Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Astengo
Hi Andrew, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi!
I am a native San Diegan and I grew up in Pacific Beach, a little beach town in San Diego, California. I have always been interested in drawing and painting and as a child I used to draw on anything I could find. I decided to pursue a career in the arts and actually got introduced to caricatures through a workshop at my college. My first job drawing caricatures was in Sea World San Diego. I drew there for a few years and was lucky to be around a group of artists who all traveled there from around the country and unlike many of the other artists working there who were more interested in other disciplines, this small group of artists were only interested in drawing caricatures. I believe being around them and their enthusiasm for caricatures really helped me to appreciate the artform and I was hooked from that point forward. From that point I left the theme park and actually started working on feature films as a VFX artist and on the weekends I drew caricatures as a contractor for many companies in Southern California. In 2015 I really wanted to leave my job and draw caricatures full time and it actually took me 2.5 years to make the jump from part time to full time and I wished I had done it sooner. Ever since making that move I have been able to draw all over the Southwestern United States in many different types of venues including county fairs, marketplaces, hotels and family farms not to mention many local private parties and events. The best part of all of this is connecting with people through art and humor and creating memories for people and hopefully some cool art.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think that once I focused on what I was passionate about, the road to success has become much easier overall. I, like many other artists struggled to make a living in the arts when I first started and looked for a studio job or position because of the stability that comes with working for a larger company on long projects or shows. Although I feel like I learned a lot from working for larger companies there were many challenges and decisions that these companies made that negatively impacted my life and drove me to want to work on my own. Not to mention that we all went through a global pandemic and I worked through the 2010 recession which was very challenging as well. One of the coolest things about caricatures is that all you need is a willing subject and a couple chairs and your drawing supplies to get the job done. When these companies cut my hours or would not try to negotiate new contracts, I would go out and busk or set up and draw in front of a store front to help them bring in more business. As an independent artist I am in charge of marketing and running my business so in essence, whatever I put into it is what I am going to get out of it or more. Also I love what I do so it isn’t hard to show up every day and perform my job. Every day drawing is a good day!!
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 am a professional artist and I have a company that provides live entertainment for private parties, fairs, marketplaces and other types of events. We specialize in caricatures but I also work with many other types of performers such as balloon twisters, magicians, and face painters . I think what sets my business apart from similar businesses is our focus on customer service and quality as well as professionalism. I work with other professionals that I respect and I know will provide top notch service and give my customers the best experience possible.
I also do a fair amount of freelance and commission work at my home studio which is where I really get to flex my artistic muscles and take my time on more elaborate pieces of art. I think in the caricature world I am known for clean, professional artwork with a cartoon style that appeals to many different audiences. I also do a fair amount of surrealistic pop-portraiture in my free time which keeps my skills sharpened in my downtime.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I think there has been a fair amount of good luck or fortune that has helped me along throughout my career but I don’t like to think of it as luck but more of God working in my life. , The caricature workshop that I attended, which led to me being hired at Sea World , was actually not on my to do list that day and I was only there because I needed to use the computer lab, however that workshop led me to learning caricatures which has become the one job in my life that I have loved the most. I am also grateful for all of the artists and friends I have met along the way that have shown me the business and given me opportunities to draw in different environments, as well as tips and tricks that I still use to this day. One of the first companies I contracted for was through a friend that I had known for years who owned a party planning business and I had no idea. He saw a drawing on the floor of my car after we went surfing and gave me my first gig the following weekend. I am also lucky and grateful to have my beautiful wife, Claudia who has always pushed me to pursue my passions whether it be drawing people live, making music or painting in my studio and has stuck it out with me through good and hard times. We will be celebrating 25 years together in December this year. I am also grateful to have three beautiful children, Angelica, Sophia and Gavin who have literally been the inspiration I have needed to keep going on with my art. My daughter Angelica has also started working with me at live events. Not to mention my parents who have always supported my passion for art and have put me through plenty of art classes and paid for many art supplies and stoked that flame in my early life. On the flip side of that coin there has been a fair amount of bumps in the road that have helped me to make the jump to becoming an independent artist. There have been layoffs in my career, missed promotions, and even life events that have made me focus on my business. All in all these challenges have made me grow as an artist and person and have changed my life for the better because I get to sit with people and learn more about them and draw them and share a few laughs and I couldn’t have planned a better life and for that I am truly grateful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://drawingsbydrew.com
- Instagram: @caricaturesbydrew
