Digital Caricatures at Microsoft Store West Edmonton Mall

My immense, intense learning curve day! It was my first time drawing caricatures on a tablet ... ever! Not in the comfort of my own home to practice up but in the Microsoft store at West Edmonton Mall. Hired to do caricatures, preferably on their Surface Pro. So, I dove right in and figured stuff out along the way. Drawing on Black Friday added to the crowd that's for sure. They had me set up at the back of the store with my sign at the front. By the time I was done I was feeling a bit more confident. I think I did OK.

 I will be back at the Microsoft in WEM store again:

Sunday, December 1, 3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Monday, December2, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday, December 5, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
and one more date to be announced.

The Staff at the Microsoft Store were great. They helped me set up and had me email people their caricatures. A nice touch so that they didn't have an extra thing to carry around the mall with them. It was different for me to email rather than hand over a drawing ... a day full of new experiences and perhaps new beginnings for me!

aricature on Surface Pro Tablet at Microsoft Store WEM Edmonton

 Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Newwest Travel 2013 Christmas Window Painting

Dennis from Newwest Travel reminded me that this is my 5th year in at his office to paint windows at his travel agency. My how time flies! Each year I try and come up with a slightly different slant on Christmas and travel. And each year I think, “What am I gonna do this time?! Eeek! And somehow I manage. Here are a few of the windows I did.

reindeer window painting in Edmonton

Santa is ready for a vaction

Newwest Travel in Edmonton

 Window Painting by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Christmas window painting at Cameron & Hankinson Accountants

I so enjoyed painting windows today at Cameron & Hankinson Professional Corporation for the third year. These images really make me smile. I think these may be my favourite images I’ve done this holiday season so far. They warm my heart. I kinda think that they are crazy cute! May they bring a smile to the staff at Cameron & Hankinson as well as to their clients who will be coming in with their year end paper work!

I was happy with this Santa window painting

this little girl is so cute!

 Window Painting by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Haps Hungry House Christmas Window painting

While Mary decorated Hap’s Hungry House for the Christmas season, I painted their windows. I had fun with snowballs with this one. Visit Hap’s, on Stony Plain Road to see the whole collection of Christmas icons on snowballs!

Edmonton Christmas Window painting at Haps Hungry House

 Hap's is a great place for All Day Breakfast

 Window Painting by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

There are some caricatures that make me go, "Oh my!"

I drew at The City of Edmonton Muttart Conservatory  for their Pass Holder Appreciation Night. Sitting in amongst dozens and dozens of poinsettias, I drew people of all ages. 

One little girl about 4 years old said to me, “I don’t want to be drawn together (she didn’t want to be drawn with her friend), I just want to be drawn beautiful.” 

 “I sure can!” I said.

At one point in the evening I was really impressed, I’d noticed that several people who were waiting to get their caricature done where having a great conversation. Then I realized that these people had only just met in line. The friendliest lineup I’ve ever had!

Woman with here caricature - I love this one

Now to talk about this photo … there are some caricatures that make ME go “Oh my!” This was one of them. When you feel you captured the glint in their eyes, their sparkle. And I don’t mean the light in their eyes, I mean the sparkle of who they are. Her mom thought so too. I’m very proud of this caricature. 

 Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Caricatures at a 1st Birthday Party

Friends and family gathered for a First Birthday Party and 

I was lucky enough to be invited to draw the kids.

Here is my first drawing of the day of just the sweetest little boy. It’s days like this that remind me of how lucky I am to have the job I do. This little guy sat for me so nicely while we chatted. He stayed to watch me draw other kids and even helped me when I drew a couple caricatures from photos and had a question for the parent, he gladly went to ask them the question for me. I bet his teacher thinks he’s a treasure!

my first drawing of the day of just the sweetest little boy

 Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Window Painting at Westworld Computers for the 2013 Christmas season

I was back at Westworld Computers Edmonton again to paint their windows for Christmas. I think this might be my 5th or 6th year Window painting for them! Each time I try and put a slightly different twist on the design. I’d like to think that I don’t paint the exact same thing - at least I try not to!

