Caricatures at Edmonton Garrison 2012 Volunteeer Event

   The Annual Edmonton Garrison Volunteer Appreciation event was a lot of fun today.  There was myself and 3 other fellow caricaturists busy drawing volunteers and their families. 


   As a caricature artist, each and every person looks different to me and as I’m drawing you I look at every part of your face.  I personally can pass a person a year from now that I drew today and when I see them I think, “I know them from somewhere, where do I know them from?!” If I’ve drawn you, you are not forgettable! 

Edmonton Artist

thank-you Teresa - Rogue Fitness you're so accommodating and awesome

   The great thing about being an artist is that when you want to give someone a little Thank You, all you have to do is pick up your Sharpie.  Well .... it's actually a little bit harder than that because realistically, you need to find the time to do it first!  That's just a small detail.  Anyway, so I wanted to thank Teresa at Rogue Fitness (in Edmonton) for being so accommodating and awesome.  One week my daughter forgot her runners and Teresa found her a pair to borrow.  Then the next week I forgot my runners and she found me some too.  She has squeezed us into a class that was already technically full.  If you're looking for a facility that isn't too big but isn't too small, Rogue Fitness is just right.  You'll feel welcome instantly.  We did.

   But back to the caricature .... Teresa was surprised, she thought I was a teacher for some reason!?  Nope, I draw, paint, cut, imagine, sit deep in thought (trying to come up with a cool new idea for a logo or whatever), type, talk, click, draw, paint and draw some more... That pretty much covers it.  Oh, and thank you for check'n out my blog http://hilaurel.blogspot.ca/

thank-you Teresa - Rogue Fitness 

Rogue Fitness

Edmonton Artist

Friendship and a cup o'tea

This latest post was inspired simply by a little trip to my next-door neighbour's! 

So many of us want so much out of life (material-wise) but we forget that the little things really add value to our lives.

Friendship and a cup of tea. 

Pour me a cup of chai tea and we can bend each other's ears for hours!

Friendship and a cup of tea. 

I was out drawing Caricatures today

Today was nice day to be out drawing caricatures at City of Edmonton Muttart Conservatory

drawing caricatures at the Muttart Conservatory

Edmonton artist

I love my Sharpies!

A Sharpie is one of my favourite tools!

What do I use to do all my caricatures? It’s simple .... Sharpies! 

If you’ve found the perfect pen, why try others? 

I personally should have a share in the Sharpie company OR at the very least, get a thank you letter from the company. 

I don’t know how many I’ve bought over the last several years but I’ve loved each and every one of them. 

So go pick up a Sharpie and a piece of paper and make some magic!

A Sharpie is one of my favourite tools!

Edmonton Artist

one of the best pieces of art I've done...

The Masterpiece...

I personally think this is one of the best pieces of art I've done ...
This girl is close to my heart. I look forward to hearing about her future accomplishments. Hey, I'll keep you all posted!

- shaved her head to raise money for the BC children’s hospital
- put on a bakesale after the 2011 earthquake in Japan to help with relief efforts
- volunteered to cook breakfast before school at the Gospel Mission
- organized a “Help for Haiti” event to raise funds and awareness a year after the earthquake
- did many bottle drives to raise money for a clean water project in Kenya
- sold fair trade bracelets to raise money for drought relief in Eastern Africa
- collected food outside of grocery stores to donate to the food bank
- participated in a 24 hour vow of silence to raise awareness for child exploitation
- did a 24 hour fast to raise food for the local food bank
- currently planning a charity concert to benefit building a school in Ecuador
- going to Ecuador this summer for a volunteer trip to go build schools

WOW!

This girl is close to my heart. I look forward to hearing about her future accomplishments.

This World is going to be alright

We all see it... Those people who eat at a fast food place and walk away from their table leaving all their garbage to be picked up by somebody else. HELLO? .... this isn't fine dining.  Clean up after yourself! Jeesh.

- At least, that's what I think.

Fun with a Freak Spring Snowstorm (what were the neighbours thinking??)

FUN WITH A FREAK SPRING SNOWSTORM

A friend said that after shoveling the heavy, wet snow we just got blasted with, she should have just rolled it instead. 

I thought that was a brilliant idea so that’s what I did ....

I know that because I’m an artist, the level of “artistic pizzaz” in these snowmen really fail but I couldn’t help it, by the time I was done, I was exhausted! When I was done I did try and shovel some of it but it was crazy heavy and left it. I was glad I’d rolled it instead. And besides, I had way more fun! Who cares if I’m not a kid anymore and who cares if my neighbours looked out their windows and thought I was nuts. 

Even though it was fun to do, I hope them melt and melt fast! Come on, it’s spring. Jeesh!

Snowmen with artistic pizzaz?

Even though it was fun to do, I hope them melt and melt fast!

Here is my latest thought....

THE START OF SOMETHIN’ ....

So I’m trying to find my way in this big ol’ web world, wanting to encorporate my optimistic (mostly) views and my art.  I’ve given myself permission to doodle a bit on topics that I can put into “The Obnoxious Optimist”.  The name may change
in the future but the idea will stay the same.


Here is my latest thought....

