Anniversary in Lake Bluff

The daughter found me. We were celebrating her parents’ 40th wedding anniversary. My caricatures were perfect for this occasion. Why would caricatures be such a good idea for this celebration? First, they lived in a cul-de-sac where the neighbors were so neighborly that the turn-around had an island with a fire pit and a permanent circle of chairs. Hanging out was a way of life with these people. They knew each other well, which made them comfortable with funny drawings. People who were not neighbors, were old friends, going back to their school days. Everybody, in other words, was super comfortable. Teasing was part of their grammar. Second, the seventies look funny now, not only to the kids’ generation but to the people who got married then. Everybody pointed and chuckled at the displayed wedding picture: the ruffled shirt, the white suit, the mustache, the hair, the HAIR! Somebody get a caricaturist for this party! I’m glad you found me, Katie, thank you. This party was a blast and my markers just took off, as you can see from the drawings and the reactions when people first see them.

For a wonderful documentation of this party, see Eva K Ho’s slide show, https://vimeo.com/135575425.  Contact, (312) 752-8583 eva@evaho.com,  www.evaho.com

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Union Railroad Museum

The Union Railroad Museum in (guess where) Union, Illinois, held a huge family day early in June. I was there for six hours, drawing dozens of visitors, both local folk and those who drove in from the south suburbs and from Wisconsin. The railroad has a romantic, nostalgic aura. The day was an opportunity for kids with iphones to learn a bit of American history as their parents took them to sit in an old train station and in hundred year old cars. Here are a few of the drawings from that wonderful day. Thank you, Jeanne.
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Birthday Party in River Forest

Fiona turned twelve. Mom was planning a small party for Fiona’s closest friends. There would be good food and some games and what else. The party needed some focus. Ah! We have that caricature of Fiona framed in the family room. Who was that artist? Oh, the name is on the drawing and it’s clear: “Hilden, 2009.” Let’s call her and see if she’s still doing this. Oh, yes, more than ever! My drawings get framed and my name is out there. There are always new clients but I do get called back often.
Here’s the drawing I did of Fiona when she was seven. This was a Halloween party at another child’s house and she came as a bumblebee. I remembered!  Love it!

Thank you, Josephine!

 

 

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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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International Youth Hostel Chicago

It’s nice to be asked back.  I was there for the first annual party last June and now I got to draw some of the staff again, always interesting.  The guests, of course, were new, this being a hostel for international travelers.  What a great gift from Chicago!  Notice the tattoos saying “Chicago” in a heart with an arrow through it. I’ll keep that in my bag of tricks. They loved it. I’ll show a few of the drawing here.  The reactions were priceless.  Thank you,  Sharday, and watch out for the corner of Addison and Broadway!

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Classy Cars and Classy Caricatures

The Victory Center is an extensive,  well-appointed senior living complex in Bartlett, IL.  Now picture the large parking lot full of vintage cars: Model T, ’56 Chevy convertible, finned Cadillac, De Lorean’s sea gull, et al.  Spectacular. This was the brain child of the activities director who somehow had persuaded the owners of these fabulous cars to come on by—drive in your precious vehicle. (I heard that somebody drove a fifty’s Ford all the way from Ann Arbor, MI.)   Party time in the parking lot!  And golden oldies on the turn-table.

Thank you, Rose!

Because of threatening rain drops,  I was set up inside in the lobby, where I drew twenty-eight people in two hours.  Featured above and here at left  is “Pat the Cat.”  She called herself that because, she explained, like a cat she has nine lives, she keeps coming back.

Here are a few more of these good-humored people, starting with a fire cracker who has always been called “Button.”  She told me about her adventures as a model in art classes, and that would be life classes.  Gotta love it.

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Power of Logo

When pre-printing the drawing paper with the company’s logo, I recommend that it be clearly legible, but not obtrusive.  The point of the logo is to have it there as a reminder of your generosity, so that when the picture is framed, you get your message across, subliminally.  If the logo is too big, it’s likely to get trimmed out of the picture before the picture is framed.

In this drawing, the woman’s hair actually overlaps the logo in the upper right.  That’s the idea, can’t cut it out.

This was an event at the Victory Senior Living Center in Bartlett, IL.  More in the next post.

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