drawing caricatures at the MS Society of Canada BBQ

    This week I had the privilege of being invited back to draw caricatures at the MS Society of Canada [Edmonton and Capital Region Chapter] Annual Summer Barbecue (Celebration in the Park) for their client's at Hawrelak Park.  I always see it as a privilege and a compliment to be asked back year after year.  It was a warm night and great to see and draw some familiar people.  It is my hope that one day I won't be invited back to a MS Society picnic because a cure has been found and there'll be no need for such a society.  Till then, I will gladly be a part of their annual picnic...

    That evening I drew a couple girls who are here in Canada on a work visa from Japan.  How cool is that?!  Such interesting stories I come upon when I'm doing caricatures.  So glad I could give them a momento of their time in Canada.  They were so nice, wanting me to pose for a photo with them and their caricatures.

Japanese girls caricature

    I also drew a group of ladies that went by the name of "The Swizzle Sisters", not sisters, just comrads.  I'm not sure what The Swizzle Sisters do exactly.  Could this possibly be something similar to "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"!?

    Another caricature at the BBQ, I remember doing was a gentleman that right at the end, several ladies said, "Please do his, please do his ..."  I have to admit he was a handsome man with a great smile, great features to draw and he was nice to boot!  Found out afterwards that he was the boss.  Good thing I didn't know that ahead of time, I would have been too nervous.  I was tickled pink that the caricature turned out pretty awesome.  There's almost nothing better than hitting a caricature right on the mark, at least in my world anyway.  After an event is over, I often wish that I had a photo of every caricature that has made me smile that day.  If you're ever around watching me do caricatures, you'll see that I often smile during the caricature,  that's me thinking to myself, "Oh I love this one! It's so them! YESSSSSSS!"

Art, Bookcase or Door?

Is it a bookcase or is it a door?

    Just when I'm goin' along doin' my art thing, I get asked to do something that I've never done before... Case-in-point - this job.  My client wanted the doors to be disguised as a bookcase.  In this area of the extended care facility, some residents hang around the door and often push on the door which sometimes sets off an alarm.  This set of doors actually has two windows on each door.  The trick was to have the vinyl so that staff could see into the unit from the other side and to make sure that they don't open the door and hit someone with it that may be standing near it.  I knew of vinyl that can do this one-way glass. 

    On to the next step - the bookcase.  I always refuse to take the short cut, I will not take something off the internet.  So I realized that my in-laws have a great bookcase!  I brought a bunch of my own books over and took photos of the bookcase loaded with two different sets of books (one for each door). 

    It was a challenge getting the vinyl up with all the different bumps, layers and screws on the doors.  The more I got into it, the more I felt, "Hey, I'm doing this!  Hey, I can do this!"  It sure helped that the staff came up several times saying how good it looked and what a great idea it was. 

   Standing back and thinking, "That looks awesome!  It looks like a bookcase!  Mission accomplished!" 

A door disguised as a bookcase

vinyl art

Edmonton Artist

Always have a great time doing caricatures, IT NEVER GETS OLD...

IT NEVER GETS OLD...  Always have a great time doing caricatures! Tonight I was drawing at a young girl’s birthday party. It’s interesting, the first person is often apprehensive and then after they see the first one done, then they get excited! Then, the lineup starts and doesn’t end it seems.

Edmonton Artist
caricatures

family caricature GARAGE ART!

   GARAGE ART! This may sound like a strange question but...  Have you got your family caricature up on YOUR garage wall yet?!   This family does.  Oh what fun!  Just when you think you’d done caricatures in countless ways, you get a new request!

family caricature

window painting for Canada Day at Hudsons

    I spent a few mornings this week painting maple leafs on the windows at Hudsons locations around the city.  This is stage one because their plan is to have me back in in a couple weeks, closer to Canada Day, to add more maple leafs as well as “Made In Canada”.

window painting for Canada Day at Hudsons Canadian Tap House

   Oh, and don’t they look crisp?  Those lovely maple leafs of ours!  Can’t you tell that I’m more than a little patriotic.  It may not be perfect but Canada is a great place to call home.  Oh Canada!  Happy Canada Day everyone (July 1st 2012).  Celebrating 145 years

Hudsons Canadian Tap House
Edmonton Artist

I will be Facepainting at the Edmonton Neighbourhood Watch West Division is hosting another Community Safety Fair on Saturday, June 23 at the Belmead Community League. Everyone is invited to this community event.

