GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KOLN) – If you are looking for a memorable state fair souvenir, a fun idea could be getting a caricature of yourself drawn by Dirk Christensen.
We caught up with QuickDraw Caricatures artist Dirk Christenen at the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center to find out more about himself and his art work. “I’ve been doing this for about 34 years professionally,” Christensen said. “My real job over the years has been a broadcaster. I worked for 35 years in Kearney and another 7 in Lexington, and I was a program director in radio.” Christensen says he did caricatures as a side job during those years, but now he’s turned his passion for drawing people into a full-time endeavor.
“I drew first caricature, which was Richard Nixon, back in the Richard Nixon days,” Christensen said. “I was at a point when I needed money for my kids, I attended an art in the park event in Kearney and people said they would pay me for what I do. So, I said ‘I accept’. There’s evidence of me drawing in some of my mother’s books when I was three.” Christensen says teachers are important in encouraging people to try art. “They tell you you are doing a good job, and it inspires you to do more.”
QuickDraw Caricatures is located in the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center, and you’ll find Christensen doing his work just inside the north doors of the building. “All you have to do is sit down,” Christensen said. “If I need a smile from you or something, I will ask for it, but otherwise that’s it. Something new this year is we’ve added a camera so you can actually watch the board as your picture is being drawn.”
It takes about three minutes for Christensen to produce a black and white caricature. He will also do color pictures, which has a different price point than the black and white. Check out QuickDraw Caricatures on Facebook or quickdraw.fun online for more information.
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