Banan Khalil, also known as Cartoonista, is a live caricature artist, turning faces into stories. She transforms people and fleeting moments into art, capturing emotions, creating moments of joy and connection wherever she sets up her sketchbook. Through live caricature, Banan has found a way to bring art closer to people, turning everyday encounters into lasting memories.
At a young age, Banan used to draw and sketch. Still, she never imagined that art would become her career. In fact, she initially had no intention of studying fine arts at all; her first dream was to study mass communication.
That plan eventually shifted, and Banan found herself studying in the Faculty of Fine Arts. Looking back, she describes how much her perspective changed throughout her academic journey.
Early Beginnings: A Love for Drawing Without a Plan
“There was a huge difference between my first year at the Faculty of Fine Arts and my graduation year. I genuinely wanted to grow and improve. I studied in the Animation and Book Arts department, but we didn’t have a dedicated department for caricature art.” expresses Banan.
There was one professor who inspired her.
“There was a professor at our college, I think he was the only person I had seen drawing caricature art. He used to attend college events and draw people live, but I never imagined I’d end up working in caricature myself.”
Discovering Caricature: A Turning Point
Banan took a year to explore art more deeply and search for her own style. The real turning point came unexpectedly through social media.
“I was scrolling through Reels when I came across foreigners drawing live caricatures of people. The idea immediately caught my attention, it was fun, interactive, created in just minutes.” shares Banan.
“I realized that caricature art isn’t very common in Egypt, and that’s when I thought: why don’t I try this?”
The Learning Process
She began practicing alone in her room, then gradually pushed herself to draw people in real-life settings, starting with bazaars, which started to create her artistic journey.
“I was determined to learn well. I didn’t know where the road would take me, but I wanted to follow it and see where it led, and that’s what truly shaped my artistic journey.”
“My journey on social media started with drawing celebrities, then moved into digital painting, and eventually evolved into live caricature.”
Live Caricature as Personal Growth
Caricature art didn’t just shape Banan’s career; drawing people live helped her confront and overcome her social anxiety. Each interaction became a small step forward. Live drawing requires constant interaction, something that didn’t come naturally to her at first. Each interaction became a small step forward.
“When I get feedback from the people I draw, I see how this art affects their self-esteem and brings them happiness. Hearing that made it clear to me that this was the path I wanted to take.”
Capturing Personality Through a Smile
When it comes to drawing people, Banan has a signature focus: the smile. This approach allows her drawing to feel personal, warm, and emotionally connected.
“Once you smile, your whole face lights up. For me, that shows a person’s personality more than their physical features.”
What Caricature Gave Her in Return
Banan’s favorite part of being a caricaturist is that it’s more than a profession; it’s a personal transformation.
“It really changed me from the inside. It brought me closer to people. I can understand someone’s personality just by looking at their face.”
“I became better at what I do. I learned something difficult and different, and that made me more confident in myself. This art makes people happy—and that makes me happy.” shares Banan.
Banan Khalil on turning faces into stories. Through caricatures, she found a unique intersection between art, connection, and self-growth. Her work turns strangers into collaborators and brief encounters into cherished memories.