Hey, don’t ya just love my glasses! I do anyway.  My husband informed me that they are the same glasses that “Ugly Betty” wears/wore on the show.  Should I take that as a compliment?  Well, I wasn’t deterred from my intense love of my glasses anyway so I’ll take it as a compliment.... of sorts.  I love that I can change the sides.  I have three Interchangeable Temples to wear a different colour as my mood hits me (does one's glasses really have to match the their outfit?)

don’t ya just love my glasses!

These Glasses were bought at The Occulist at West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton Alberta (follow the Occulist on Facebook)  


My glasses were designed/imported from Denmark's Prodesign (mine were designed by  Freelance Designer Gail Spence)


Edmonton Artist - Laurel Hawkswell

a little something I've been thinking of doing...

Here it is a little something I've been thinking of doing...
Some people find me obnoxiously optimistic. It's a terrible affliction really. Thought I'd put it to good use.

Introducing: THE OBNOXIOUS OPTIMIST Look for regular posts!

THE OBNOXIOUS OPTIMIST

Edmonton Artist

MY FAVOURITE COOKBOOK cover art COOKIN' WITH A CAUSE

MY FAVOURITE COOKBOOK cover art COOKIN' WITH A CAUSE -- I'm proud of this artwork.  All proceeds of this cookbook are going to the Patient Financial Assistance Program at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton Alberta Canada.

I will post information on how to purchase your copy as soon as I get it. Please stay tuned! ....

My Favourite Cookbook cover - COOKIN' WITH A CAUSE

by Edmonton Alberta Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Commissioned for a Alberta Cancer Foundation fundraiser

Edmonton Artist

SIGNS OF ALL KINDS! one stop for sign design

Your one stop for sign design, that’s me!

SIGNS SHOWN HERE: Various signage for Hap’s restaurant. My favourite is the rooster saying “This Section Closed”. Of course I drew the rooster especially for Hap’s.

As well, a series of Swim Lesson signs for one of the City of Edmonton Leisure and Fitness Centres.

City of Edmonton Leisure Centre
Mill Woods Rec Centre
Edmonton Sign art
by Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Haps Hungry House Restaurant
Edmonton Sign art by Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Edmonton artist

Some characters just beg to be posted!

I have been enjoying drawing and some characters just beg to be posted!

Caricatures for SATS Mall Walk Fundraiser

I was back to another SATS (Seniors Assisted Transportation Society) function at Londonderry Mall this morning.  People got pledges for their walk.  The cost of a caricature was a minimum donation of $10.  

The Lieutenant General (Donald S. Ethell) of Alberta and Edmonton's Mayor (Stephen Mandel) was there to officially start the Mall Walk. 


Seniors Assisted Transportation Society is important as can imagine, for seniors that can no longer drive themselves.  Just think of all the activities we do each day that we might not be able to do if we couldn’t get ourselves there.

window painting at 4 Edmonton Hudsons locations

A wee bit ‘o window painting at 4 Edmonton Hudsons locations this week! 


They are definitely gearing up for St. Patrick’s Day! Go in for a pint and enjoy the awesome Canadian atmosphere. 


You know it’s a good restaurant when they have a picture of Bob and Doug McKensie in the lobby!

More Hudsons, More Shamrocks!

Look who’s keeping me out of trouble this week! A new client, Hudsons locations in Edmonton. It’s lookin’ pretty festive in there. If you don’t go to Hudsons on St. Patrick’s Day, you’re not havin’ the best time!

Edmonton Artist


Hudsons Canadian Tap House

FREE WINGS FOR A YEAR

Caricatures for ATCO I-Tek

Caricatures for ATCO I - Tek’s team meeting and social. Here is one of my fav’s! Hope you enjoy it just as much as I do.

Edmonton Artist

A drawing just for fun

Another little drawing just for fun ....
sometimes for an artist, you forget to draw just for the enjoyment of it. 
I'm going to try and fit a little more of that in. Stay tuned blog followers! ....


Edmonton artist

Celebrating Western GMC being Alberta’s #1 GMC & Buick Dealer

*Celebrating Western GMC being Alberta’s #1 GMC & Buick Dealer*.

I hope that my window paintings for them over the last year has helped them become #1 ... in some small way!

I describe that “T” in “Alberta” as something like a Christmas Miracle because there’s a pillar that is in the way so that the scaffold can’t get in front of that area so I had to stretch as far as I could, using the longest paint brush handle I had (and holding it at the very end) to accomplish part of that “T”.

I gave myself a little gold star after that one!

Does anyone have any ideas for me?

THIS LITTLE GUY NEEDS SOME SORT OF LIFE!?

I sat down the other night to simply draw. I don't often get to "just draw" because it's usually with the purpose of getting someone's project/job done.

I came upon this little guy. He made me smile. I feel the need to use him in some sort of way. Does anyone have any ideas for me?

Edmonton Artist

Logo for Sweetie Pie's Mini Donuts

Here is a logo I recently finished for Sweetie Pie's Mini Donuts. I may be a little biased but I think she's adorable!  Looking forward to eating Sweetie Pie's Mini Donuts various varieties of treats!

Sweetie Pie's will soon be found at festivals and downtown Edmonton - look for them when you're out

Edmonton Artist