I tell clients to Estimate 10 faces to be drawn per hour. And I've been happy to see lately that I've been pretty consistent about making 12 good faces per hour. But I was disappointed in myself in that I only drew 8 per hour at this Child's Party. I Reeeeaaally like these people, repeat customers, pleasant, good people. I want to do my best for them. But my hands were tied. I can only do what works in the moment.

What affected my productivity was the Requirements they ordered when they booked the Party. Reasonable, but I don't think Clients understand what they're asking me to do. These clients wanted me to include something about the Party Theme as Body or Hobby in each picture which should also include Color. These are things that are frequently included in my pictures Only as needed ~ It flows as the picture progresses. If space or situation requires something extra, I'll pull ideas quickly from what I see and hear at the Party ~ of course that means I'd easily include some Party Theme stuff if needed ~ I'd have the references all around me. But when I have to Control the picture, when I have to make sure to include space for these extras ahead of time, it's a different Activity for me.

To draw good faces, I have to be in the Moment, reacting to what I actually See. But to include SpongeBob/Calypso Body/Hobby, Oh, I have to study ahead of time and draw from memory. But not completely. Because it has to be designed in with the face that I'm seeing in that moment. So I never quite get into either Zone.

Live and learn. I've been drawing at several Parties per week for over 15 years. And I just decided on a different way to handle this type of Request. Maybe that will Up my productivity in such a situation. WHAT I HOPE TO DO THE NEXT TIME A CLIENT REQUESTS MORE THAN FACE IN THE DRAWINGS IS TO SIMPLIFY. I WILL COME PREPARED IN MY MIND TO DRAW BASICALLY ONE OR TWO SPECIFIC PICTURES WITH EACH FACE. It's the thinking/designing that takes the extra time. Oh, I want to do my best for each Client.

Actually, I think the Client gets a better deal when s/he just leaves me on my own to Entertain as needed in the moment. More pictures. More creativity. More Party Fun. But that's just my opinion, so I'm trying to handle my Client's requests as well as possible. What do you think is the better Entertainment?

This Party was Fun.

I don't encourage drawing more than one face on a page ~ because, of course, it takes at least two times as long to draw two people, three times as long to draw three people, etc. I still have to draw each face. AND I have to coordinate them together onto the page, comparing back and forth. I'm glad to do it, but I feel like it's better to keep the party moving. Next. Next. next.

Still, I like to draw them together. And people like to have their picture together. It's fun to watch how they relate to each other when they get their picture.

I have to draw what I see. I have to keep the Party moving, so I can't wait for the expression that looks like the guest is gorgeous and confident.

Here, for instance, this handsome young man kept looking around and biting his lower lip while I drew him. So there was no way for me to know what his lower lip looked like. I tried chatting with him, smiling at him, something to make him relax. This is what I could draw:

Here I am again. Doing body/hobby at my client's request. Made me feel "like I was pulling teeth", as my father the dentist would have said:

But, ooooh ~ Now that I look at them, I feel pretty good about them afterall. Whew ~