Smile A Mile Art · Live Caricature

Live event
caricature artists —
Vancouver & Toronto.

Salar drawing live caricatures for guests at a Vancouver weddingColour digital caricature of a smiling guestLive caricature drawn at a corporate event

High-impact live caricature entertainment for weddings, corporate events, trade shows, campus weeks, and private parties. Salar covers Greater Vancouver and the Lower Mainland; our Toronto roster covers the GTA — one booking, one contract, either city.

Serving Toronto/GTA & Vancouver/Burnaby/North Vancouver

Weddings $200/hrCorporate $175/hrPrivate parties $150/hr

If I'm already booked, I'll offer one of the few artists I trust to draw in my place.

Covering

Vancouver + Toronto

Travels to

Seattle · Calgary · Whistler

Live pace

~12–15 guests / hour

Live caricature drawn by JonCharacter design by AhmadColour hockey caricature of a young skater by PolinaCharacter design expressions sheet by AhmadLive caricature drawn at an outdoor eventTwo students holding a black and white caricature drawn live by JuanStudent smiling with her live caricature drawn by CathyLive caricature of a guest by JonColour caricature of a young girl with pigtails by JessicaFamily holding their live black and white caricature by CathyHappy guest with their live caricatureCharcoal group caricature of four friends by JuanGuest holding their finished caricatureLive caricature station at a corporate eventColour beach-themed caricature with a coconut drink by PolinaCampus event caricature line-upCouple caricature in a rowboat drawn live at an eventCaricature drawn live at a theme park

Clients I've drawn for

Holiday Parties

Book your holiday party caricatures — Vancouver & Toronto

Live caricatures are the entertainment guests actually take home. Ideal for office holiday parties, Yalda nights, New Year's Eve and family gatherings. December dates fill fast.

Check your December date

What our clients say

"Salar is such a talented and fun artist! His caricatures are creative, detailed, and really capture each person's personality."
Roshan H. · Verified GigSalad review · Hired as caricaturist
"Salar's engagement at our campus event was a highlight — drawing crowds and keeping the energy high from the first sketch to the last."
Student Life · George Brown College
"He is truly talented. His work is beyond the art. He makes people feel seen, heard and understood… I loved it."
Koosh · Verified GigSalad review · Hired as caricaturist
"Guests didn't just line up — they came back. The caricatures became the story of the night and lived on every social feed the next morning."
Events Committee · Toronto Metropolitan University
"Within minutes he captured my smile and quirky sense of humor with a few strokes of his pen. He is a wizard in this kind of art."
Marion W. · Verified GigSalad review · Hired as caricaturist
"Fast, funny, and unbelievably professional. Salar read the room, kept the line moving, and delivered artwork our team is still framing."
People & Culture Lead · Corporate Holiday Party, Vancouver
Swipe or drag to read more

5.0 out of 5 from 3 verified GigSalad reviews · Vancouver caricaturist, travels up to 120 miles

Google reviews

Rated by the people we drew

Our Google Business Profile feed, live on the site — and a one-tap button if you'd like to leave one.

Drawn by us at an event? A one-line Google review helps other hosts find us — it takes about twenty seconds.

The roster

Two cities. One standard.

Smile A Mile Art covers Vancouver and Toronto. Every artist on the roster is hand-picked, event-tested and booked through one contract — you deal with me, and the right artist shows up for your city.

3 artists available in Vancouver.

Salar Salahi, live caricature artist in Vancouver

Salar Salahi

Greater Vancouver & the Lower Mainland

Founder · Lead caricaturist

Fifteen-plus years at the easel and a day job in film VFX. Fast, funny, and calm under a long line — weddings, corporate galas, campus weeks and trade shows.

Colour & B/W liveDigital caricatureGroup drawingsBranded artwork
Ahmad, live caricature artist in Vancouver

Ahmad

Greater Vancouver & the Lower Mainland

Character designer · Caricaturist

A character designer with an animation-trained eye. Clean lines, warm colour and playful exaggeration that keeps the likeness, drawn live and digital, so guests get a print or a copy straight to their phone.

Digital caricatureProfile portraitsCharacter designPrints on site
Character design sketch by AhmadCharacter design illustration by AhmadLunar Roar character designs by AhmadCharacter design lineup by AhmadCharacter concept art by AhmadCharacter design artwork by Ahmad
Jon, live caricature artist in Vancouver

Jon

Greater Vancouver & the Lower Mainland

Caricaturist · Watercolour artist

A seasoned live caricaturist with a painter's touch. Quick, expressive likenesses in ink and watercolour, made for weddings, corporate parties and private celebrations.

Colour & B/W liveWatercolour caricatureGroup drawings
Expressive pencil caricature by JonLive event caricature by JonCaricature of a couple drawn live by JonLive caricature portrait by Jon

Packages & Pricing

Straightforward rates. No surprises.

Private Event

birthdays & private parties

$150/hour

2 hrs $300 · 3 hrs $450 · 4 hrs $600

First time booking? 15% off — mention it when you book.