While I was painting today one of the sales managers joked that after I leave he was going to sign his name to all of the windows and take all the credit. And he dared me to make “a bad Santa”. Oh I can’t do a bad Santa, that’s just not me … and Santa is too awesome.

I was happy with them. I think this little Elf, his smile looks a bit like a cheshire cat!

Christmas Elf 

The Santa brings a smile to my face. Santa usually does! I love the rollie pollie the snowman is. I generally have a bit of a hard time drawing reindeer but I like the big, quirky smile on this reindeer.

Go in and see the friendly staff at Westworld.

Santa

Edmonton Westworld Christmas window painting

Westworld Computers Snowman with iPad for Christmas

Edmonton Westworld Christmas window art

Edmonton Westworld Computer Mrs Claus with MacBook Air for her Christmas gift

 Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Caricatures for INTUIT's Family Christmas Party 2013

It was nice to be back drawing caricatures for INTUIT again this year for their annual Family Christmas Party. 

Boys at Christmas party hold their caricature

Oh I had such fun! Take a look at some of my favourites … These three little boys were adorable! They sad so nicely for me, polite and look how cute they are! This couple was so great to draw. I drew the man first and was laughing so much myself because I was tickled pink at how I’d captured his great smile. 

Smile! a couple hold their caricature

After the event was over, another caricaturist and I were chatting about how there’s nothing like the feeling when you feel like you really captured somebody! That’s how I felt with theirs.

 Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Christmas Window Painting Galore at Western GMC

Two days of painting the majority of the windows at Edmonton's Western Buick GMC! Along with the decorations that staff had already put up, the place is now really festive. It matches the amount of snow we now have!

It was an interesting day today because I had to really control myself and focus on painting. I’ve got a tight Christmas window painting schedule so I had to paint when I really wanted to just go play Fangirl and watch SiriusXM have a live broadcast “Hockey Night in Canada”. I got a quick look at Craig Simpson, Dave Lumley, and Jason Strudwick there. At least I got to hear the broadcast as I was painting. It was kinda cool! Too bad it was in the middle of the day so it was hard for people working to get to stop by. I mentioned to my daughter who was there and she said, “Cool! Good thing you dressed up today.” … as I stood there in my paint clothes.

It’s always nice to be asked back to paint at Western GMC.

Christmas Window Painting at Edmonton Western GMC

Santa Window Painting

 Window Painting by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Caricatures at a Surprise 40th Birthday Party

I recently had the pleasure of drawing caricatures at a Surprise 40th Birthday party that was being hosted in someone’s home.

It’s fun to see the surprise on people’s faces when they find out that they get to have a caricature done!

You don’t go to a house party thinking you’re going to go home with a caricature!


Here is one of my favourites from the evening. As always... I wish I’d taken more photos that night.

 Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Caricatures at Hudson Bay, Southgate Centre for their Gala Event

I went from one caricature event to anther today. My second event was drawing at The Bay, Southgate. I think this was my third or fourth time being asked back to The Bay to draw. It was great to see lots of familiar and friendly faces - the staff. But actually there were a few people who stopped by to say hello: a couple who I’d done big, stand up caricatures for their wedding reception, as well as a chef from the Edmonton Hotel and Convention Center who I’d drawn at one of their events. It truly was nice to see them, that they took the time to stop and say hello.

Some memorable moments from my day of drawing: 

The lady in the sari in one of these photos is just visiting from India and was looking forward to bringing her caricature home with her. I think it’s kinda cool that my caricatures will be in India!

Another lady said, “I can’t believe the lady who was being drawn before me didn’t talk, I can’t stop talking!” (speaking of herself). Too funny! I think she enjoyed herself.

Yet another lady said, “This is something, it’s like you’re looking into me.” She meant it as a compliment. I was pleased that people see the effort I put into trying to capture them.

