I was the Caricature Artist for Barnes and Noble that night when the latest Harry Potter book came out. The line of people ran straight through the ig store, so I had to draw quickly. One of the girls I drew used my Caricature for the invitation to a Birthday Party she had this week. And she hired me to come back and draw her friends at her pool party.

Here's the invitation with the quick Caricature I drew at Barnes and Noble. I hope she emails me a picture of the beautifully detailed picture I drew of her at her pool party:

Marketing - I've been told to put out a booklet showing kudos from previous gigs - for people to look through while waiting their turn. Never got around to it yet. Because I figure they'd rather watch the magic than read a book at a Party.

Yet every time I get some such letter, I think of making such a 'brag book'. But I never do. I just let the appreciation fill my heart.

I worked for the Finance Department at Bloomingdale's a few days ago. Came home to receive the following email. I figure that for once at least I'd put it up on the blog:

YOU WERE A HIT !! I am so happy you agreed to come to our event. All through out the afternoon people came up to me and told me how fabulous you were. Thank you so much for a great job !!! Congratulate your son on an amazing website... it was the website that drew me to you and i decided to call.

Again thank you for all your hard work ...I look forward to working with you in the future...

Thank You Karen! It's a real Lady who makes the time to show her appreciation.

I'm usually just showing you pictures. Thought of doing something different tonight. For once, I'm going to give you a peek into the life of a working arist. I'm going to tell you the sort of jobs I'm juggling at this moment.

Today (Tuesday) I drew Caricatures for St Joseph's College in Patchogue, NY. They have a day each year to encourage the incoming Freshmen to sign up for clubs and enjoy their school.

On the way there, I booked a last minute Picnic for the Financial Office of Bloomingdales in NYC - for the day after tomorrow - Aghk - I'd better clear up from today so I can prepare for Bloomingdales on Thursday. I won't be able to do it tomorrow because I have one of the other Face-Painters from Central Park coming over for her first time. We're going to go swimming.

Friday has been booked for a while - I'll be drawing at a Birthday Party for a girl who found me at the Harry Potter event in New Jersey. I think she's going to be ten.

Saturday is up in the air. One of my agents requested that day just today. Said he'd get back to me if it's a sure thing. But meanwhile, I got home late to hear a Voice-Mail from a private client who wants me to Face Paint in the Hamptons on Saturday. What do I tell whom? I'll have to make some calls first thing in the morning - before my new friend comes over. Whoever gets me first, wins.

I also came home to find a notice from the Post Office - I'm to pick up a special delivery letter. It's from a woman I spoke to yesterday. About a 40th Birthday Party for her son who lives in an assisted living home. Had to send the deposit Special Delivery because it's for this Sunday.

That's the rest of this week. Also came home to an email from a new agent who claimed a day at the end of September for me to be drawing at the Hilton in NYC -must wear my X-Men shirt he says. Smile. It's going to be one of those hectic days. Because I'll be rushing in from a Face Painting event that I already booked for that day at Stony Brook University.

The incoming snail-mail was also interesting. It included photos of me that were taken by the "Mayor of Sagg Main Beach" at a recent event I did there. (I was probably also in the local newspaper that day. Can't keep track of all the people who photograph me.)

And I got myself to send a couple of refillable Tria Brush Pens to another Caricaturist who recently had me over to swim in his pool and eat bbq. At his suggestion from the last time I was there, I bought a lot of the refillable Tria Brush Pens. But it turned out that I didn't really like them. Too controlled as a brush. To slow as a marker.

It feels like my life is constant Party. Glad I went to my friend's house on the way home this evening to pick up some essential oils. I showed her the special way I breathe the Lavender (for relaxation). Here's the technique:

I rub a drop onto my wrists or palms. I start breatheing in as I bring my hands close to my face. I stop moving my hands at the point that I can really smell the Lavender. Then, I pay attention to feeling my breath blow onto my hands as I breathe out and pull my hands away from my face. The goal (I haven't attained it yet) is to stay in contact with my breath - to feel it on my hands at any distance. Where does it go, I wonder. My strategy has been to start blowing out gently. Then, as I get to the end of my breath and my hands get further away, I have to blow harder to try to feel the breath on my hands. It's fun.

And as usual, as I sit here at the Computer, I can see at least ten gigs that I've had scheduled for a long time. Let me count what's going on right now. Oooooh - things are going well. I have 15 papers up, and that's not including the gig I just booked for this Thursday and the gig I just booked for the day I doubled up at the end of September and the gig that the Post Office tried to deliver to me while I was out today. I tape them up on my well on 1/4-page of neon-colored papers. There's bright red, orange, yellow, green, and turquoise. Even one on a pastel-shade of lavender.

So that's it. That's the life of a Caricaturist. In addition to Family, Housework, and Hobbies. Isn't Life Fun????

I had a couple of pictures here on the desk for a few days. They're old pictures, but I was planning on posting them - just so the blog would open with Caricatures again. Finally got up to it:

Yes. Finally got up to it. Here's one I drew on the train. Look at her no-nonsense intensity: