fun drawing last night

I had a bunch of fun tonight drawing at a family gathering. Adding little bodies was a nice change for me. These two couples were a joy to draw and a joy to watch look at their caricature for the first time. Big smiles and big laughter. It sure feeds my soul!

Edmonton Caricature Artist - couple

Edmonton Caricature Artist - Birthday event

Edmonton artist

Edmonton caricatures

Edmonton Kumari Bridal Show

I was honoured today to be part of the first Edmonton Kumari Bridal Show! It was a first for me in that I was a vendor promoting myself and my caricatures. The Bridal Show was held at the beautiful Meridian Banquet Hall, draped in delicate white cloth and back lit in purple. A gorgeous location that highlighted a great selection of skilled vendors .... photographers, caterers, wedding planners, cake decorators, make up artists, clothing designers, lighting specialists .... and me!

I was told that my booth was hoppin' and it felt that way. I was busy drawing all afternoon while my daughter, Quinlyn, helped put caricatures in bags, answer questions and hand out my information. I'd thought, really, who knows my business more than someone in my family to help me out! They hear all the stories and know me better than anyone. Luckily, she was available to work for me today.

I did complimentary caricatures today and other vendors were giving photo booth photos, delicious tasty treats, free make up applications and coupons for discounts on their products. There were fabulous door prizes from each of the vendors given out. Bridal Fashion shows, dance and singing performances were highlights of the day as well.

My display at the Edmonton Kumari Bridal Show

Edmonton Kumari Bridal Show

Edmonton Kumari Bridal Show girl

Edmonton Artist
Edmonton Caricatures

Caricatures at the Sysco Food Show

I did caricatures today at Sysco Edmonton's 2012 Food Show at Northlands Edmonton Expo Centre. As always, meeting new people and at times, getting a good chuckle myself with some of the caricatures! In this first picture it's too bad the lighting is dark because you can't see the definition of her hair …. so just look at the caricature and imagine it because it really did look like the drawing! What fun she was! A lot of the photos that I take, like this one, makes me smile long after I've done the drawing. I imagine myself retired and reminiscing, looking at these photos. Oh and this lady's smile was actually a whole lot bigger when I was drawing her and talking to her (kinda like the drawing …. well I might have exaggerated a teeny, tiny bit). 

The second caricature of the young guy was lots of fun too … it was a good hair day for me as you can see! I'd like to send out a big thank you to people who put their necks out there with funky hair, piercings, clothing, facial hair, etc … because it really does add to my world!

Lady Caricature

Fun guy caricature at food show

web http://hilaurel.blogspot.com

Edmonton's Western GMC window painting

Painting at one of my favourite places again today … Edmonton Western GMC. Took their promotional art from their website for this window painting. Nice to be back at Western GMC and I’ll be heading downtown to Edmonton Motors to put some pizzaz on their windows. Their treat me well and I’m happy to have been asked to paint at another location for the general manager. I’m looking forward to thinking up some fun, big Christmas stuff for them again this year. I’m starting to physic myself up for the on slot of Christmas window painting. We do Christmas big time here in Edmonton. The United States does Thanksgiving but Canada definitely does Christmas up right. It might have something to do with … I’m not going to say it, that four letter white word!

Edmonton's Western GMC window art

Edmonton Artist
Edmonton Window painting

Caricatures at the Zoo for World animal Day 2012

The Edmonton Valley Zoo is quickly becoming my second home! With the cooler weather almost upon us, it was nice to see families still out enjoying the Valley Zoo for World Animal Day. This girl was so sweet. You’re probably thinking what I’m thinking, too bad I didn’t have a pink marker handy for this one! We caricaturists love it when someone sits down with a cool hair style… it’s like a gift for us and what a smile she has too!

Caricature of Girl by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Edmonton Artist

Edmonton Caricatures

Facepainting at the Roller Derby Game

So, I thought I was having a whole day off.... but then, I was reminded by my daughter that I’d agreed to face paint at the Edmonton E-Ville Roller Derby game. You an run but you can’t hide from art around here! It was really no big sweat though and I enjoyed it. We kept with the two team’s colours that were playing, swaying off track only when a little person sweetly requested a unicorn. Of course I couldn’t say no. This one represented the Black Gold Diggers. I didn’t do the black eyeliner, she came with that … the swirls so perfectly with her hair colouring and eyeliner and dark eyes don’t you think?!

