Not quite yet 'changed', but i did lean in the direction of the Better Style of Caricatures at yesterday's Party. Starting from the very beginning. Here is the Google Review that my Client wrote:

Laura Ficarelle

5 Star Review (out of 5 Star Maximum)

Alison was so sweet and so informative from the very beginning choosing exactly what I wanted for my sons 1st birthday . It was a perfect addition to the and all guests of every age enjoyed getting a picture of them to take home . Would definitely recommend to anyone thinking of having a caricature for their child’s birthday or any birthday of that matter :)

...................................

Thank You Laura. I feel empowered!

Dare I? Dare I change my style of drawing? People have no idea that the simpler-looking style is so much harder to do correctly. They might even think that the one that looks more graceful is 'better artwork'.

To compare, I drew up 2 pictures ~ first in Style A which I usually do, and then in Style B which I would like to switch to.

Conundrum of how to approach the drawings at Events. Because the Style Labeled A is easy for me. People like it just fine. But the Style Labeled B is usually difficult for me (until I get it going). People like Style B too. But they don't recognize it as being better than the slightly sketchier style A ~ which I can do faster ~ probably because that's what I usually do. If I did Style B more often, it would get much easier for me.

I love the Style B type cartoonier pictures. Clean and simple. I can usually switch into it after I get the event 'going'. But dare I take the chance on Starting today's Party with the Cartoonier Style B? I usually offer to draw My Paying Client first ~ I'm hesitant to take the extra time for the calm looking that I have to do to do the cartoony Style B.

Especially at the beginning of a Party, I feel like I have to choose the Faster style, aka the Style that I'm accustomed to draw. Because people don't yet know the sort of surprises that they will get after I make good drawings. So they're more likely to get antsy ~ which can make me feel nervous, and therefore not able to do something that's harder for me to do.

It's hard to be willing to develop something new, when the old style is working fine.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 22, 2024: I AM HAPPY WITH THE INFORMATION THAT I PREVIOUSLY POSTED HERE ABOUT CARICATURES. BUT I AM NO LONGER DOING TUMMO BREATHING! IT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA TO STOP YOUR BREATHING!! IT IS VERY DANGEROUS

I've been doing Tummo Breathing 3X per week for quite a while now. I learned it at a YouTube video which has 2 people demonstrating it. (Quite intense)

I just watch the active part ~ breathing along with them. I don't have to watch the opening anymore. And I don't take the time to watch the short meditation at the end either.

Today I felt inspired to pause the YouTube at the ending meditation and draw the 2 people. I had something in mind about Tame Caricatures vs Wild Caricatures. I did not draw very wildly today, but I did use a wilder approach for the wild Caricatures. I felt surprised that I nearly wrote that sometimes a Tame Caricature is better, and sometimes a Wild Caricature is better. But luckily, I saw the exercise through to its conclusion. So it reinforced, once again, that drawing Wildly is always better.... or so I thought when I started writing this post. Read to the end of this post to see where today's exercise is actually leading me...

The first picture here was drawn tamely. It's hard to switch back and forth between styles. So the 2nd picture was a wash. Aka wash it out, man. The 3rd picture, which is actually quite tame compared to the Wild Caricatures that I like best ~ the 3rd picture was at least Approached with a Wilder mindset. And it is so much better than the 1st one, the Tame one, that I was reminded Not to be tempted to 'draw correctly'.

Then I drew the 2nd person that I see in this Tummo Breathing Youtube. Here's where I felt surprised. Because I actually liked the first drawing of her. Which is the Tame style of drawing. 'Looks just like her', you could say. And so peacful. I could use this Caricature to bring me back to my Breatheing awareness.

I felt like I was done drawing these 2 people. But I continued my exercise. I drew the 2nd person using the Wilder approach. Aaahh. This is more playful. More artistic. More of what I would feel proud to produce when I'm being paid to draw at an Event.

Still..... My studies continue. Trying to make sense out of tonight's experience. Because honestly, I'm feeling like both Tame Caricatures are more successful at bringing me back to the experience I have when studying my Breathing at their YouTube.

I have something to think about here. Should I spend my time chasing what I believe is 'good' Artwork? Because the Wilder Caricatures are 'cool'? Or should I let myself make 'dinky' drawings ~ because they Do what I'd want the Artwork to Do?

Upon awakening the next day: Whew. I know the answer for sure. Just because the Tame picture was good enough to transport me, doesn't mean that the Wild (Better for sure) picture didn't do the same. Without a doubt, The Wild picture is Better. It works. It speaks to me. It's universal. And it's a good wall decoration too. It looks light and easy. Better for Party Entertainment.....