loving family or meeting my wife one Friday night in downtown Denver after asking for her phone number, and her giving me the right one! However, in relation to art and business, I do feel that perseverance and believing in yourself goes a long way in creating what many think of as, “luck.” There is a lot of time spent behind the scenes on honing my craft/illustration style that gets to be displayed in full splendor at events for a few hours. Also, perspective plays a big role in how things turn out for all of us. For example, I was laid off from a full time corporate job that I was doing, which may seem like bad luck to many, but in fact, it was the catalyst to push me into pursuing my own business full time. This is a perfect example of Oprah’s definition of luck being “preparation meeting opportunity.”

Pricing:

• Custom quotes are available by simply e-mailing me the details of your event to jason@jasonsauer.com

Contact Info:

• Website: jasonsauer.com
• Instagram: @DenverCaricatures
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonsauer/
• Other: E-mail: jason@jasonsauer.com