Edmonton Face Painting

Edmonton Artist

family portrait painting

This is part of a family portrait I recently finished. I’ve just shown one person from the painting and only a partial shot of him to keep the family’s privacy. This was done in acrylic and as you can see I took some artistic licence with the background colour and had fun showing some brush strokes and vibrant colour. After all, it is a painting not a photo! Quite the trick catching their essence but keeping artistic flare alive. Also tricky when working from multiple photos! It’s a personal success each time you set out to paint a person and you feel like I’ve nailed it … or at least nailed in in your own style.

family portrait painting 

Alberta Artist

Alberta Portrait artist

Caricatures for a good cause

I was drawing caricatures for a good cause last night at one of West Edmonton Mall’s Banquet halls at the ABC Head StartProgram’s fundraising Magic and Masquerade Gala. They organised a really nice evening with a delicious meal, henna tattoos, palm readings, magic tricks, zombie “Thriller” dancers and of course …. me doing caricatures! I really need to make sure I bring my good camera to each event. Darned if this photo isn’t blurry BUT you can still get the basic gist of them and their caricature. The Henna lady and I did a swap at the beginning of the event before we got busy - I did a caricature of her husband and she gave me a shoulder henna tattoo! 

The ABC Head Start Program is currently in it’s 27th year of operation, ABC Head Start has grown steadily in response to community needs. With the help of over 80 volunteers, ABC Head Start has 23 classes in 13 schools throughout Edmonton that provide a preschool program and access to special services such as speech therapy in addition to weekly parent education and support groups. Events such as the Magic and Masquerade Gala helps raise awareness of the valuable work of their organization but is one of the main fundraisers for the program to help provide nutritious daily snacks (sometimes the first meal of the day for these children), early learning supplies, transportation, literacy development supplies and resource information for families in need and to help enrich the lives of those less fortunate who need ABC Head Start to ensure their success in learning and to help break the poverty cycle. Please visit their website at www.abcheadstart.com for more information about the organization.

Edmonton Artist

Edmonton caricature artist

Lethbridge, Alberta Park Place Shopping Centre caricatures

I went down to Lethbridge, Alberta recently to do caricatures for the administration team at Park Place Shopping Centre to celebrate and inspire them in their “Fish Philosophy” project. They were a great bunch of people to meet and I’m sure together, they can not only run a great “Green” shopping centre but do some good things for the community. It was a pleasure and honour to be asked to travel down to add to do black and white individual caricatures as well as this large, coloured group caricature!

Lethbridge, Alberta Park Place Shopping Centre caricatures

Alberta Artist

Alberta caricature artist

painting halloween windows at Western GMC

Good fun painting halloween stuff on some of the windows at Western GMC! This big green guy stands taller than me at about 6 ft. tall. One of the salesmen today commented that he’s been waiting for that big green guy to scare a little kid. So far it hasn’t happened. Well, I think he’s a tad too cute to be scary! I love it when a client just says, “Come in and do up the place with Halloween stuff.” …. so great to use my imagination! Thanks a bunch Western GMC!

Edmonton Artist

Edmonton Window Painting

window painting

Over the last few years I’ve been asked by Enbridge to paint windows at a couple of their buildings in Edmonton to signify the start of their employee’s big 2 week campaign, raising funds through special internal activities to raise money for The United Way. It’s very impressive how much the employee’s give each year to this worthy cause. This design is part of The United Way’s 2012 promotion. I wish I could take credit for it since it’s such a nice looking design but alas, I just did the best I could to reproduce it on the windows.

Edmonton Artist

Edmonton Window Painting

Caricatures at the Edmonton Zoo

CARICATURES 

AT THE EDMONTON VALLEY ZOO ON FREE ADMISSION DAY 

 It was quite the day full of people and drawing caricatures today at the Valley Zoo!  I heard at the end of the day that there had been 17,000 people who walked through the front gates today.  I drew someone who knew a member of my family in B.C., I drew someone who I’d drawn last year (and she waited in line again this year!) and drew many new faces that I will remember from here on in! Here are a few of my favourite caricatures from the day.  I sure wish I’d had more time to take more photos to keep for my memories. Looking at the pictures brings me back to the fun of the moment.  Hope you enjoy looking through the samples of my caricatures. 

Here’s to another successful Free Admission Day event!

caricatures

Family caricatures

Group caricatures

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.

Caricatures at Fort Saskatchewan's Fall Festival

It was a fabulous, warm day at the Fort Saskatchewan Fall Festival put on by the Downtown Business Council. 

They had a dunk tank, bands, jumpy things, hair extensions, food, western photo booth and …. CARICATURES!  Here are a couple of my favourites. 

I didn’t notice that the mom in this picture put her sunglasses back on.  A little tough to see the likeness but you get the general idea.  It’s always kind of special when a caricature is done of a mother and daughter, father and son or like another one I did today… of a grandpa and his one year old grand daughter. Oh I wish I’d taken a picture of them and their caricature because he was one proud grandpa! I’d finished drawing here face and I was just working on her hair when she fell asleep on his lap.  So adorable! 

