One of my first Caricatures of 2015

Drawing at a 1st Birthday Party on January 1, 2015. This is one of my first of the year! One of the nicest things about the party was the lovely gift I was sent home with: to full plates of curry chicken, meat balls, pasta, noodles, etc. What a nice treat. May family was also thankful when I got home and they got to enjoy it as well.

First caricature drawing of 2015

Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Birthday Party Caricatures

People are always so pleasantly surprised when they go to a birthday party at someone’s house and I’m there doing caricatures! What a nice bonus for them to be able to leave with a caricature of themselves and/or their kids.

Here’s a fun couple …

Birthday Party Caricatures Edmonton

Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Caricatures for a birthday party

I was at Local Public Eatery in South Edmonton Common drawing caricatures for a birthday party. There were about 20 people there celebrating the birthday so it was a bit like musical chairs: as I finished drawing one couple, they would change seats so the next ones could come over. Luckily the table was a huge, thick table that didn't move so all so all I did was lean my board up against it. I could have done more caricatures as there were people in the bar that could see what was going on and were interested in getting one too! But I was there specifically for that birthday party and I had to leave right afterwards. People are always pleased and surprised to come to a friend's birthday party and be able to leave with a caricature!

Woman hold up her caricature at a friends birthday party

Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Caricatures at a Kid's Birthday Party

I recently drew caricatures at a 1st Birthday Party. The theme was “Little Man” and it was all about bow ties and moustaches. It seems as though I was the only one who donned a moustache. A simple task since I also do FACE PAINTING. But I had company with my bow tie. The party was held at Cafe O’Play in Riverbend. I’d never been there before and I’m sure if it had been in business back when my kids were little, I would have been there often! I drew kids and parents while the kids played and the parents visited. Caricatures are a great gift to give out. Parents were pleasantly surprised at being able to bring a caricature home with them.

A girl shows her Caricature gift drawn at a Birthday party

Here is a picture of a sweet little girl at the party. I love her soft, kind facial expression with her smile.

Caricatures by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Even Parents Want in on the Action

At a recent face painting booking at a little girl’s birthday party, her mom and dad wanted in on the face painting action! Here’s the beautiful mom…

Here’s the beautiful mom

Edmonton Artist by Laurel Hawkswell

Edmonton couple get a caricature gift at the party

It’s always neat drawing at a birthday party where people arrive and are so surprised to see that they are going to get a caricature at the party, to be able to take something like this home.

 what great smiles this couple has! ….

Caricature gift to take home

 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

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 a Birthday Party

Most of us have been at those parties for friends or family who's children are having a birthday. 

I was doing face painting AND caricatures at a birthday party today and parents that brought their kids were pleasantly surprised when they themselves were treated to face painting and a caricature! 

Here is my favourite from the day! ...

Birthday party guests with their caricature

Edmonton Artist, caricatures by Laurel Hawkswell

Caricatures at a Birthday Party

Drew lots of little kids today at a birthday party. It was really interesting because the first little guy I drew was NOT interested at all in sitting for me, "When are you gonna be done, why is it taking so long" over and over again. So I thought that would be the last I saw of him the very second I said I was done but he ended up watching me draw and helping me almost the whole time. In helping me I mean, getting the next piece of paper, getting the next person I was to draw, etc. So someone who I thought I'd go home saying, "UGH, I had this kid who was so not interested in me being there …" ended up being a cheerful, bright spot in my afternoon! Never good to judge too quickly.

Girl's Birthday Party - Caricatures

Isn't this the cutest birthday girl! I drew her and her friends today. Her mom was giving their caricatures in their loot bags. It was nice to be a part of her party and meet her parents. A nice family!

Birthday girl 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 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

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 for a Friend's Party

my Friend and Son with their Caricature

My friend recently asked me to do caricatures at her dad's 70th birthday

party. All the guests seemed quite surprised hat they'd be getting a

caricature as a take home gift! When I drew my friend and was about to

see her caricature she said, "Oh I'm so excited! I've waited years to

get one of your caricatures! That's part of the reason I suggested to my

mom that we have you here!" I took that as quite a compliment. And it's

always nice to draw the whole family so they have a complete collection.

At the end of the party, when I say, "Thanks for having me." ... I

really mean it!

Edmonton Artist

Caricatures at Birthday Party

I met the nicest family today doing caricatures at their daughter’s birthday party. A great reminder that there are good people out there in the world. It was pretty cool that their daughter is big into art herself so having me come do caricatures was a brilliant idea … way to go Dad!

 All the people invited to the party got to bring one home as well as a few extras done from photos. Getting some of their Christmas gifts done early! Now all they have to do is get a frame, wrap and they’re set.

Birthday Party Gift Bag Idea!

Are you sick of trying to figure out what to put in gift bags at your child’s birthday party? 

why not Invite me to do caricatures of everyone invited like this couple did.  And at the end don’t hesitate to sit down and get your own caricatures done before I leave, like they did!  

Each person takes home their own caricature to remember the birthday by.  And as I have heard, their family like it A LOT better than a bag full of candy and useless dollar store toys that break!

sit down and get your own caricatures done

Edmonton artist

caricatures at a birthday party for 8 year oldMillennium Park in Sherwood Park twins

  I had a great time doing caricatures at a birthday party for 8 year old twin girls. The kids were awesome and had lots of fun seeing their friends come to life in cartoon form.  Caricatures can be kept simple and faster by just doing head and shoulders, or you can add in their bodies and have them doing one of their favourite things.  Another good reason to chat with people while you draw them - you find out things about them.

kickboxing with Colleen - Caricature

  As you can see ... even the adults ended up getting into the spirit! If you’re at Millennium Place in Sherwood Park [Srathcona County] Alberta, take kickboxing with Colleen ... (^this^ is Colleen!)

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