Engagement Party Caricatures!

I've been asked to do caricatures at a real variety of events. No event is out of the question (well, …. maybe).

This caricature was done at an Engagement Party. A great group of family and friends gathered to celebrate. This was one of my favourites. I love it when someone sits down with different piercings, a unique hair style, facial hair or just their own, unique look to them. One guy at the party said, "My girlfriend isn't here tonight so would it be okay if I got a caricature with my dog?" and he pulled out a photo of his dog on his phone. So that started a bit of a trend because another guy did the same thing!

Then there was the guy who got me to draw him and his girlfriend from a photo of her on his phone because she's away in the states taking optometry. He wanted to mail it to her for Valentine's Day.

One couple that was there, I'd drawn two years ago so they sat down and wanted me to draw his face partially like a raptor and her partially as a cougar. Strange but did it! They loved it. And I have to admit that I think it turned out a lot better than I thought it would when they first asked.

Always a good time for me. I'm lucky.

Engagement Party caricatures for the guests

caricatures by Edmonton Artist 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

Celebrating Hockey Back On, My Way!

NHL's Edmonton Oilers Annual Thank you card

Finally! Edmonton Oilers NHL Hockey is back on for 2013! Do you hear Canadians rejoicing?! A lot of people are happy NHL hockey is back, for many different reasons.  The Thank you card was designed with Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle and you (number one)!

This is an Edmonton Oiler Thank You card that I recently designed and now they'll be able to use!
I believe this is my 4th Annual design for their Thank You card. It used to be one that had to work for The Edmonton Oilers, The Edmonton Oil Kings AND The Edmonton Capitals.  Now it no longer includes the Capitals. Makes it easier in brainstorming when it needs to work for one sport and not two.

So, this is the Edmonton Oiler's version of the 2013 Thank You card to those people they choose to give it to.

Graphic Art by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell http://hilaurel.blogspot.com

web http://hilaurel.blogspot.com

Caricatures at Snow Valley's Christmas Staff Party

It was great to be back once again, to Edmonton Snow Valley Ski Club's Staff Christmas Party! I was neat to see some new and some familiar faces. Here are a few of my favourite's from the evening…

Why is the young guy holding up a package of Sharpies you may be asking yourself? He was saying that I must go through a lot of them and he hoped that I got a deal on them. I said, "Well, I just get them from Staples." we got the idea that I should mention Sharpies in every blog post I do and eventually they may take notice and send some my way for free or give me a good deal on them. Well, I do buy them at Costco too but I don't think Costco sells the big ones that I also use. Here's another night of using my Sharpies!

The group caricature of the two couples was a blast to do. Actually, my favourite part was at the end when I showed them and the blonde guy wearing the toque was the only one who hadn't looked at it at all through the process and he had a great laugh when he saw it.

So here's to another great night with the Snow Valley crew and here's to my son and his buddies having lots of fun on the hill at Snow Valley till the end of the ski season. It really is a great atmosphere for your kids to spend a day in.

caricatures by Canadian Artist Laurel Hawkswell 

http://hilaurel.blogspot.com

Cleaning off some of my Window Paintings

A few clients will have me back to clean off my window painting. This doesn't happen often and let's face it, I'd hate to have to go back to each place that I painted at this past holiday season to clean their windows! Today was a huge cleaning day at Western GMC because not only was I cleaning off Christmas stuff (and they had me paint a lot of that), but 3 promotions were over which I had painted on 5 of their big windows! I think it took me about 9 hours to clean. Needless to say, my I'm one stiff puppy tonight! Here's hoping that I bounce back well and wake up miraculously pain free!


There's something kinda cool in all the globs of paint in my bucket. Makes a girl wanna paint a canvas and do a little bit of splattering! Now to squeeze in a little bit of "Paint-Just-Cause-I-Wanna" time. Wish me luck.

cleaning off my Christmas window painting

web 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

wishing you the best in the new year

wishing you the best in 2013

I've had a very busy season and so I'm posting this a tiny bit late.

Hopefully you are still in the Christmas spirit like I am!

For Christmas isn't just one day to me. Spending time with friends and

family and showing kindness to others. I had a relaxing Christmas

spending time between both sides of the family. Hectic but great.

Here is a little Christmas card art I did... wishing you the best in

the new year too!

