Romans 6:23

I never planned on becoming a caricature artist.

Before 2020, I spent my career in the entertainment industry. I traveled the country performing comedy and magic shows, averaging nearly 500 performances a year between shows, which I booked myself as well as many arranged through my agent. I loved entertaining people, but after many years on the road, I was also feeling burned out.

Then 2020 changed everything.

When COVID shut the country down, every show on my calendar disappeared almost overnight. Like so many others, I found myself wondering what came next.

So I prayed.

I told the Lord, "I don't really want to keep performing anymore. But if that's what You want me to do, I'll do it with all my heart. If You have something else for me, show me what it is, and I'll give that everything I have. And whatever it is, please let it be something that can't be shut down if the government ever locks everything down again."

A few days later, I felt impressed to draw cartoons.

It made absolutely no sense.

I had never been an artist. I had never even been interested in drawing.

Still, because I believed that's what God was leading me to do, I opened Google Images, found a few celebrity photos, and started drawing. The results weren't great, but they were recognizable enough that I thought, "Maybe this really is what I'm supposed to be doing."

My wife, daughter, and I loaded into our motorhome and drove to Wisconsin Dells. At the time, Wisconsin was one of the few places where I could still work outdoors during the pandemic. I sat on a street corner with a stack of copy paper and a small wooden sign that simply read, "Free Caricatures."

I drew people for free, and they tipped me.

We stayed there for about six weeks. By the time we left, those voluntary tips had totaled enough to let me know this is what I'm supposed to be doing.

That was the confirmation I needed.

I went home determined to become the best artist I could.

I began drawing celebrities—people like Carol Burnett, Richard Petty, Dan Aykroyd, Tim Allen, and Hank Williams Jr. I created two drawings of each person, mailed them along with a handwritten letter, and asked if they would autograph one and return it while keeping the other.

To my amazement, they did.

Those signed drawings became the foundation of my first website and portfolio.

Not long afterward, I contacted Silver Dollar City and explained that I was a caricature artist looking for an opportunity. The park didn't have a caricature shop at the time, so they gave me the opportunity to lease space and open one.

From there, I simply kept drawing.

I studied constantly, practiced every chance I had, and worked to improve my craft every single day.

Over the next several years, that little caricature business continued to grow. Today I operate two caricature shops inside the park with a team of talented artists.

While I still enjoy drawing in the park from time to time, you'll often find me out on the streets drawing caricatures, meeting people from all walks of life, praying with anyone who asks, and sharing the hope I've found in Jesus Christ.

Looking back, I never could have imagined this path. What began as an answered prayer during one of the most uncertain seasons of my life became not only a career, but a calling.

I'm grateful God knew the plan long before I did.