Longtime caricature artist draws on his own goodwill

For part-time caricature artist Frank Uratani, seeing the best in other people is as much a matter of pragmatism as positive attitude.

“It’s not a safe profession,” Uratani says, laughing. “I try not to offend people — especially women: It’s a matter of survival.”

Not that Uratani has had any complaints. For more than three decades, the 62-year-old state Department of Transportation employee has moonlighted as a caricaturist for local parties and events, using pen and ink to turn people’s most definitive features into playful illustrations that capture their unique look and spirit.

The youngest of five children, Uratani grew up in Mayor Wright Homes and Kuhio Park Terrace.

As a child, Uratani once saw a caricaturist plying his trade on the sidewalks of Waikiki and, fascinated, thought, “Maybe I can do this.”

A fan of Mad Magazine and its satirical send-ups of popular films and other pop culture, Uratani spent his adolescence in thrall to the outre illustrations of legendary caricaturist Mort Drucker.

In high school Uratani came under the tutelage of art teacher Michio Koba- yashi, who urged him to pursue art in college.

Instead, Uratani’s pursued a largely self-directed education in drawing, signing up for correspondence lessons with the Art Instruction School (of “Draw Tippy” fame) and developing his own style through countless hours of practice.

“I don’t think art is something you can teach,” he says. “A teacher can get a student enthused, but as a student you have to have the desire to pursue it yourself.”

After graduating from Farrington High School, Uratani got a full-time job at the old Government Employees Mutual discount store, where he made the most of opportunities to apply his artistic talents by illustrating newspaper advertisements, banners and lobby signs.

After seven years at GEM, Uratani took a job at Menehune Sign Shop, where he put his skills to commercial art projects, including company mascots and caricatures. That same year, after a seven-month courtship that started with an introduction from his sister-in-law, Uratani married the former Vida Tolentino. The couple have one daughter, Lyn.

Urutani would work at two other sign shops before taking a job at DOT assembling and repairing freeway signs.

But Uratani has never strayed far from his love of caricature. He started doing caricatures at events in the 1980s and has continued ever since.

Uratani enjoys steady business, but his career in caricature has never been about money.

“I do it because I enjoy it,” he says. “If people go away feeling good about themselves, then I’ve done my job.”

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@staradvertiser.com.