Another person said that getting a caricature was something on their bucket list. Glad I could help check one item off it!

Putting them on Facebook, framing them, bringing them home to India. No wonder I love this job!

 

Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Caricatures at a Children's Company Christmas Party

I drew some pretty awesome kids today at a company Christmas party at Egge’s Barn at Fort Edmonton. Here are just a few. This was my first Christmas party of the 2013 season. It’s gonna be quite the ride till I get to Christmas. Look for lots of examples of my work throughout the season on my blog.

Oh, and on a different note, I was walking to my vehicle and couldn’t get over how beautiful it was outside. The recent snow has made the scenery absolutely gorgeous down at Fort Edmonton and along the river valley. Ya, we have to deal with the snowy roads but on a bright, sunny day … it’s a post card out there folks!

young man with his caricature

Caricature at corporate Christmas party

young woman with her caricature

Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Caricatures at Hudson Bay Southgate

Caricatures at Hudson Bay Southgate Centre Edmonton I will be drawing caricatures for the Hudson's Bay Cosmetic Department. Why not pick up your holiday supply and then get your caricature drawn. stop by and say Hi if you're in the neighbourhood it's a public event

Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Caricatures at Hudson's Bay Edmonton Event

Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Window Painting

Window Painting at the Westin Hotel for Canadian Finals Rodeo

I guess it is window painting season!  I was at the Westin hotel for CFR40 how exciting that it is the 40th anniversary of the Canadians Final Rodeo.  There were a lot of activities around town and everyone seemed to be having fun too.

Window Painting for CFR40 at Westin Hotel Edmonton

First Christmas Window Painting of the 2013 Season

I was in at the Edmonton Hotel and Convention Centre to paint windows to finish off their Christmas 

decorating. They have a long line of windows visible from their entrance all the way down a hallway that leads to elevators to rooms as well as to their dining room. For this reason, the fact that so many guests  see the windows from the inside, my style of window painting is good. Good in that I try and make it as tidy and attractive to look at on the inside as it is from the outside. This is also the first time that I’d  painted words that are readable from the inside and out. I think doing them in different colours made it work out well. I’m very proud of all the windows and hope they make many of their guests smile.

Reindeer

my First Santa for 2013

Love

Santa's Helper Elf

the Halls at 

Edmonton Hotel and Convention Centre

Edmonton Hotel and Convention Centre doors

Window Painting Artist Laurel Hawkswell

More Coloured Group Caricatures!

I delivered another group of coloured caricatures to happy recipients! I enjoyed drawing and colouring these. Some of the caricatures were live - in other words, I went to their company and drew half the employees and then the others who weren't available that day had photos emailed to me. A little twist, or addition to my usual background … I added a few swooshes of green to the blue background and I think it turned out kinda cool! 

Yes, I'm still doing coloured caricatures by hand, which means continuously purchasing coloured markers. Part of me wants to jump into the tablet world and add colour that way and print out the coloured version but then part of me enjoys the look of these caricatures where you can see the swoosh of the colours here in and there. Almost like seeing a paint brush stroke. I'm torn between the two worlds. Anyone out there have an opinion to my dilemma?

Caricatures by Edmonton Artist

Caricatures for Edmonton Company

Group Caricature

Caricatures at the Pop Culture Fair

Couple at Edmonton Pop Culture Fair

love the toque, red hair and freckles

Another great day at the October 2013 edition of The Pop Culture Fair! There seemed to be ten times as many people
walking around dressed up in costume. Some pretty amazing, some pretty amusing. I really slipped today, only took
one photo at the event and was lucky enough to have another photo sent to me. 

Here's a nice couple who was a pleasure to talk to. 

I drew two ladies who were full of positivity. What a great vibe.

And my favourite … love the toque, red hair and freckles! Wish I had an orange marker.

Caricatures at Edmonton Event Pop Culture Fair by Edmonton Artist