 I love the caricature here of the woman with the curly hair.  Sometimes ya just feel like ya get it right and you're happy to have been able to take a picture of it because you can revisit the “AH HA! I got it!” moment.  

Always fun too when you hear them say, “Oh, we’re getting that framed!” …. so it was a good day in the beautiful little town of Fort Saskatchewan, located just outside of Edmonton Alberta.

Edmonton Artist

signs for Leduc #1 Discover Centre’s Annual Rib Cook Off

OK so after making a whole wack of signs for Leduc #1 Discover Centre’s Annual Rib Cook Off, which by the way keeps getting bigger and bigger each year, I got a little loopy … as you can see here! 

 Are you wondering what the arrows were for?  Believe it or not, they weren’t done just to emphasize me.  They were directional arrows for parking.  I know, not as exciting as pointing to me! 

 When making signs I try and make things readable and use the space wisely.  There’s nothing worse than seeing a banner or sign where the lettering just seems to be floating in a ton of space.  If you’ve got the room, use it!

Signs by Alberta Graphic Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Alberta Artist

Edmonton Signs

WOW! Window art at the UofA

WINDOW PAINTING FOR WELCOME WEEK 

Week of Welcome at the University of Alberta.  

It was quite the exciting vibe at the University of Alberta last week, with a lot of people moving into residence at the University of Alberta in anticipation of school starting!  I may have felt it a little more than the average person because my own daughter was starting university as well.  Nervous and excited rolled into one!

I was asked to paint “Welcome Home” at two of their residence buildings (Lister Hall and International House), along with the design that they were using this year.  For many it is home for another year but many will be in Edmonton for the first time leaving a town smaller than Lister Hall and definatly smaller than the UofA.  I hope that the window painting will make them feel better.  I was impressed with the swirls and colours they were using - like I’ve said before, who doesn’t like swirls?!

Edmonton Artist Window art UofA

Edmonton Artist

Edmonton's Snow Valley Staff BBQ and Annual Tent Sale

SNOW VALLEY STAFF BBQ

Edmonton's Snow Valley Ski Club Edmonton's Snow Valley Ski Club had a staff party this past weekend and even though it’s still August, there was lots of exciting talk around me about snow and skiing/snowboarding. I tried not to listen since I’m rather enjoying our warm days while we have them, thank you very much! … But I didn’t hold it against them and had another enjoyable evening drawing and chatting with staff and their families. My son is also excited about the upcoming ski season at Snow Valley. He happened to pick himself up a new ski jacket at Snow Valley’s Annual Tent Sale earlier in the day while I drew some of the shoppers. drew a really adorable three year old boy who had recently met some of the Edmonton Oilers. He told me that his favourite player is “YAKUPOV!” …. His mom said he’s his favourite because he likes saying, “YAKUPOV!” Of course I had to draw him wearing an Oilers jersey

Snow Valley Caricature

I have to admit, and other caricaturists may agree with me here, that sometimes we caricaturists are something like bartenders. We chat with people and we lend an ear. There’s something quite personal about staring at every feature on someone’s face that at times, brings out all sorts of personal stories. These things are just part of what makes doing caricatures so enjoyable for me and sometimes quite special. I had one of those kind of conversations today. Sorry to not blog the details.... Gonna have to leave it at that.

Edmonton Artist
Laurel Hawkswell

FACE PAINTING at company picnic and birthday party.

FACE PAINTING!

On the weekend I was at two events, a company picnic and a birthday party. 

This girl’s face looks pretty cool even if I do say so myself! It’s a bit freaky how her nose kind of disappears amongst the blue and white dots. Have you noticed yet that I love swirls and white dots! Can you tell that I had a blast doing it?! 

This girl’s arm was fun. She said, “Surprise Me” and so I asked her what kind of things she likes. Yup, she likes dogs. She was really happy with it and so was I. I have it written right on my face painting sign, that if they don’t want to pick from one of the image choices on my board that they can just say, “Surprise Me”. I try and do something different each time. I’ve discovered some new, fun stuff that way and gives my imagination a workout.

Edmonton Artist

facepainting is often bodypainting in the summer

Facepainting in the summer is not just facepainting, it's bodypainting too.... that's why I love summer! I was at Bon Accord Harvest Days annual event when I did this gecko. This lady's favourite colour is orange so she that's what she got. I love painting this guy and there's something to be said for the "dot". The "dot"? See the few dots on this guy, it adds a lot to him and it's just a few tips of the paint brusch. I'll celebrate while the weather is good by painting on arms, legs, backs and ... the occasional face!

bodyart

Edmonton artist

Newspaper clipping I found today

wow where does the time go? Here is an clipping I found today.  I remember It was fun time and the kids had a good time too....  I never did take a photo of the 'family portrait'

Edmonton Artist