Time: June 23, 2012 from 12pm to 3pm
Location: Belmead Community League
Address: 9109-182 Street
City/Town: Edmonton

Facepainting by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

last year Edmonton Police Helicopter Air One was there too!

Caricatures - Dreamnight at the Zoo

   Once again I drew caricatures at Edmonton Valley Zoo’s private event for families that use the Stollery Children’s Hospital.  I look forward to seeing many families there and am tickled pink when they come and say hello or stand in line to get their annual caricature by me.

Thank you!

Boy smiling with his caricatures at Dreamnight 2012

Caricatures by Edmonton Artist, Laurel Hawkswell
Dreamnight 2012

Edmonton Valley Zoo has partnered with the Stollery Children’s Hospital to join over 230 zoos, aquariums, and parks worldwide in hosting a fantastic event called Dreamnight at the Zoo for its FIFTH year in a row!  Dreamnight is an international event that began at the Rotterdam Zoo in 1996 with the goal of providing an entirely cost free event for chronically ill and disabled children and their families.  Invited guests will have the opportunity to have up-close animal encounters, make an amazing animal craft, indulge in delicious complimentary beverages and tasty treats, and enjoy fabulous face painting, magic shows, science experiments, caricatures, live music, and a variety of surprises throughout the night.

Tim Hortons Camp Day 2012 Window art

    It’s that time of year again folks ... that’s right, it’s Camp Day - Wednesday, June 6th at your local Tim Hortons.  Camp Day is almost as well known as Roll Up The Rim.  Donate to send underprivileged kids to summer camp and give them a fun experience.  It feels good when you do good.

Tim Hortons Camp Day Window Painting

Tim Hortons Camp Day Window Painting

Window Painting by Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Aldergrove Soccer - A little bit of fun!

   A little bit of soccer fun! Are you one of the many adults this time of year having a good time watching your kids playing soccer?

   Sometimes I wonder who's enjoying themselves more, the kids playing or the parents gathered together watching and cheering on the sidelines. I know I've met and made many friends over the years at my kid's sports. I've enjoyed the ride that's for sure.

   Here's a little salute to the coaches who have given their time to the kids. Thanks a bunch!

Edmonton Soccer

Edmonton Artist

The pros of working from home

   There are definitely pros AND cons to working for yourself.  I try not to think about the negatives too much ... afterall, I think it cartoon form most days!  There are days when I get going on artwork and realize I haven't brushed my hair yet and it's 2 p.m.!  There are days when I am running around doing family errands, taking the kids to the dentist, making supper and realize it's 6:30 p.m. and I realize I've done NOTHING that makes me money!  But then there are days when I hand over a painting or drawing or paint a little girl's face at an event, and get artistic praise (not to mention getting paid!) ... and it makes it pretty sweet!

pros AND cons to working for yourself

Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell

Connections 2012 at Churchill Square in Edmonton

   A woman gets a rose henna tattoo with the name of her son from henna artist Laurel Hawkswell is seen during Connections 2012 at Churchill Square in Edmonton, Alberta, on May 15, 2012.

   The City of Edmonton event brought people together with city departments and staff.

A woman gets a rose henna tattoo from henna artist Laurel Hawkswell

IAN KUCERAK/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGENCY - Edmonton Sun
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/05/15/city-connects-with-edmontonians

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!)

Edmonton Artist - leave a comment (to contact) for Laurel Hawkswell below

sign I designed

A sign I designed for Leduc #1 and a presentation they do for youth, talking about rock analysis, fossils, goe-cashing, etc. I love this sign, it’s so bright and colourful. This sign is 3 feet by 4 feet and will be used on a table display.

Leduc #1 Energy Discovery Centre is located about 20 minutes southwest of Edmonton, Alberta Canada.

The Centre is located near the junction of two highways--60 and 19. Highway 19 connects to the Queen Elizabeth II Highway at Nisku and the Edmonton International Airport.

Sign Edmonton Artist Laurel Hawkswell designed for Leduc #1  

Energy Discovery Centre

Edmonton Artist

doodling while watching t.v.

There are a lot of interesting characters on t.v. that you can draw.  Don't get too hung up on details, just get the basic drift.  Drawing for the love of it.

This could either be Wolowitz from Big Bang Theory OR one of the Beatles!?

drawing of Howard Wolowitz from the Big Bang Theory

Edmonton Artist

promotional photo for VIA Rail's ARTISTS ON RAILS trip to Jasper

  I can't believe that more than 10,000 people have viewed this promotional photo!  That's absolutely wild!  Or maybe it's just my mom looking at it a lot (HA!)?

  I took this photo as a photo for VIA Rail's ARTISTS ON RAILS trip I was going from Edmonton to Jasper.  It was pretty cool, riding the train and doing caricatures for passengers then spending a day drawing in a hotel lobby in Jasper.  Then again, drawing on the train back to Edmonton.  The biggest challenge was the slight movement of the train when drawing but I managed to do it.

  Back to the amount of people who has looked at this photo - thank you for taking a moment to look at it, wherever you are!  Laurel Hawkswell

Edmonton Artist Promotional Photo

Edmonton Artist

something great about everyone

What can I say, I saw the documentary "BULLY" (at the Princess Theater on Whyte Ave.) recently and it inspired me.
Aren't these little dudes cute?!

If people make you think that there's nothing awesome about yourself, don't believe it.  You know the truth, you know your own superpowers, your skills, the stuff that makes you one of a kind.

finding something great about people out there

Edmonton Artist

Sometimes Ya Just Gotta Draw

Sometimes Ya Just Gotta Draw

Draw, just to draw. Man it feels good!

Laurél

Caricatures at the The CIM Conference

Doing caricatures at the The Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM) Conference at The Shaw Conference Center, was an evening that flew by so quickly.

Here is a photo of a great young guy I talked to who was enjoying the conference.  Not only do I have a great time drawing, but talking with people as I draw them is a real bonus that goes along with the territory!

I think I may comment on “talking with people” a little too often .... but I can’t help it if I’m a people person! AND it makes the time go faster for the person I’m drawing too.  There’s a tip for ya: If you’re new at doing caricatures ...
smile at them and talk to them.  You’ll get a good sense of what kind of person they are so that you can capture their personality in the caricature:  Are they a REALLY happy person?  If they are, then looking for that huge smile to draw is what you go for.  Some people are captured with a smirk or little grin.

Engineer with his caricature

Edmonton Artist

My Favourite cookbook - cover artwork

I did this artwork for the cover awhile ago and the cookbooks are ready!

If you (or anyone you know) is interested in purchasing a cookbook the cost per book is $15 (all proceeds being donated to the Patient Financial Assistance Program at the Cross Cancer
Institute, Edmonton, Alberta), and if they'd like it shipped to them, the postage is $3.60...total being $18.60. The cookbooks have over 400 tried and true family favourites.

Contact Info for anyone that would like a book
Angie Marklund
myfavoritecookbook@yahoo.ca

My Favourite cookbook - cover artwork

Edmonton Artist

Grandmas are...

There is nobody more special than your Grandma and I am lucky enough to have the best one.  She is one of the most caring people I've ever met who never says a bad word about anyone.  Celebrate your Grandmother every day and treat her like the precious person she is, whether that's by stopping in for a cup of tea or picking up the phone to say hello.

Grandma

Edmonton Artist