A picture-pretty snowfall didn't stop this party!

Last weekend, a 6" snowfall decided to fall in the area where I was booked to do a family birthday party, right before and DURING the scheduled time I'd be drawing...my client had told me it was going to happen, no matter the weather. :-) So, happily, I didn't lose a gig due to Mother Nature! 

My wonderful Other Half offered to drive me, since I'm not fond of driving on slippery, snowy, slick surfaces. We arrived after using my iPhone, perched in its cradle on my dashboard, to navigate to  the client's as-yet-unplowed street.  My Other Half then helped me in with my gig suitcase, after which he happily went off to the nearby Home Depot....WITH MY PHONE STILL IN THE CAR. My routine had been altered by being chauffeured! 

Of course, I knew where it was, and I knew I could use their home phone to call him when I was done..so, where's the problem?

No phone, no camera!

(And it showed me how dependent I am on the darn thing.) 

 All was not lost, I DID have my iPad with me...but it is really not suitable for photo-taking at gigs, and truthfully, many places. It's so big and clunky, and even kind of intrusive. So I only took these three photos. Waaah. 

Thank you for having me. And let's hear it for February birthdays!!

30th birthday airbrush commission---Super Ronald!

It's been a Super-Hero surge for gift caricatures lately! I recently did this airbrush commission for a young lady who wanted a great 30th-birthday gift for her boyfriend: 

From pencil sketch to ink to airbrushed final:

Here's what my client had to say:

He absolutely loved loved loved his picture. As soon as he got home he hung it up in his man cave....lol
Thank you so much!

Yeah, I love my job! 

Caricatures at a Happy 60th Birthday Party

One thing that's great about caricaturing is that it's such a hoot for ANY AGE birthday celebration. This one was an especially epicurean 60th...a beloved chef with his big glass of red wine (which is definitely more robust to draw than white wine!)

The home had its own pizza oven and the aromas were marvelous!

This was the prosciutto slicer on hand!

My spot was in front of a nice warm fire, which was very comforting 

since the temperature outside was brutally cold. 

The guests sat happily and chatted with me while I drew them, to the strains of opera coming from the stereo...here are a few:

Thank you for having me and happy birthday, Oreste!!!

Happy Valentine's Day 2015!

Last weekend I drew at a sweet little Valentine's Day party for a whole bunch of first and third graders. :-) I'm glad it was last weekend because on actual Valentine's Day this year, the weather is going to be terribly windy and frigid. I'll be snug in my studio drawing while wearing my fingerless gloves, drinking hot chocolate and enjoying my Other Half's company!

Thanks for having me!!! Stay as sweet as you are! :-)

"Baby, it's cold outside!"

One of the really fun-to-do digital caricature commissions I've had recently was this one: for a baby shower invitation!

Anytime I get to draw a high-kicking expectant mom wearing leopard print, I'm happy!

The artwork was my creation and the client did the wording (cute font!) and then used Vistaprint to have the invitations made. 

This was my feedback ( I'm blushing...) 

I can't stop staring at my drawing you made me!!! My baby invites are so cute thanks to you!!! Thank you again!!! :) You are crazy talented!

Thank YOU!!! And stay warm, we're heading into some bone-chilling cold here in this neck of the woods. 

Who's thinking about baseball in January?

Baltimore Orioles fans, that's who. 

Saturday dawned bitttt-ttt--ttt-terly cold as I got in my car to head south...

...to be ready at the convention center bright and early, for the SIXTEEN THOUSAND FOLKS who attended Orioles Fanfest 2015.

 Had time for a few photos before the doors opened...here's Rick's A-Team this year:

Let the face-catching commence!

A rare BW one:

L: Fatherand son. R: Grandfather and grandson!!

Caricatures are not just for kids!

This is the obligatory returning-from-the-lav photo, towards the end of the day when the crowds had thinned out:

Thanks, Rick!