Artist Statement:
I am a caricature artist. My studio work is done in pencil, using a photograph of the subject as my guide. My live-style caricature work is done in black marker, with no prior sketching. Using marker ensures my strokes are decisive and the drawing is completed quickly. What started out as practice sketching to prepare me for live-drawing events has resulted in hundreds of celebrity caricatures, a collection spanning over 15 years’ worth of work. One of my favorite things about drawing caricatures is seeing the reaction after a custom caricature is revealed, either at a live event or upon delivering a commission. I also love watching people light up when they recognize the celebrity in one of my practice drawings. Making people laugh is my greatest joy.
Biography:
Jenny Pearl, often going just by "Pearl", has been an artist ever since she could hold a pencil.
Pearl grew up in the small town of Luray, VA. In grade school, she would get in trouble for drawing in class—but some teachers saw it for what it was: imagination taking shape. Pearl created her own comic book characters, and her classmates couldn’t wait to see what kind of mischief they’d get into next. By high school, she was taking portrait requests, designing tattoos, and finishing art assignments early just so she could help others with theirs.
Pearl received her Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts at James Madison University, where she studied graphic design, photography, and figure drawing. During college, she landed a job in the marketing department at a local cable company. There, she learned to shoot and edit video, producing content for the local community channel. Eventually, Pearl stepped out on her own and built an art business focused on portrait photography and hand-drawn caricatures.
Pearl has always had a deep connection with faces—their expressions, their symmetry, their quirks. She was fortunate to study under a top caricature artist from MAD Magazine who taught her to treat drawing the face like a mound of clay: something to shape and mold, exaggerate and celebrate, while still keeping the essence of the person intact. She spent years learning how to see what makes someone unique—and how to bring that uniqueness to life.
That same creative energy fuels how Pearl shows up in the world. She loves experimenting with hair color, bold fashion, makeup, and especially cosplay. There’s something magical about transforming into a character—turning the whole body into a work of art.
Pearl currently resides in the Friendly City of Harrisonburg, VA. She works part time in a medical spa as a spa technician, providing hydrafacials, medical-based skin treatments, and educating clients about skincare. In her spare time, Pearl loves reading fantasy novels, watching movies and TV while cuddling with her tiny dog, and cruising in one of her two purple Mustangs. You can often catch her at live music shows and costume balls. On occasion you might find her at a festival or brewery with her easel, drawing live caricatures of her willing victims. Or perhaps you'll see her drawings on the walls of local businesses from time to time.