Yeow. Client just came to the Studio. Brought me a deposit for TONIGHT.

So much to prepare. And she wants me to draw Outline-Only - because she wants to get as many pictures as possible in the given time.

I don't usually do Outline-Only - It feels more like cranking them out than doing Artwork. But it is an Option I offer.

So now - get ready to draw a lot of Boy Scouts. First I wanted to see what would happen if I choose a Yellow Outline - If Golden-Boy sits in front of me:

Good thing I practice first. I can see that that isn't a good idea. I had to increase the time on that picture by going back in with the black marker. The Yellow didn't show up.

Okay. I hope I stick to Black Outlines. Or Blue. Or Orange.....

But what if someone sits down who has dark skin - Here I'll try one in which I add just a little bit of Shading. Sometimes, you just can't stop with Just the outline:

And............... We're Off!

I am absolutely smitten. Can't stop.

Finally relaxing after a long day or just doing my Artwork, I started watching the movie 'Analyze That'. Had to stop to draw a character from the movie. (Played by the actor Joe Viterelli) Then, I drew it again. Had to exaggerate it some more:

I'm really in the mood to have a lot of Studio Caricature commissions.

I just drew this man with an expression that is accepted by by my clients when they ask me to make a woman look sexy. I was so lucky to just come across his photo right after I was trying to make both Puffy Cheeks AND Pouty Lips in the mirror.

Now, I'm not saying whether or not this man IS sexy, but I can't imagine this expression would seduce a woman? I think it's unfair. Is our society giving a double-message to women? Are we expected to be capable in all areas of our lives except sex/romance?

Note: I've spoken to some men about this and I heard the same complaint from them. Are they expected to take charge and be unquestioningly confident at all times?

It's uncomfortable for me to be asked to keep such visual misconceptions alive. I prefer to draw the attitudes and shapes that are presented to me.

I still say that All shapes can be sexy. Do what you want with your shapes.

BTW, this is a picture of an Artist named Kamal. He lives in India. I was just using this photo that he had posted of himself:

What is sexy? My client said that her logo didn't have to look like her, but it should look 'sexy'. "What does that mean?" I asked her. She said she would like me to draw long eyelashes and pouty lips. Here's the picture I created for her guests to sign on the mat at her Launch Party. Along with the reference Photos that I was working from:

And here's an extra picture that I sent - because my client suggested midway through the project that I color the skin brown. After we discussed it, she decided to give me free-reign to create the piece, but I played around with it anyway. There are so many decisions that an Artist can make. So many different ways to express her visions:

The client said that she loved the drawing. But, she continued, "I have one request can you go a little easy on the lips for the one you are emailing me. Can they be more like I'm kissing someone!" (She had ordered two pictures. One to be displayed at the Party, and another to be used on her website and business-paraphenalia.)

"Oh!" I thought. "Oh! Perhaps 'pouty' is just a word to describe what we'd actually See if we saw inside a soft kiss!"

"And maybe, Maybe" I thought, "We Interpret any eyelashes as being Long when we slow down so much that we'd actually feel those little things with our eyes closed."

Maybe it has less to do with the thoughts that might causes Pout Lips and Long Eyelashes in our platonic interactions than it really has to do with Sensuality - the physical feel of Pouty Lips and Long Eyelashes.

Here's the Digital version that I designed for the new Spa:

Whew - It's not easy to be an Artist. I really have to go through all that soul-searching from the sorts of things that people say to me. I also have to relive my life in comparison to the Parties that I go to. What was I like when I was 13? What was I like when I was 21? Am I generous enough now? Do these people have better relationships than I have now?

All that - Real Art. From my heart. It's important that I feel okay about it. So I can go on. I'm so glad that I get responses like I got after sending this one. The client wrote to me (paraphrased):

It has been a pleasure! I'm so glad you're into my life. Thank you so much! I so much appreciated this.