Getting ready for drawing Caricatures at a Bat Mitzvah today. I figured I'd do some warm-ups. From random reference photos. They all came out good.

But to choose a style! First, I drew a Caricature in the style that I feel pleased to have evolved over years of doing this. I feel like this style impresses clients and guests the most. It looks slick. And evolved. Not something that a beginner could have done.

Then I drew from the same reference photo, the same face. But I used the playful style that I really admire best. It's Fun. And I feel like that's what Caricatures are supposed to be. Fun. Playful. Clients and guests do like it, but I feel like they Think it's somehow easier to do. Because the shapes look simple. It is Not easier to do.

Then, for the 3rd Caricature that I drew here ~ I was planning on using the first 'evolved' style again. Based on a different random photo. Just warming up. But as soon as I started drawing, the obvious heart-shape of the girl's face took over. So I started drawing using the 2nd 'playful' style instead. But I didn't maintain it. Because my mind was already set on doing the first, 'professional' style. No conscious thought about it, my mind just switched back to what I originally planned to do. I continued this Caricature with the first 'evolved' style. Like I forgot that I changed my mind. The picture came out super. But it didn't feel good to draw it. Because I felt confused inside.

To rein in our brains, to decide at every moment what we want to do.....Clarity. My Brain might be the next thing that I want to study. (Maybe that will help me remember to stick to my diet ~ heheh. Not to 'change my mind' when the cake is served.)

Oh they're so cute ~ aren't they? They come to our grown up Parties ~ Weddings, Family Events...... things like that. And they are only the young ones for this little while. Excited to see how a Real Artist sees them. Fashion Sketches.

And us, the adults who make it happen for them..... Oh, we can't help but be amazed by how cute they are

My ofice has gotten out of hand. I can't imagine going through all my files to get rid of all but the most important papers, but I have to at least Start.

It's so Hard! Every paper I pick up reminds me of one of the Thousands of Parties I've handled over the years. This one for instance. It's a post card I received from one of my precious clients who hired me several times. I remember her. I remember her amazingly Classical daughter. Timeless. Precious people. I'm so blessed to be able to have such pleasant memories because of my job as a Party Artist. I can't tell if this was her house Party where all the little girls were given huge flower barrettes, or if this was her Party where we were at a restaurant which played show tunes from old romantic movies, or if this was.....

~ ~ ~ hmmmm...... I guess this is another paper that I can't throw out. It gives me such good things to think about. It's so helpful to have these little prompts to remind me of the Good Times. It's the way I stay Happy.