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

My Day Drawing at Holt Renfrew, Edmonton

Yesterday I spent the afternoon drawing caricatures in downtown Edmonton at Holt Renfrew! I wasn't even done setting up when 3 brothers wanted their picture drawn. That was the start of a busy day. I was unsure how the day would go. You know, people busy getting their last minute Christmas shopping done. I enjoyed drawing and chatting with a variety of people. The 3 grown brothers were going to give the drawing to their mom. There was another couple young guys who were going to give theirs to their mom as well. Funny that the younger bother didn't want to get it done so he went second. After he saw his brother's drawing he must have decided that it'd be okay because he was a really pleasant young guy to talk to (while I drew him). Another young girl is an international student at the University of Alberta. She asked me to pose for a photo with her and her caricature so she could send it to her mom in China. I thought that was pretty cool. Then there was the couple that sat down and right away told me that they were going to use their caricature for their wedding invitation. Talk about putting a bit of pressure on a girl to perform! They were pleased with it so that was good. I also drew some caricatures for some of the staff who happened to have photos of their kids or from photos of their phones. I finished off my time at Holt Renfrew drawing the management team. That was a bit of a challenge because the only photo I had to work from had their heads about the size of my baby finger nail. I guess I was pleased enough with the result but I sure wish I would have got close up photos of them. Pretty darned hard to draw details that you can't see.

Oh, the wildest thing . . . . a man came up and told me that he is a realtor and has been using the same caricature to promote himself. He said that he'd got it done in The International Marketplace in West Edmonton Mall many years ago by a girl. He was wondering if I'd know her. So he took out his business card for me to  look at it. I said, "That girl would have been me! You really should get an updated version. I think I've improved since then." He is now working with his son so yes indeed, I'll be doing an updated version for him!

I was really pleased at how things turned out at Holt Renfrew. The staff were really friendly and happy to have me there. And I got a lot of people picking up one of my business cards. I probably should have been shopping for last minute Christmas gifts but it definitely wasn't a waste of my day!

My friend Ferly

Ferly my Friend in Art from Indonesia

This is a caricature of my friend Ferly who lives in Indonesia. We are friends in art and I am so impressed at how his own caricature style has grown immensely over the last while. I was a bit nervous sitting down to draw him because the caricatures he does of himself are fabulous!

The faces he makes are so animated that you can feel his personality come out in his FERLY drawings. One day I hope to meet him and we'll sit and talk art non stop!


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

Caricatures from two different events I drew at this week

Young woman with her Caricature

A guy with his Caricature

A young lady with her Caricature

A Boy with his Caricature at a Birthday Party

Photos from two different events I drew at this week. The blonde, curly haired boy is from an 8 year old boy's birthday party. I thought when I walked into the party that this group of boys wouldn't care one way or the other the fact that I was there to draw them but I was really pleasantly surprised by their enthusiasm for it. Each one sat and chatted with me while it was there turn and several came back into
the room to look at the progress of each other's caricature. One little boy (now remember, they were 8 years old ...) sat down and said to me, "You're small." I was taken aback a bit and definitely amused!
I replied that yes, I agreed that I was short. And he said, "But you're smaller than my sister who's in grade nine. You're really small!" Oh the funny things kids say! When I repeated the story today
to someone they said that it was way bettter than hearing that he thought I was old looking or something! AMEN TO THAT! The other photos are from Design Group Staffing's Employee Christmas Lunch. They even invited me to enjoy their catered turkey dinner which was absolutely delicious. I had a blast drawing people. Here are a few of them. The one dark haired lady isn't smiling in the photo which is a real shame because her smile is beautiful as you can see from the
drawing. I giggle when I look at the girl's caricature with the curly hair. Her whole face lit up when she smiled and talked and I wanted to get that animated feel to the drawing too. I think I got it! Loved
drawing her curls too! So the caricatures were such a success that they invited me back today to finish up ALL the staff! The atmosphere there was so warm and welcoming that going in today felt really
comfortable. I almost felt like an employee myself!

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

Caricatures at a Birthday Party

Oh what fun I had drawing this young guy! Loved his hair! The trick with drawing curly hair is to NOT draw every curl but just every odd one and keep the edge the definition. Too bad he wasn't smiling with his mouth open so you could really see the similarity in his smile.

If you notice that there is no drawn out frame in this one like I usually do. The party hostess was scanning in all the drawings so she could make a grouping of all the boys at the party. After she'd scanned them all I added in my usual frame and signature.

What advantage is there to having me at your party drawing caricatures? No need to hunt around for stuff for gift bags … the kids leave with a caricature. Parents love it when they bring them home.

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

Caricatures at a houseParty

I drew caricatures at a few different house parties, a party for neighbours, a party for family and a party for friends. Here is a fun one! He thought it would be a blast to do it with his awesome hat on. I always like drawing something different and the hat turned out neat I think. That's the one interesting thing about living in Canada in winter time …. hats are a fashion statement. Sometimes the wilder the better!

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

Caricatures for Thurber Engineering Ltd.

