Back to Birdland...with a difference

I'm an occasional addition to the roster of caricaturists at Camden Yards...and since my easel has travelled to so many different new venues this summer, I haven't set foot there for months. This past Sunday, I found out that the Orioles are actually in playoff contention and are having their first winning season (winning more games than they've lost) since 1997!!!
So, it was a sellout crowd---composed of half O's fans..and half YANKEE fans...and this couple were one of each!

Here's a few more people who sat for my caricatures while enjoying the game----on a day where the early fall weather was absolutely perfect...

Below: There's the head honcho, Rick, hard at work during the pre-game festivities. The line towards the back is made up of folks waiting to get BBQ sandwiches at Boog's....

Saw some interesting sights, as usual...newlyweds!  (His t-shirt had a tux printed on it, but they got past me before I could snap a frontal photo)

This elderly lady in a wheelchair had just as much spirit as the bare-chested painted-up guys whom one sees at every game...

My colleague Jerry was asked to write this phrase on a caricature...and I thought it looked so funny in his signature calligraphy that I just had to take a photo:

After the game ended, the convention going on across the street, the Baltimore Comic Con, ended as well. So Rick and I strolled over to see our friend Lar DeSouza---caricaturist and now online comic genius who was fronting the Blind Ferret Entertainment booth. And just all-around sweet guy. AND GOOD HUGGER!

My Friday night guilty pleasure...

...not really! There's no guilt involved, just pleasure. My friend Lar de Souza has been broadcasting on Ustream, on Friday nights, for quite some time now. If I'm home, I like to watch and listen as he invites all his internet friends into his suburban Toronto studio-- for a peek at his working methods...and his cats, his hats, and whatever else strikes his fancy.

As Lar draws, I usually have Photoshop open too, so I can try out things as he does them. This particular evening, I've been sketching Danny Trejo for an online caricature competition on Facebook. I could not resist doing a screen shot as dear Lar donned his 'Tim the Enchanter' hat...
By the way, Lar's bodacious beard has its own FB page too. :-)

Lar DeSouza--"Lartist" extraordinaire

This man is an inspiration in so many ways! His name is Lar DeSouza, and the photo above was taken at one of the many caricaturist conventions we've both attended (this particular one was the Midwest Caricature Convention, Bowling Green, Ohio, early 2007---so it's from my pre-blog life). He drew me in the style of "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and it's one of my favorite drawings I've ever gotten. The drawing of him was one of my efforts at the big NCN convention later that year.

Lar is known for being warm, friendly and helpful; creative, hilarious and a snappy dresser; a big sci-fi fan and one of most versatile artists I've ever known. He is currently the artist behind two popular webcomics: Least I Could Do and Looking for Group. Both have huge online followings. Last Friday night, he made himself and his drawing skills accessible to the whole Internet by broadcasting live from his studio on a site called Ustream! What made it even more amazing was that he responded to comments and questions posed to him by dozens of people in a chatroom that ran alongside his live screenshot. Although it slowed down his working process alot, it was fun and enlightening to watch(and listen)to how he approached doing a comic.

Speaking of comics, I have to say that his accomplishments in that realm were a definite inspiration to Celestia and I with our Girl Caricaturists in Texas comic that was just published in our trade magazine. Here's what Lar had to say about it:
Hey ladeez!
I just got my EF today and had to write to tell you how much I enjoyed your comic adventure! :)) I hope this means I can look forward to future installments of the Girl Caricaturists. The look on Em's face as she was drawing the two rival Texans is priceless! But I think my fave is those carnies hitting on you two :)) Yew gots all yer teeth? What a pick up line!
Is it true what happens at the State Fair stays at the State Fair? Should John and Rob be worried? Hee hee hee
Congrats on a comic very very well done! :)
Much love,
Lar ;)

Finally, if you've noticed the Twitter widget I have just added to this blog, it's how you can find out when the next online-Lartist-session will be, or on the LICD homepage. I also decided to try Twitter for myself because the marketing universe is exploding on the Internet. Thanks, Lar, for everything and also to Paul McCall for spreading the word!