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

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

Enbridge 2013 United Way Campaign window painting

I was back at Enbridge again this year to paint their windows for their annual United Way campaign.
I take the art that the United Way gives them. The Enbridge employees and contractors do an amazing job of raising money for this great cause.

Window painting for Enbridge United Way campaign

Window painting by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

O'Leary Fitness & Leisure Centre signs

I dropped off a bunch of signs for O'Leary Fitness & Leisure Centre today. They have bears as their "mascot". I really like the ideas that O'Leary staff came up with  for these signs. When you tell a person that they need to go no deeper than shoulder deep if they can't swim, they also need to understand that their children's shoulder deep is a lot different! And then there's my  favourite, the giraffe showing how deep their deep pool is. They've said that they get a lot of kids AND some adults standing beside the giraffe and looking up … way up! Brilliant stuff Colleen! And I have to admit that I'm pretty darned proud of how I brought her idea to life. I think the giraffe is cute and I like how the message is presented.

Giraffe sign to demo the Deep-end depth at O'Leary pool 

Deep water sign for the City of Edmonton Leisure Centres

Canada Day Face Painting

A fun little kitty. Keeping it simple because of the long line up at CFB Edmonton for Canada Day. Notice the dampness hair on her ... it was a hot and sunny day!

I painted these two lovely ladies near the end of the afternoon. They loved it! 

They said that the lady on the left was moving after many year of being stationed at CFB Edmonton. She was going to miss her good friend! Again ... I love swirls, dots and swooshes! They're so delicate and add so much pizzaz

bodypaint for two women at Canada Event

Facepainting for young girl at Edmonton Garisson

Edmonton Artist Bodypaint and Facepaint Laurel Hawkswell

CARICATURES AT MOTHER'S DAY BRUNCH

I was invited to draw at the Edmonton Hotel and Convention Centre for their Mother's Day Brunch. The day was a day to draw mothers and that's what I did! These two women are mother and daughter with the daughter being a mother as well. During a quiet moment right near the end, this chef came by. I looked at him and said, "Oh, you have to sit down and let me draw you!" He was so pleased with it … and so was I! 

Chef with his Caricature

Caricatures were not advertised on the Mother's Day Brunch material so it was a very pleasant surprise for moms to be able to walk away with a caricature. I hope to be back next year to draw for them again.

Mothers with their Caricature

Ringette Alberta caricatures

I was drawing caricatures at Ringette Alberta's Provincials for their 2012-2013 finals in Sherwood Park Alberta.  the girls and the families all looked like they were having fun

Ringette player with her caricature

Ringette Alberta player with her caricature

Caricatures at a Surprise Birthday Party

I enjoyed being part of the surprise this evening for a Birthday Party. Me and Karaoke and a whole bunch of friends and family! Here are a few of the caricatures I did over the evening.

Someone mentioned that "it's like you can see into our soul!" I took that as quite a compliment. I do try to get a feel for what the person is like and express that in the caricature.

Ya know it never gets old for me to have people eager to sit down for a caricature. Oh my, the amount of people I've met over the years!

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

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!