Melting in Birdland

It was so hot and sun-glary today drawing at Camden Yards that I only took these two photos. We're shaded by the famous brick warehouse at first (which is when I took this couple's photo) then it becomes time for serious suncreen and dark shades...

I made sure to pay special attention to the lady's hairstyle and color..she remarked on my self-caricature inside my easel ( which faces my sitters) that we had a common hair-color! I concurred! :-) The gentlemen showed me ESPN's logo on his phone so I could duplicate it, as the intended home for their caricature is their "ESPN-themed" room!

This blimp lazily circled the stadium all afternooon. Wonder if it was any cooler up there?

Backyard grad party

On Saturday afternoon, my destination was a belated high school graduation party for a lovely young lady who happens to share my first name:

Here she is with her sign-in caricature:

Her mom (an old friend of mine from elementary school days, whom I'd recently seen at my HS reunion) and brother got a caricature together:

This couple love their horses and cats---and she is another friend from long ago!

The couple below provided the best pulled pork I have had in forever! Both the meat and the sauce were scrumptious, and they kindly packaged a heap of it for me to take home...mmmmmm! Visit Big Mike's Barbecue for more information.



I made another video of reactions--this one has lots of squealing :-)

Wonderful wedding reception...

On Friday night, I had a blast at a very unique wedding reception. I knew the bride and groom were a fun-lovin' couple when all their guests were given kazoos at the beginning of the otherwise elegant reception at a country club :-)
(Not to mention caricatures as a wedding favor, too!)
Here are the lovely bride and groom:

My evening started with something unusual...golf cart valet service from the parking lot! There's my easel and stuff up there with the driver:

The bride and groom (who'd started out as high school sweethearts) were done in color, as is my usual custom:

Here are some of the younger guests: ( but then I got to draw a 99-year-old, later on!)

And here is an assortment of couples:

Once again, as I did at an earlier gig, I took photos of all the drawings. This time, it was so the bridal couple could have them for their wedding scrapbook. They'd even set a camera on a side table with a sign, specifically for that purpose, but I knew they only way they'd get everyone, or even a majority, would be if I took them before letting the sitters out of my chairs! :-0
The final count ended up being 58 people in 4 1/2 hours, which worked out to about 4.5 minutes per person. My location was just outside the ballroom, so I could chat easily with the guests, who came out in small groups for their caricature.
I had so much fun drawing at this reception that many of the guests were remarking that they could tell how much I enjoyed it! :-)

Thank you so much, Kathleen and Colin! I know you'll always smile when you think of your wedding memories!

Reaction video from last night's event

I drew at a fabulous, fun-filled wedding reception last night....and as yet I don't have time to do justice to a full post about it, as I am off to a graduation party today. But here's a little teaser---a reaction video from two guests who were perfect sitters for this caricaturist!

Another FaceBooker is using my live caricature :-)

...as their avatar!
I drew this at a grad party a few weeks ago. Her hair was done with a Copic Wide marker, as they fill in large dark masses very quickly:

Thanks, Deann---glad you like it!

Sparkly vampire boy and his GF: Part 2

One vampire--- HA HA HA HA HA---two vampires--HA HA HA HA HA...tw0 vampires and one wannabe vampire---HA HA HA HA!!

I was purposely trying not to over-render this digital final. It was fun finding an appropriate font (it's called BloodGutter!).
Below are some of the steps leading up to what you see above: ( but this time I didn't scan the airbrush drawing, and paint digitally atop it the way I did with Kate; this Twilight digital only has the scritchy undersketch in common with the airbrush version)

1. That's the original scribbled digital pen and ink.
2. I printed out one half of the sketch at a time, then taped them together and used my light box to transfer it to my 11 x 14 paper.
3. Since Edward is so pale, I cut out a paper mask so that I wouldn't get overspray on his face. Then I applied first few layers of airbrush.
4. That's the final airbrush version. I might put some spray glitter in his face...

My friend Celestia observed that the first sketch had some James Dean qualities to the likeness. I think my final has an Adam Ant influence!! ( and that's dating myself :-)
,

Graduation sign-in...

A young man's belated h.s. grad party was held yesterday, with a caricature of mine doing the honors...



It was held on a beautiful farm, complete with swimmin' hole! Congratulations, David!

Progress on my grandson's nursery painting...

After setting this project aside for awhile, (the baby isn't even using his crib yet) I was inspired to get more done on it this week:

Mainly, I worked on the upper third of the canvas, using both brushes and my airbrush. I had gotten stuck on what to do for the sky and distance up to it, but I think I know where I'm heading now. The mountains at the moment are too central, I'll probably add more on either side. Next I will add more animals...gotta get it done before the nursery is occupied!
Here's a link to the previous stages.

John Cleese-digital pen and ink

Here's this week's entry for Caricaturama Showdown 3000.


Took about an hour and a half in Photoshop. Although he's not a currently 'hot' celebrity, he'll make a nice portfolio piece for a long-time Python fan (me!).

Sparkly vampire boy and his GF

I'm on a mission to caricature some current hot celebrities,to use as both airbrush samples and digital portfolio pieces. Here is the dreamy (if you're a teenage girl) duo from Twilight....this is the very preliminary rough sketch.

And here's a link to MY favorite vampire....