Corporate & Campus Events

corporate & campus events

$175/hour

2 hrs $350 · 3 hrs $525 · 4 hrs $700

Weddings & Engagements

weddings & engagements

$200/hour

2 hrs $400 · 3 hrs $600 · 4 hrs $800

First time booking? 15% off — mention it when you book.

At-event per-person pricing

markets & walk-up

Black & white $15 · Colour $25

Add-ons: Lamination +$10, Frame +$25

Prices in CAD, plus applicable tax (HST 13% Ontario / GST 5% BC)

Need more than 4 hours or multiple artists? Request a quote.

Live from Instagram

Reels from real events

Sketches, crowds and behind-the-easel moments — straight from @salar.art.

Follow @salar.art

New · Digital Caricatures

Drawn live on tablet. Printed in minutes.

The same live energy, with a modern finish. I draw on a pressure-sensitive tablet, mirror the screen so the crowd can watch the drawing appear, and hand your guest a photo-quality print before they walk away.

  • A 4x6" print on photo paper, ready in minutes
  • High-resolution digital files sent to the host after the event
  • Optional live projection so onlookers can watch each drawing
  • Colour, black & white, or branded backgrounds for corporate events
Ask about digital caricatures
Group caricature of a studio team in red capesDigital caricature of a man in a cap on a yellow backgroundIllustrated dog in a chef uniformDigital caricature of two friends

Studio team group caricature

Event Logistics · FAQ

The details that make organizers exhale.

What I bring

Professional easel setup, archival paper, premium markers, and a tidy footprint that fits any venue — from ballroom to boardroom.

Time requirements

12–15 guests per hour on average, faster in group mode. Book 2–4 hours for most events; longer for large corporate parties.

Booking process

Send an inquiry, get a same-day quote, secure the date with a small deposit. Fully insured, invoice-friendly, and reliably on-time.

Policies · The fine print

Answers before you email.

Do you charge travel fees?

No travel fee anywhere in Greater Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Beyond that — Seattle, Calgary, Toronto, Whistler, the Island — travel is quoted upfront and included in your written quote before you commit. Nothing gets added after the event.

What if the event runs long?

Overtime is billed at the same hourly rate as your package, in 30-minute increments ($87.50 for corporate, $75 for private events, $100 for weddings). Just ask me on the night — if I don't have another booking, I'll usually say yes.

How much is the deposit?

A $150 booking fee holds your date and comes off the final invoice. Everything else is due on or before the event day. Corporate clients can be invoiced with standard net-30 terms.

What's your cancellation and refund policy?

Cancel more than 72 hours before the event and everything you've paid is refunded except the $150 booking fee. Inside 72 hours, corporate and private bookings are 60% refundable. Weddings are handled case by case — if flights, hotels or custom stationery are already paid for, those costs come out of the refund. Reschedule instead and your booking fee moves with you to any open date within 12 months.

What do you need at the venue?

Three chairs and a small table (one for me, two for guests), and roughly a 6x6 ft footprint. Power and a bit of light are appreciated but not required — I bring my own lighting if needed.

Where should you be set up?

Away from the subwoofer and main speakers, please. I talk with every guest while I draw, and that conversation is half the entertainment. A spot along a traffic path — near the bar, the entrance, or the lounge area — draws the best line.

Can you draw outdoors?

Yes, with shade or cover. Direct sun washes out the paper and wind and easels don't mix, so a tent, patio or covered area keeps things moving smoothly.

How fast do you draw?

About 12–15 guests per hour for individuals, faster in group mode. For a 100-guest event, plan on 3 hours if you want most people drawn.

Prices in CAD, plus tax. Anything unusual — multi-day festivals, outdoor markets, overnight travel — just ask and I'll put it in writing.

How I work

My ethics at the easel.

Human hands only

Every line is drawn by me, live, in front of you. No AI generation, no filters, no traced photos — the drawing exists because a person made it.

Flattering, never cruel

Caricature exaggerates character, not insecurity. I read the room and the guest, and I draw the version of them their friends recognise and love.

Your face, your permission

Photos and drawings only appear here or on social media when the guest says yes. Ask me to remove something and it's gone, no questions asked.

Paid art, fairly

Artists should be able to make a living making art. Transparent rates, honest timelines, and no unpaid "exposure" work.

Request a quote

Check your date and get a quote.

Tell me the date, the crowd, and the vibe. I'll come back within one business day with a quote, arrival plan, and a live-drawing rate that fits your run of show.

  • Corporate holiday parties, campus welcome weeks, weddings, trade shows.
  • Digital or paper delivery — guests keep a shareable, framed keepsake.
  • Fully insured, punctual, and used to green-room-to-stage logistics.

Leave empty for no preference and I'll match the best available artist.

By sending this you consent to me using your details to reply and manage your booking. See the privacy policy & consent.

Have a date in mind? Let's lock it in.

Serving Toronto/GTA & Vancouver/Burnaby/North Vancouver.