Such Fun pictures. Look at how much healthy Fun these people were having with their Caricatures. My pictures sure perked up the atmosphere after we all arrived during in a heavy snowstorm. This was what I drew at the Party described in the previous post where the birthday mother had created a magnificent Winter Wonderland for her daughter.

Some of the pictures just show what I saw and what I drew. But I was lucky to be able to snap a few photos of the animated reactions the people showed After I drew what I saw. People loosening up. I coined the phrase, Being Party. People being party.

BTW ~ Here's a note that my Client sent me after the Party: Quote "Hi Alison! I wanted to thank you for the magnificent job you did at 'girl's name' Birthday party! You were the hit of the party. I'm so glad we were able to have you join us. Thanks Again" Unquote

It isn't like me to be watching the clock, waiting for my job to be over. But that's how I felt at this Party. At least the guests had fun.

There's usually some sort of communication between me and the person designing the party ~ as to where my activity would be set up. But this time, I was just told what to do, where to go.... I was told to set up in a corner of a small balcony that was in the middle of the room.

It had no outlets for my lights. If I used my extension cord, it would have gone out of the balcony and across a crowded walk-zone ~ couldn't use them. The room was dark the whole time. And there was even a time when the lights were put out completely. I absolutely could not possibly see anything for those few minutes, struggled through the rest of the time with a smile.

I was expected to set up in a way that no-one could see what I was drawing. It was not very entertaining that way - people just waiting impatiently, looking at my face instead of my drawing. The space was very narrow ~ there was no other way to set up because the guests would not have been able to walk passed my easel/supplies if I didn't stay at the end of the narrow hallway-type of a space on that balcony. I'll draw a picture of it for you later ~ as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

The music was very loud. Extremely loud. Extremely wild. The kids were encouraged to jump around on the dance-floor as a big lewd group. So there was no way I could communicate with either the person I was drawing Or the people who were waiting. Maybe I'll draw a picture of the set up for you later, so you'll understand.

When I had arrived at the Party, I was also given a Lot of Words to write onto each picture. No time for so much Calligraphy. Wasn't I supposed to draw the People? for a small extra fee, I would have been glad to nicely print that up onto each picture Before the party ~ if they just told me.....

Long party. I was hungry. I was thirsty. I couldn't move from my crowded spot with the poorly designed set-up. It's Very unusual to have this many 'handicaps' toward doing a good job ~ which I sincerely want to do for my clients.

Still, I'm soooo glad I was at this Party. Not only because I do get paid ~ it's my Job ~ but also because I was able to put a lot of my own personal experiences into perspective. I was able to understand some of the situations I had been in when I was growing up. The confusion of being told that opulence is desireable. I hadn't felt comfortable with it back then, and now I understand that that's okay. Really.

I see a lot of Parties now. All types of Parties. All types of People. So I can compare them in a way that wouldn't have been possible if I didn't have such jobs. I have to say, though, that even though I did not like being at this Party because of the Set-up, all of the people who were there were trying to make the best of it ~ just like I was. It is a part of life that does exist. There are worse places to be. I just wish I was given the reins to make this Party as good as I know how to do.

Running. It's the middle of the night. But I haven't posted here in a while. So I'll quickly put up just a few of the pictures that I drew at a recent 16. More to come another day....

Studying the sides of faces. This is what I came up with last night. (I made up this face):

There's so much more I want to study - like, how to Caricature the SIDE of the face. (I hope I get up to doing that)