Making it happen for my Clients. Improvisational experience. Exciting because we never know what will happen.

Not unusual for a Proposal Caricature, but the lady, who didn't know that her date had scheduled an Engagement Proposal, got a late start and then, lol, wanted to stop for a bite to eat. While the Artist was Set Up and excitingly waiting to do her part. That's me. I have to make it happen for them. Luckily, I left more than enoght time to get to my 2nd Event of the day, but I was starting to worry about it. My Client and his Intended arrived an hour later than expected.

Sometimes I draw the Proposal Caricature on the Spot, but I usually draw it ahead of time in my Studio. Just pretending to be drawing during the Event so I can focus on the Experience for the participants. They follow my directions, not knowing what is happening.... hold hands, look into each other's eyes, pose this way, pose that way.... that sort of stuff. This was the first tie that my Client ordered that the 22" x 28" Proposal Caricature be drawn on the spot.

He did sent me photos of his girlfirend, himself, and the location ahead of time. But he wanted to be sure we capture what actually happens Day Of. What dress, what earrings, what jacket is worn that day The weather...... Things like that.

Luckily I was able to plan out a little bit of predraw ahead of time. I was able to design the basic composition, and I was able to have an idea about what they look like. Because most of it was to be done during the event. The actual Caricatures and bodies. The inking. The colors. It was a large picture, but my Client wanted it to be finished in less than 1/2 hour. So she wouldn't get suspicious. We wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.

It worked out perfectly.

I had been feeling a little anxious (then relieved) when they showed up an hour later tha planned. I had gone over and over in my mind about what I would probably be saying. How I was going to be acting it out......

That brings up another issue. Where to set up my easel. I had handled 22" x 28" Proposal Caricatures before, but I never actually drew such a Large one on the spot. And there's only so much I could carry. I carried the large carstock in a cardboard folio, my regular 2-part easel, my drawing supplies in a sheeled cart, my own pocketbook and food, a sweater in case of weather.... Even if I had realized that I would need a bigger sturdier easel, it wasn't physically possible to carry it. I had to put everything into my car to drive to the train station, park and walk up to the LIRR platform, take all my supplies to my seat on the LIRR to Penn Station, walk to the Subway, wait for the subway (going up and down long staircases at some of the subway stops), take the crowded subway up to Central Park, and then walk all over Central Park to find the beautiful location that my Client had described to me. Carrying all my equipment.

Quite impressed, this Client chose the most beautiful spot ~ on top of the peaceful Park overlooking the magnificent City.

But I felt surprised to realize that the larger 22"x28" Picture topped my easel over. My easel ws designed for 11" x 17" pictures. Like half the size. So how was I to draw this picture when my Clients arrived?

Making it happen for my Clients. I would make it work for them. But what to do? What to do?

Sometimes I feel like I'm reinventing the wheel. I discovered that I could lean the 22" x 28" folio/paper onto the top of the cart that I use to transport my Drawing Supplies. But it was way to low for me to draw on. So what to do?

An Artist has to be Creative. I realized that the rocky lay of the land would make it possible for me to stnad a step down lower than this makeshift easel.

I had to choose a 'step' that wasn't quite as low as I would have liked ~ because another issue came up. The edge of most of the rock-steps was angled in such a way that the 'easel' immediately fell backwards. So I had to find a 'step' that was a flat enough. And designed in such a way that I wouls be able to stand close enough to the easel so my arms would be able to reach the drawing surface.

Okay. So back to the experience. Waiting. Looking for them to arrive. By the time they finally walked by, did I talk too fast? I wouldn't know. I wish I could have drwn out my lines more. Done more acting as I had dreamed of doing. But whatever it was that I had done, it worked. Here they are:

I bet you felt glad to finally see them too. The first picture in this post. Finally.

For the first part of their experience, I had to position them at the bottom of the rock ~ so they would be close enough for me to see what to draw. Then I asked them to stand on top of the rock. Because I knew the experience was wonderful Up There. Getting more exciting for them........ I had to hurry with my drawing. So many other things going on for me, that I could barely focus. "Just get it onto the paper, Alison".... that's what I told myself. "Keep it moving." Capture this scene of the moment. No chance to make a mistake. No chance to edit. She doesn't know yet:

Meanwhile, a crowd started gathering. They could see my picture developing from the street. Started with a handful of onlookers. Then I walked up to the top of the rock to pose my Couple, and as I walked down, the crowd was at least 6 rows deep and 20 people across. I tried to quickly photograph the crowd, but they apparently thought I wanted to photograph my Caricature ~ so they parted when I took the photo:

THE MOMENT IS HERE. I say "My picture is just about complete." I turn it so my Clients can see it.

She is not sure about what she's seeing from that distance. From the top of the rock. Could it be? She's making sure it is what she thinks it is. Could it be? Could it be? She looks at her date. This is it. It's really happening. She got the idea!

He looks so Happy. She's figuratively swept off her feet. Heart soaring. Heart beating. Gracefully living this magic moment.

He does it. This is it. Down on one knee Offers her the ring. The radiant cut diamond ring:

She says "Yes". Oh.

She neatly, boldly finished my Caricature:

Here are some photos from the Event. from the Experience:

We really had fun at this Engagement Party. The guests were freely Karaoke ing and coming up to get their Caricatures. I managed to get some of the Reactions.

