World’s Fair at the Freedom Center in Schaumburg

The Freedom Center in Schaumburg is a spacious retirement home with waterfalls, lagoons, a large auditorium and exceptionally imaginative event planners.  They came up with the idea of holding a commemoration of the 1893 World’s Fair.  Being an architecture buff myself, I lit up when I heard about this theme. I arrived early and before settling down to draw, I had a lively conversation with the two amateur historians who gave the presentation/slide show in the auditorium about the world’s fair.  Thank you, Rosemary!

(One of these days I’ll have to finish Erik Larson’s  “The Devil in the White City,” which was a major topic of conversation among these interesting people at the Freedom Center.)———————————————-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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After-School Birthday Party in Glenview

George wanted to be drawn with a mustache.  When I do a mustache, I do a MUSTACHE!

A birthday party doesn’t have to be huge or expensive to be festive and memorable.  George was turning eleven.  He invited just five friends to his house after school on a Wednesday before a no-school day in October.  The mom still went all out with decorations, a festive cake and that famous caricaturist.  In one hour I drew all six kids in full color and then there was time left to draw the dog, super alert and affectionate creature, who was busy being hugged the whole time.  Thank you, Dina!

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Family Party at Salvatore’s Restaurant in Lincoln Park

A birth day party for twin boys was held at Salvatore’s Restaurant on Arlington Place just off Clark in Lincoln Park.  Pretty posh for celebrating your first birthday!  The dad told me that he was raising them to become Croatian soccer players , because that’s where the big bucks—or euros were. I could hardly get a look at the squirmy boys in their high chairs, but managed to put down a likeness, I hope. It’s all fun!

The well-behaved school age kids gathered around me, all fascinated by these drawings just appearing on the paper. It’s a learning experience for them, not just another occasion you have to dress up for.

Thank you, Amra!

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Colleague in Human Resources at DePaul University

A co-worker in human resources is leaving for another job.  What can the head of the department do to show that Julie was terrific and will be missed.  Ta-tah!  Let’s give her a caricature by that famous Chicago caricature artist.  My instructions were clear:  put her on a balance beam and show her juggling.  Juggling is a great image for what a lot of people in offices do, even though they actually sit and look at computer screens all day.  Thank you, Stephanie!  Best to you, Julie!

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Dogs Pointing

Last year I drew Rose Houston for a card she was sending out to her friends to let them know that she had recovered from her surgery and was now back in the swing with full energy.  Not a hair out of place, as usual, she’s skateboarding and her two dogs are running along with her.  This year she has a new house and wants to send out Christmas cards showing her and the dogs as they are pointing to the house.  She needed the dogs redrawn in this pose.

To draw dogs in such a human gesture, I had to go for a cartoon version of them.  You can tell that one is a poodle and the other a skinny greyhound.  I had to push them into cartoon mode, complete with white gloves.  The white gloves on animals was a Disney invention:  the paw becomes a hand without anatomical weirdness. This convention has been around for seventy years and we’re used to it.  (Look , Mickey  and Bugs are doing things with his “hands.” )  Only with gloves can a dog be pointing.  Notice the other convention:   three fingers.

Rose loves the drawing. Thank you, Rose, for having a sense of humor about your darlings.

For more on drawing dogs, https://katherinehilden.wordpress.com/?s=dogs

Last year’s post about Rose’s recuperation,   https://katherinehilden.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/hey-all-im-back-on-my-feet-again/

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Halloween at Little Hands

On the last Saturday in October, Little Hands Learning Center in Beverly  held a Halloween party in the school.  There were prizes for best costumes given in a larger room down the hall.  I was set up in a charming school room for pre-schoolers and only heard the applause.  I suspect, every child won a prize and that is what I saw as I drew them.  All fabulous costumes: lavender princess, Dorothy with her blue pinafore and red glittering shoes, strong man with upholstered abs, some comic strip characters I couldn’t name, and a family of three girls all representing some branch of the medical profession.  I drew thirty-six people in three hours.  Here are a few.

Thank you, Michelle and Catherine!————————

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Kids Day at Skokie Synagogue

It was a Sunday in early October and everybody took time out to celebrate the kids in this large orthodox congregation. There was a petting zoo outside, lots of pizza, two facepainters and one caricature artist, me.  It was great.  I drew forty-one kids in four hours. Thank you, Hershel!

 

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