What a day I had last Saturday. Looked like RRRrrrain when I woke up at 6 am. Had to get right out though - scheduled to work OUTDOORS IN A PARK for the SPCA Walkathon - Rain or Shine.

But things usually do have a way of working out for me. Even though the weather forecast predicted rain and it looked gray and rainy, by the time I got there - clear skies!! I parked my car and ran through a big state park - regular easel and art supplies ALONG WITH BIG SIGNS that I made up especially for this event - client's request.

Drew pictures of dogs that absolutely did not stay still. I was looking at back of heads and actual rear ends most of the time that I was trying to draw those cute faces. Drawing dogs is a different game than drawing people.

Then I literally Ran through the park once again. Had to get to my car quickly to drive from Yorktown Heights, Westchester down to Oceanside, Long Island. I usually leave more than enough time to get to each party calmly, but this time I had made different arrangements with my Oceanside client. He really wanted me to draw at his grand-neice's Communion. So he took a chance. I told him that I might not even be able to make it there before the end of the party, but he took a chance by asking me to see what I could do. And me - once I've decided to try, I was really committed to doing the best I could.

What a whirlwind. Ran in, and actually had plenty of time to enjoy drawing. People again! My job is so interesting. This was a lovely demure Communion - just a few kids running around, but mostly adults who just sat at tables around my easel and watched the Art happen. It was like being on stage. They applauded after each picture, and we all had Fun.

So different than the exciting Communion that I did the next day (Sunday). That one was right here in my home-town (Wantagh! Yay!). This was a ParTay! Countless kids running around as well as Very Active Party-fun adults. Just goes to show that there isn't only One Way to Party. or One Way to Live. (or as I'm always saying, there isn't only One Way to Draw.) It takes effort, but we can create the experiences we want.

This is Your Life. Do It as well as you can!

Never a dull moment. I usually draw the entire time that an event is booked for me to draw. But I just had two days in a row that worked differently. It's more of those NY Surprises. I love New York.

On Wednesday, I worked for NYU. A small 2-hour gig, I got there early, hung around Washington Square Park - It was a beautiful day. Plenty of time to set up at the event, drawings going well:

And ten minutes before the end of my shift,

RRRRrrrrrrppp. VVVVVvvrrrrppp. RRRrrrrp, RRRRrrrrpp.

Loud noises don't affect me. I live with a musician and I work at parties. I take the subway. I kept drawing.

What is that - the people around me asked. It's a Fire Drill - was the answer. A Fire. A Fire Drill. A Fire.

I'm busy! This Caricature is coming out Great ~ I kept drawing. The room started clearing out. Could this really be a fire? I wondered. But I don't see any fire. I finished the drawing quickly.

Okay - we'd better go. I was the last one to leave the room because I packed up my supplies. (If it is a fire, I'll need this stuff....)

The large beautiful building was cleared out. There I was with all those college students:

I called my agent when I got out there. We met in that park. Most unusual. But she told me to leave early.

That's why it was such a Surprise that the very next day, the Very next day - Thursday, who would think that I would be told to leave early again????

I was working at a Brooklyn Housing Project for the NYPD. Now, if you know anything about the NYPD, they do not tolerate anything questionable. They had made a block party, hired entertainers, set out food - - We could all have Fun, but be sure that you Mind Your Manners!

I was hired for 4 hours. It was another beautiful day. Shortly after I arrived, people started coming out. I was set up very comfortably. The guests chatted and watched me draw. The Police Officers were kind.

Here are some of the pictures that I drew:

Then, 50 minutes left of my shift, a young Mother sat down with her baby. As I drew the baby, a Police Officer handled the crowd for me. She let them know realistically how many more I'd be able to draw.

She counted the baby as one, and then she counted ten more people on the line (that's the number I suggested).

Baby drawing finished. Next.

"But what about me?" asked the Young Mother. "It's my turn."

"You had the baby drawn" said the Police Officer. "Now it's somebody else's turn."

The young woman was upset. She talked back and kicked over the chair as she got up.

"That's it," said the Police Officer. "There will be no more drawings for anyone."

Huh? What do I do? My job is to draw. "I don't mind," I said. "I can keep drawing."

"Oh no" said the Police Officer. "Pack up your things. "There will be no more Caricatures here today. "Violence will not be tolerated."

I should make note here that I'm freely rewording the gyst of what went on. I was at the incident, but I didn't write down everybody's exact words.

Uhm, what was I to do? I was paid to draw for four hours. I was there. I was ready and willing to do my job.

"How about if I gave a little Art Lesson instead," I offered.

"Okay. We'll set you up inside." said the Police Officer.

I found myself on the side of a large gym where people were running around, playing basketball and stuff. I had a group of kids in front of me - all different ages, no supplies, no lesson plan. My voice didn't carry easily....

Okay, Alison - what are you going to do now?

I handed out plain papers from my time-off drawing folder. I handed out my Lucky Pencils. With very little talking, the children followed me very well in a 'Draw Along'. I came up with the following picture:

I had had the group do a light predraw first - planning on making 2 cartoon heads sticking out of the car. I checked after each step, seeing that the kids had it going well. The way they did the predraw, Aha! A Creative idea popped into my head. I could just have two EYES popping out of the car. It was fun. Thinking on my feet like that.

I mentioned things like line quality - light and dark lines. Predraws. Shading. And I remembered one of favorite slogans that I glommed onto when as a teacher: "The first rule of teaching is to do no harm."

Gotta roll with the punches. Gotta bend with the wind. Gotta be flexible. And I'm glad that I've developed several skills over the years. That B.A. degree that I got in Teaching from Stony Brook University came in handy this day for sure.

I just took photos off my phone. They were taken at 2 recent events.

One was at a Public Library. I've worked at the Baldwin Public Library 2 years in a row now - they have this special day set up for lots of fun events. I like when I'm already known - when people rush right over for their chance. I love my job.

The other was at a NYC Bat Mitzvah at the Citrus Restaurant. I was downstairs with about fifty 13-year-olds. They really had fun at this party. The dancing was so wild because it was so 'innocent' - if that's the word. Brings me back to a time.....

I am so lucky for these opportunities to interact with people of all ages.

Imagine my surprise when I walked into a Bar Mitzvah last weekend and everybody (except me) was wearing sweats and jeans. The nightime celebrations were at a local Y - 'til midnight! The guests swam and played baseball in between eating and getting drawn.

It was a whirlwind for me. Not only because I expected it to be a dress-up occasion. But also because, surprise again, I didn't know ahead of time that they expected body/hobby. No time to 'learn my lines'.

Let's see what came out of me under those circumstances. It's so interesting to me that this is real art. That my performance is affected by circumstances and emotions. Well, surprised, didn't know what I drew until 'the morning after' (when I saw these photos), and we all had a good time: