… and still looking twenty years younger. The host’s youthfulness came up in 
the conversations I overheard. One woman said, when she started working in his office fifteen years ago, they asked her how old she thought Tom was. She said, twenty-four? He was forty-five.
It’s not just the prodigality of hair, which is probably the first thing you notice—not touched up, btw. It’s also his big, oh-so-present eyes. And then, the casual enthusiasm, so youthful. Just one more thing: he makes surreal sculptures, some displayed on the mantle. The man claims to be sixty.
I did Tom’s fiftieth birthday party at a posh Streeterville restaurant ten years ago. It was wonderful to be called back for the sixtieth.
Lots of family, some old friends, some new friends. Among the new friends is a history teacher who’s also a bit of a royalist. He requested to be drawn as a Hapsburg. By-gone glory is fun to draw.
In the gallery (below) notice the art-class references. Tom, a business man, met some of his long-time friends in art classes at the Art Institute. Among his friends are art teachers, models and actors. Is it any wonder I felt so at home with this crowd?!
About the art of caricature in general, one note about color: My technique is now so fast, that working in color does not take that much longer than a line drawing. A minute or two longer. If you look at the above drawing of those three artists, notice how effective the red tongue is, or the very French red striped shirt on the art teacher wearing a French Beret. Not to mention nudity. Many people understand this intuitively, which may explain the fact that I’ve been asked to work so much in color lately. Lucky me. Lucky guests.
Thanks, Tom and Rich, for a wonderful party with people who get what I do. Even the relatives from Kankakee (!!!) liked my work.
All contents copyright (C) 2010 Katherine Hilden. All rights reserved.
Caricatures Chicago and Beyond 