GRANVILLE, Ohio — Not a day goes by that freelance artist Carlo LoRaso isn't creating new characters with pencil and paper or digitally on his tablet.
- Caricature art has been around for centuries, and it’s still popular today
- One central Ohio museum is featuring the works of three prominent caricature artists in a new exhibition
- Carlo LoRaso has partnered with Disney and Hasbro for decades as an illustrator
He's worked in Toronto and Los Angeles, where he met his wife Janice, and for the last 20 years, within the comfort of his home studio in Granville.
LoRaso says the ability to draw always came natural to him.
“I loved cartoons, and I just picked up pencils and stuff and started to draw. It was basically my outlet, it became, it was my way to express myself,” said LoRaso.
The seasoned artist's ability to sketch, illustrate and color like few others in the country, has led to a longtime partnership with clients Disney and Hasbro, just to name a few.
“I love the back and forth. I love the sort of thought process that I can apply into it to make it, to make a toy interesting, within its design, how it ultimately looks and how it ultimately functions,” said LoRaso.
These days LoRaso is also doing a lot of caricature art.
His subjects are musicians he has seen and been inspired by throughout the years.
Many of his favorite creations are on display at The Works in Newark, in an exhibition titled “Art of the Caricature.”
LoRaso shares the spotlight with sculptor John Quinn and former Dayton native Thomas Fluharty.
It's a rewarding experience for the artists and for people who love art.
“Just to sort of engage and talk about the awesomeness of art and how amazing it is, to me, that's the goal. We actually feel small most of the time because you have amazing artists who have existed in the history of the world,” said Fluharty.
LoRaso says it’s always thrilling to have his work on display, especially close to home.
He hopes to inspire other young artists and encourages them to think outside the box, because with art, the possibilities are endless.
“I mean, you can design toys, you can be an illustrator for medical equipment, you can illustrate and design cars, you can be an industrial designer. There's a gambit of things people don't think about or don't have the opportunity presented to them. It's really something special. I'm just tickled to have my stuff there,” said LoRaso.
“Art of the Caricature” runs through the end of March at The Works in Newark, which is located at 55 South 1st Street.