Caricatures for Central Social Hall Staff

Central Social Hall invited me to The Ranch to draw caricatures at their Annual Staff Party. Take a look at a few of my favourite drawings. Sometimes when you get going, drawing person after person, you regret not taking a moment to take more photos.

Maybe you’ll see one of these people at Central Social Hall next time you go!

Central Social Hall  caricatures

Central Social Hall  caricatures

Central Social Hall  caricatures

Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Snow Valley Staff BBQ Caricatures

I think this is my fourth year back drawing caricatures at Snow Valley’s Staff Summer BBQ! It’s their appreciation for the summer staff and a welcome back for the ski season staff that will be back at it once the snow flies. It’s great seeing familiar faces and also see new recruits to the Snow Valley team. There are a lot of people that have been there for years and years. That says something about the atmosphere there don’t you think! Here are some from the day …

caricatures at Snow Valley’s Staff Summer BBQ

caricatures at Snow Valley’s Staff Summer BBQ

caricatures at Snow Valley’s Staff Summer BBQ

Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Jubilee Auditorium staff Christmas party

Back at the Jubilee Auditorium for a second year, drawing caricatures for their staff Christmas party.

Seeing friendly familiar faces is always nice. It was even more fun to run into an old friend after years gone by and to see he and his family doing so well and so happy.

And then I met a nice couple who knows a caricaturist friend of mine. It's a small world.

Here are a couple photos from the evening

Jubilee Auditorium women pose with their Caricatures

Jubilee Auditorium Staff Party couple

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 Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

My first caricature event of 2014!

Third year being back at the Snow Valley Staff Christmas Party in January. Nice to see familiar faces and new ones too.

The neatest thing of the night was a girl who I was drawing for the third time, said that her iPhoto face recognition feature on her computer actually recognized a photo of last year’s caricature as her face! How cool is that?!

Yesterday I drew husbands and wives, girlfriends and boyfriends, good friends that work together and at the end of the night I drew a couple of the staff at The Derrick Club who’d been working all night and walking past on a regular basis. Look how happy they were to get their caricature … they are the two girls doing the thumbs up.

Thank you Snow Valley, for having me back!

Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Caricatures for Hap's Staff Christmas Party

Hap’s Hungry House on Stony Plain Road, had me in drawing for their Staff Christmas Party. I was also invited to enjoy a great meal which was wonderful on a busy day or running from one caricature event to another!

Check out Hap’s for it’s cozy atmosphere and friendly staff! Not to mention, enjoying my Christmas window painting on their windows!

Edmonton Hap’s Hungry House Staff Christmas Party

Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Caricatures for a unit at The Grey Nuns Hospital

This past week I was asked to come in to do caricatures for a unit at The Grey Nuns as part of their staff moral initiative. 

This team are an important one - they sterilise all the surgical equipment. I was able to go in during the work day, although I had to be there by 7:15 a.m. mind you! I almost felt like I was working a regular work day like everyone else. I was there early to be able to hit the tail end of the night shift then get the later shift.

It was a really enjoyable day. Nice people.

Caricatures for staff at The Grey Nuns Hospital

Caricatures for woman at The Grey Nuns Hospital Edmonton

another Caricatures for woman at The Grey Nuns Hospital

Edmonton Artist, Caricatures by Laurel Hawkswell

Caricatures for Four Points by Sheraton's Staff Christmas Party

It's nice to draw for a few company Christmas parties in January. November and December are so crazy busy and there are only so many weekend dates. Those dates fill up pretty quick. Here's a caricature from tonight's staff

Christmas party for Four Points by Sheraton (Four Points by Sheraton Edmonton south on Argyll Rd.)

I loved their rock/waterfall wall leading down to the banquet room! So beautiful that I'm sure many a bride and groom have stood in front of that wall.

It sure is fun when I hear that someone is already talking about framing their caricature when they haven't even got it done yet, but has watched awhile. I drew one mother/daughter team where the mom kept telling me to draw her younger looking than her daughter. She was happy in the end with her caricature so I guess I did okay! She was a pretty lady so I don't know why she kept on saying that. I'm not going to look as young as my daughter and nor should I. Do you hear that hollywood? Not that hollywood is calling but you know, some of those hollywood actresses don't look a day older than when I last saw them in something 20 years ago … the true magic of hollywood I guess. And there's something magical about caricatures. Open your mind to accept the cartoon you and you'll be happy. There are some people who are looking for a portrait. I think I need to remind the odd person that it's not a portrait but a cartoon representation.

One thing that never gets old, the thrill I get when someone smiles when they see their caricature! It's like a little zap of adrenaline!

Looking forward to my next caricature event booked next weekend!

caricatures by Canadian Artist Laurel Hawkswell 

http://hilaurel.blogspot.com

Caricatures for Edmonton Hotel and Convention Centre

Edmonton Hotel and Convention Centre had their Staff and Family Christmas Party last night and they invited me to come draw caricatures for the evening! This is a daughter of one of the staff. Such a pretty smile!

I was taken aback (in a good way) when one lady commented to me, "You're so kind. I've noticed that you compliment people a lot." I had just told her that she had such lovely, high cheek bones. And I found it neat that someone had noticed … because I have to be honest and say that I know that I do tend to vocalise the positives in people when they are sitting in front of me getting their caricature done. I mean, people already feel vulnerable having me stare at them, staring at every piece of their face. So if I think that they have pretty eyes or a neat hair cut, I tell them! Most of us are too critical of ourselves to start with, it can't hurt to hear a compliment!

So, I guess that's my point today, go out there and say something nice to someone! They'll feel good and you'll feel good too.

On the topic of going out and saying something nice to someone:

The other day, as I was heading out of our neighbourhood, I stopped to tell a man that I loved the snowman they had in their front yard. I said that it made me smile every time I passed it. He gave me the biggest smile when I told him that. They could have built the snowman so that it faced their front window but instead they faced it out towards the street. Like a little gift to passers by.

caricatures by Canadian Artist Laurel Hawkswell http://hilaurel.blogspot.com

2 pictures from Staff Christmas Party

Friends with their Caricature

Man with his Caricature

I was invited back a second day to Design Group Staffing Edmonton to draw caricatures of more staff. The organizer said my caricatures were 'a hit' with everyone. I could hear people out in the hallway say,
"Let's see it. Oh, it looks just like you!" I guess it kinda goes without saying that I always like to hear that!

As you can see from these photos, sometimes something as simple as a great hair style makes it a lot of fun for me!

Oh, and one of the guys came back in later and gave me a box of Belgium Chocolates to show appreciation for his caricature! My son thought that was a great thing for me to come home with.

Caricatures by Canadian Artist Laurel Hawkswell http://hilaurel.blogspot.com