Company Christmas parties are upon us! Tonight I drew at Thurber Engineering's Christmas party. It was really bizarre tonight … all of a sudden I was faced with temporary moustaches! Yes, it's Movember and men all across Edmonton are sporting moustaches that their wives or girlfriends don't like! It's really hard for a caricaturist to NOT draw what they see!

Here are some of my favourites from the night. I really do wish I had the time to take photos of each one so that afterwards I could sit down with a cup of tea and say, "Oh ya, that was a fun one to draw!" At least I try and take the time to take a couple pictures. I'll be able to look at these ones when I'm older and greyer!

caricatures at Corporate Christmas party

couple caricatures at Corporate Christmas party

caricatures at Corporate Christmas party

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

Drawing at Twin Girls Birthday Party!

It's definitely interesting drawing twins! I really do see differences and I drew them differently but still soooooooo similar! We did a bit of an experiment: Their mom had a list made with all the girl's names on it for me to draw.

She placed a few of their friends in between the twins on the list so that I wouldn't be drawing them one right after the other. I tried to clear my mind of the first one I drew and really focus on what I saw in front of me and NOT what my mind remembered me drawing. There were some little differences but looking at this I'm amazed at how similar they still are!

Twin Girls with their caricatures

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

Caricatures at Intuit's 2012 Kid's Christmas Party

I enjoyed seeing families having such a wonderful time at the INTUIT Kid's Christmas Party again this year. I believe it was my fourth year drawing at it. The sweet mom in the photo with her two kids and husband said, "Oh that makes me happy looking at it." made my night!  And then there was Nicole who worked all night keeping the lineups for caricatures organised and running smoothly. I had to draw her before I left. So unfair for her not to have the opportunity to get one done. She really liked that I got her pregnant tummy in the drawing! How could I NOT make sure I got that in?!

family caricature

woman with her caricature

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

Edmonton Motors has Santas!

My last location for the 2012 Christmas season for window painting ... Edmonton Motors in downtown Edmonton! The first little Santa with the bobble on his hat going straight out the side, can be found in the Service Department. The big waving Santa is looking out out onto Jasper Avenue waving at everyone going by.  I love both versions of Santa. I really never get tired of drawing the great guy! I wonder how I'll draw 'n paint him differently next year?!

Edmonton window painting by Edmonton Artist, Laurel Hawkswell

caricatures for SWCA Christmas Social

SWCA (Society of Western Canadian Artists)

I enjoyed my evening drawing caricatures for some of the members of SWCA (Society of Western Canadian Artists) during their Christmas Social. I was quite nervous drawing other artists but they were very warm and welcoming. Here are a few ladies posing with me holding their caricatures! Several years ago I was a member of SWCA but decided I needed more time to do my artwork instead of talking about doing artwork. But really, the meetings are once a month ... I think I'm going to take the time to go back because each month's meetings were really informative and it's great talking with other artists.


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

Laurel drawing a caricature

More window painting at Edmonton's Western GMC!

Western GMC is starting to look like my own personal art museum! So nice that those in command are so eager to have me paint on their windows. So thankful for that and that it's a great atmosphere to be in! 

This graphic is part of GMC's Boxing Days promotion, not my own. I really like how they did the snowflakes up at the top.

Window painting at Edmonton's Western GMC Edmonton window painting by Edmonton Artist, Laurel Hawkswell

Christmas Window Painting at Corus Radio

I had a busy day at Corus Radio Edmonton (630 CHED, CKNG/JOE FM, CISN Country, iNEWS 880)  today! First I painted in their entry way, promoting Santas Anonymous. It was nice to see so many people dropping off toys for Santas Anonymous!

Then I headed inside to do the glass up the staircase. One of the ladies that works there said that it doesn't feel like Christmas there until I paint their windows. How nice is that! Always a artistic challenge for me to come up with new, interesting images for their windows. I believe this is my 4th or 5th year painting their windows for Christmas. My how time flies!

When I was working on the wall of 9 windows in their lunchroom, Brian Hall (630 CHED Sports Announcer), came up and said it was nice to see me again then shook my hand. I'd drawn his caricature at an event for Christenson Developments awhile back. He said that he has it hanging in his office!

I really like how the wall of windows turned out. Some fun images! My favourites is the snowman falling in pieces and the Santa ( I like his hat! ).

Christmas window painting is winding down now with one more to do. I don't know if I'll be celebrating or be sad …. I've been out a lot over the last few weeks painting Christmas images. I've definitely tried to come up with interesting graphics for people. After all, I don't like painting the exact same things. Once I get the last of my window painting done I'll be hunkering down to do a whole bunch of caricatures for people who would like to give them as Christmas gifts.

Christmas window painting

Edmonton window painting

Edmonton Window Painting by Canadian Artist Laurel Hawkswell http://hilaurel.blogspot.com

web http://hilaurel.blogspot.com