Why Are Caricatures So Ugly? The Truth About Ugly Caricatures (And Why Mine Aren’t)
- Kathy Buskett
- Jun 6, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 24
What Are “Ugly Caricatures” and Why Do They Exist?
If you’ve ever wondered, “Why are caricatures so ugly?” — you’re not alone.
It’s one of the most common concerns I hear at events. People sit down and immediately say, “Don’t make me ugly.”
The truth is, not all caricatures look that way.
If you watch TikTok or YouTube, you might think there’s only one type of caricature:
the extreme exaggeration. You know the kind. The really over-the-top drawings — the ugly caricatures that make you wonder why anyone would want one.
But in reality, there are several different styles of caricature.
The extreme exaggeration (sometimes called “ugly caricatures” or mean caricatures)
Cartoon caricatures (think The Simpsons or Beavis and Butthead)
Portrait-style caricatures (like the famous drawings at Sardi’s restaurant in New York)
A cartoon caricature. Bet you didn't know Beavis and Butthead were based on real people!
While what some might call "ugly caricatures' have been around since the dawn of time, they really weren't a serious trend until relatively recently.
The modern trend toward extreme exaggeration became popular about 20 years ago when a group of artists from San Diego began experimenting with pushing exaggeration further and further. They called themselves the “Beastheads.”
Their work was intentionally extreme. Noses stretched across the page, faces twisted far beyond realism. It was meant to be edgy and avant-garde — more like experimental art than traditional caricature.
And online, the style spread quickly.
Social media made it even more popular. Videos showing people reacting to these ugly caricatures began appearing on TikTok and YouTube, where the surprise factor made the reactions fun to watch.
But here’s the interesting part.
While many people enjoy watching those extreme reactions online, far fewer people actually want one of those drawings themselves.
I’m a caricature artist, and I hear this all the time at events.
People sit down and immediately say something like:
“Don’t make me ugly!”
Or
“Please don’t do me dirty.”
Especially with older or shy guests, I often have to reassure them that I draw flattering caricatures, not ugly caricatures.
That’s because most people don’t actually want “ugly caricatures.”They want something fun, flattering, and recognizable.
It wasn't always this way.
In fact, most of the history of caricature focused on something very different:
balancing exaggeration with likeness.
Not many people know this, but caricature actually has a very long history.
Leonardo da Vinci drew caricatures. And HE was influenced by the ancient Romans, who also drew caricatures - and we actually still have some of them.
The story is that Nero built the Domus Aurea, or golden palace, which was so over-the-top opulent that after his death, the Romans had it buried.
The Renaissance Italians happened onto Nero's palace and soon, artists were copying the style of the drawings they saw there. They didn't call them caricatures - not yet. They called them "grotesques" because they thought the palace was a cave (because it was buried), and the word for cave in Italian is Grotto. And that's where we get the word "grotesque". It literally means "from the cave."
Artists like Raphael, Leonardo DaVinci, and Michelangelo were all influenced by these "grotesques," and they even helped to launch the Renaissance!
Bet they didn't teach you THAT in grade school.
More recently, many artists have embraced cartoon and portrait-style caricatures—approaches that most people genuinely enjoy and connect with.
There's Norman Rockwell, who carefully composed his paintings with real people, photographed them, and then created caricatured paintings for the Saturday Evening Post and other magazines for much of the 20th Century.
Then there's Al Hirschfeld, who is regarded as the best caricaturist in the world
(just ask Google). His caricatures were mostly line drawings and were the perfect blend of exaggeration and likeness. Celebrities were often not considered to have "made it" until they were caricatured by Hirschfeld. He drew caricatures for the New York Times for over half of the 20th century, and he was a household name during his lifetime. But his caricatures were definitely not ugly and in fact many of them are borderline "cute."
And we can't forget to mention the caricatures at Sardis, the famous restaurant that houses a huge collection of caricatures on its walls. The caricatures at Sardis are much more cartoon-like and portrait-like. Yet these are the style of drawings that the most famous NYC restaurant that sports caricatures on its walls chooses to use.
Why?
Because PEOPLE LIKE THEM.
That’s the key difference.
Most people don’t actually want ugly caricatures of themselves. They want something fun, recognizable, and maybe a little exaggerated — but still flattering.
That said, you can definitely still find caricaturists that aren't mean and don't do ugly caricatures.
In fact, you just found one.
Hi my name is Kathy Buskett, and I've been a professional caricature artist for the past 27 years. During that time, I have been chosen to work for companies such as Samsung, Coca-Cola, CAT, Yelp, Zappos, Hyundai, and even Cirque du Soleil.
Why did they choose my drawing style? Because they're NOT ugly and/or mean.
The reason many clients choose my work is simple.
I don't draw Ugly Caricatures.
Instead, I draw what I call “cuticatures” — a blend of cartoon caricatures and flattering caricature. The drawings are playful and exaggerated, but they still capture the person in a way that makes people smile when they see themselves.
And that matters at events.
When guests enjoy their drawings, they laugh, show them to their friends, and often keep them for years. Cartoon caricatures are meant to be fun, expressive, and recognizable — not something that makes someone cringe.
That’s a very different experience from getting one of those ugly caricatures that people might not even want to take home.
Will the extreme exaggeration trend continue?
Maybe.
Art styles come and go.
But there will always be artists who believe caricature should make people smile rather than feel uncomfortable.
Personally, I prefer making people happy.
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FAQ
Do caricature artists ALWAYS make people look ugly?
No—this depends entirely on the artist’s style. Some artists focus on extreme exaggeration, while others (like me) focus on flattering caricatures that still look like you.
Are caricatures supposed to be mean?
No. While some styles exaggerate features heavily, most professional caricature artists aim to create drawings that are fun and flattering rather than mean-spirited.
Have you ever wanted to have your caricature drawn but were afraid of what they might do to you? With my caricatures, you don’t have to be afraid.
I don’t draw ugly caricatures - unless you ask for it! (Maybe one person in 100 asks)
—I draw flattering ones people actually want to keep.
My style leans toward cartoon caricatures that are fun, flattering, and full of personality, so guests walk away feeling good about their portrait.
I’m based on the Gulf Coast of the United States and draw at weddings, corporate events, and parties, and I travel frequently for events.
If you’ve ever wanted a caricature but were afraid of looking bad, you don’t have to be.
My style is fast, flattering, and designed to make people smile—not cringe.
If you're planning a wedding or event and want something your guests will actually love, click below to check availability.
If you're interested in hiring a wedding caricature artist Click Here
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