I wasn't really saying anything. I didn't mean anything about the person. But you can imagine that I didn't show this picture to the unsuspecting man.

As usual, I arrived early for my recent event for Marc by Marc Jacobs at Saks 5th Avenue. I had arrived early, found a place nearby to hang out (bought a water ~ i call that paying rent), and decided to do some warm-ups before the event. To see how people would fit on the pre-drawn body that I had been hired to provide.

I just pick people at random ~ whoever is at an easy, inconspicuous view in the 'restaurant'. I wanted to see how a front-view face and how a side-view face would look on the predrawn body. Actually, I like the way the man looks better. I felt like the side-view looked a litl mean with the bold front-view walk:

Some stuff from my sketchbook ~ Posted here to remind me to exaggerate maturely ~ Easiest done in a 3/4 view ~

Oh ~ You never know what to expect. Got to be ready for every contingency. Keep the world running smoothly for the Children. I've handled Parties whether the weather was good or bad, freezing or melting-hot. I leave plenty of time to travel. And I've had enough experience to know how to adapt my Supplies if necessary. After last Saturday's snow-storm, I was happy to remember this Recent outdoor event at a local school ~ It had been a lovely warm day

Last Saturday, October 29, 2011, I had an event up in Mount Kisco, NY. I planned on getting there by 5:30 pm because I was supposed to draw a big event for a big agent starting 6:30 pm.

Last minute job, so I was up til 4:30 a.m. putting the papers into the mats, getting travel directions, stuff like that. So when to sleep, when to rest? I slept for a few hours, but left Wantagh at 12:30 that afternoon. Since mapquest said it would take less than 1 1/2 hours travel time, I figured I would have time to sleep in the car just before going in - so I'd be both rested And sure to be there on time.

But it Snowed. Big. After handling Hutchinson River Parkway Traffic (if you know what I mean), it was sloooow-going. When I got near Pleasantville, the highway was even Closed. My gps routed me onto a little highway that had one lane going in each direction. Winding road. Little hills. And

Traffic. Including one point where we all just put our cars into park. Waiting. Waiting. Still awake. Only 10 minutes away from where I had to go, still stuck in my car, I had to stay awake on the road with my car. Apparently, cars kept skidding as they tried to get up a hill. Including a Penske Truck. People were trying to move it. I was the 2nd car in line that was asked to Just Wait. Just being glad that we weren't having accidents......

Traffic finally moved when some cars from way behind, who didn't know what was happening, had the nerve to swing into the opposing-traffic-lane, drive up to our hard workers, and insist, like say, hey, what .... Now they let us through when there was a little space to maneuver by.

Okay. Still time before my Scheduled Drawing Time at the Party. Driving carefully. In the snow. I still think I'll get a Little time to rest. But

But 2 miles from the venue, a yellow ribbon tied across the entrance to a deep snowy road. I have a Lot of heavy supplies to bring. Including lights, and easel, and Lots of Paper. In Mats..... I'm wearing Shoes - not boots. It's still October. In New York. Who would have expected such a Snow Storm in October??

My gps reroutes me to get back onto that closed parkway. It worked. It was right beyond the closure that had rerouted me so long ago. Gps brings me passed the venue and back down the other side. And I'm there! Actually in the Grand Prix parking lot at 5:25 pm. Not my favorite timeing, but still acceptable. Still on time for 5:30 arrival. And maybe I'd rather Stand at the easel than rest, anyway. I'd been sitting in the car for Five Hours!

Oh what a day. Back at the Computer now ~ back in my Studio, and I see photos taken at a recent outdoor sunny weather event for a local school.....

AND I have a brand new shovel for the winter too! I had bought one at a CVS that I passed when I was rerouted to come back down to the venue. Figured that I'd need it if I might have to dig my car out of the parking lot after the event. So now I'm ready for the winter. Bring it on ~ Let's Party!

Oh - I wish all my clients gave me enough time to do really good Artwork. So often, they're interested in 'draw as many faces as you can in as little time as possible so I won't have to pay for another hour'. Oh.

I usually refuse to copy other Artist's ideas, but in this case, I was intrigued - because the client was looking for a 'Sixties'-type picture. And that is so my natural style. The way I naturally like to draw. Pop Art.....Peter Max....Psychodelic......Me! Alison Gelbman.

He asked for his whole Party to be drawn on one big paper - and he wanted the picture to "look like the cover from the Sargent Pepper Album (Beatles). Ummm, okay. Limiting (see my other wild Group Caricatures), but still interesting to me.

I arrived ready for Fun. Exaggerations. Style. But my client asked that I draw real fast - that he's hoping to get 33 people plus one dog drawn with the whole Sgt Pepper Composition (lettering, some bodies, placements). And he also wanted me to draw "Couples" next to each other. That didn't leave any time to let his guests 'do the party-saunter'. I needed each one immediately and with his partner. And since I tell people to Estimate ten faces per hour, I was forced to just get something representing each face onto the paper - No time for unique exaggerations. No time for banter. No time for the Outrageous Composition I wanted to do. This is Work.

The picture came out good. The people had a good time. The Party was successful. But oh, my client had no idea of what I Could have done.