What an amazing day I had. It's when we deal well with problems that we can come out the other side so thrilled.

I'm glad I give myself plenty of time to get to my events. Because the small Park which my Client had chosen ~ hidden in a busy area of midtown Manhattan where they also had a lot of scaffolding ~ difficult to find. I walked in circles around several blocks, finally found the place.

Still plenty of time to Set Up my easel and...... Ooop ~ someone who worked at this public place told me that I could not set up an easel there. Not allowed. I showed him the pre-arranged Proposal picture, but he still wouldn't allow the easel. He agreed that I could sit at one of the little tables to draw....

and no sooner than I took down the easel, I saw a beautiful couple come by to take in the scene. If I was just looking for people who looked like the photos that my client had sent, I would not have thought that this was my couple. They didn't look anything like 'their photos'. But my client had told me that he would be wearing blue jeans and a gray top. And this man was wearing blue jeans and a gray top. Right here. At the exact spot beside me. At the exact time that my couple could have shown up.

I felt disappointed that they did not look like their picture, but what could I do? I introduced myself and asked if they would please model for me to draw their picture. As if I wasn't feeling shaken already ~ barely set up after handling a sticky situation and then seeing that they didn't look like the Studio picture I had drawn ~ the man who worked there came over and asked if they were the ones who were getting engaged. This is supposed to be a surprise! This never happened before. Now I know to recommend going elsewhere if another Client actually finds this hidden Park someday.

I hoped she didn't hear his question. I quickly said "I'm just an artist. Just drawing a picture." and I turned my attention to the couple.

I don't usually draw anything while officiating at a Proposal. I just pretend ~ while I choreograph their experience ~ Standing Up. With Energy. But this drawing board with these little tables ~ the couple could see what I was drawing. So I just started drawing. And I felt better. I'm always happy when I'm drawing.

Done. I unveiled the hidden Caricature that I had previously drawn in the Studio. But the woman said "That's not the picture you drew. I want the picture I just saw you drawing."

Egads ~ Apparently she doesn't even recognize them in the Proposal Caricature. Could she be turning him down??? This never happened before. This was really a first.

"They're both for you," I said. "Really." And I said "You're probably confused because I didn't finish this picture yet. I need your help." I handed a marker towards the lady, and I asked her to fill in the talk bubble. She refused to take it. She refused to draw on 'my picture'.

She was really turning him down. I couldn't believe it. The guy was so nice. He had planned this months ago. They came to me after going ice-skating and they were planning on going to the museum afterwards and he was even going to surprise her by having pre-arranged for their Parents to meet them at a restaurant afterwards. He was so easy to work with. He loved her and wanted to show her such good things.

It looked like he was about to take the ring out of his pocket, but then he moved it back into his pocket. They were going to leave ~ unengaged. She said that they had only gone out on a few dates so far.

Is this it? My Proposal had never been turned down before. I felt so bad for 'my client'. I gave them hugs as they left with their quickly drawn picture. I tried to slip the Proposal Caricature into the bag, but she refused to take it. Really.

After they left the park, I texted my client. I felt so bad for him. I focused completely on what to write. Such a loving man ~ I didn't want him to give up on Love. I texted and texted and texted. More.

After I clicked the Send button on my phone, I looked up and saw MY REAL COUPLE sitting at a table Right Next To Me. They looked Exactly like the people I had drawn in the Proposal Caricature. They looked exactly like their photos. And he was looking at his cellphone ~ just starting to read a message.....

"Oh. Oh. Hello," I said. "Oh, I feel so glad to see you. The perfect couple. Oh please let me draw you. I'm an Artist, and I would really feel a lift if I could draw you. In this beautiful spot."

Whew ~ talk about flustered. Now I was drawing at that little table again. Officiating at The Real Engagement when I was emotionally spent. I felt as if had just handled an engagement and been Turned Down. At least, that's what I Thought. And barely a breath before I was grabbing papers and drawing with extra chairs all around and between us and...

Okay. Okay. I'm telling myself "Just draw. You still have the ready made Proposal Caricature, and it's just Perfect. And I'M SO RELIEVED THAT THAT NICE WOMAN HADN'T WALKED OFF IT IT!!

The real lady that I was supposed to draw ~ She was delightful. She was happy, although sensing Something ~ what could it be ~ She was happy to be there. Together with her love. And when I showed her the Engagement Caricature ~ when her man enacted his Proposal ~ the tears, the joy, The Acceptance.

I've been smiling and laughing about my day ever since then. So if I'm so thrilled about how everything turned out, I can just imagine the intensity of the Joy that My Couple is feeling.

and I'm wondering about how this affected the extra couple ~ they're also probably laughing over the excitement of the day. And maybe I'll even get a call from Them some day ~ when they're ready to take their Fun Dates to the Next Level.

Here are the pictures from when I was getting ready for a recent Proposal event. At first, the man was thinking of hiring me to surprise his lady during a big Balloon Festival (the type of balloons that are like airplanes). Because they like that. But he chose a quieter Rose Garden for this activity instead ~ he wanted something exciting, but more intimate. Happily Romantic.

It feels like a dream