Following are some pictures where my client gave me carte-blanche ~ didn't mention how/what she wanted me to draw. So I did Faces Only. Primarily Black/White. To draw as many people at the Prom as possible. I drew 12 faces per hour. When the picture felt finished with just the face, I moved on to the next Guest. When my picture needed it, I pulled ideas from the Party Theme (Basic Prom) or what was being said by the guests.

I recommend estimating 10 pictures per hour. No telling what will affect the performance. But it's been pretty regular these days that I draw 12 per hour when left on my own like this. And pretty regular these days that I only draw 8 pictures per hour when clients Require Body/Hobby, Theme, or Color to be included on Each Picture. I feel like Clients who ask for less got more. More pictures And a Smoother Happier Party. Just my opinion. Do you agree?

Proms are coming up ~ Actually means 'promenade' ~ I think that's 'strut your stuff' ~

Another year ~ High School Graduates ~ again ~ Didn't I see these same people last year? So it seems ~ but to the individuals involved, to the people who are experiencing it ~ their lives are what they experience, and they want to do it too.

Why sing when there have already been great singers in the past? Why sing when somebody else might sing better? There was a song about this ~ I hear it often at all sorts of parties

"Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield: I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned Staring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find Reaching for something in the distance So close you can almost taste it Release your inhibitions Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins The rest is still unwritten Oh, oh, oh I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way Staring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find Reaching for something in the distance So close you can almost taste it Release your inhibitions Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins The rest is still unwritten Staring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find Reaching for something in the distance So close you can almost taste it Release your inhibitions Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins The rest is still unwritten The rest is still unwritten The rest is still unwritten Oh, yeah, yeah

BTW, this is an example of what I call "Black and White Caricatures" or "Line Only Caricatures". It still uses a litl Color. On some.

Fashion Sketches work particularly well at Sweet 16's. and Bat Mitzvot ~ and Engagement Parties ~ Proms ~ and other such Celebrations where the guests are so aware of how they are presenting themselves. We have a great time with it, but I wish I had new Samples to hang up when I set up at these Parties.

Running around. So many Parties. I finally just grabbed any moments that I had to draw new Samples. This is what I came up with - using the limited supplies that I always have with me.

It's a good idea to keep paper and markers with you. I keep the ones that aren't 'juicy' enough for my gigs anymore. They're in my pocketbook, in my car, in every room of my house, at my friend's house..... Everywhere.

I finally had a (cellphone) camera with me during a Fashion Sketch event, and wouldn't you know.... it wasn't my best drawing day.

My work is professional enough, tho, that everybody was thrilled with their pictures. And the woman in charge of these Bloomingdales events is hoping that I'll be available to do it at another one of their stores next week. So Yay! If our schedules mesh, I'll get another chance to do them - I'll be perfect next time - I just know it (Lol - and some day I'll be a perfect person.)

Anyway, here are some of the pictures that I drew today. They look fine. The drawing just could have been more fun for me if I was feeling freer:

What happened was that I asked the guests to pose on the pedestal with the other mannekins. I thought that would be a good experience for them - which it was. For them. But not for me. It was only after the show was over that I realized that it made it intimidating for me. And I played with the guests - had them 'strike a pose'. And that made me (and the drawing) feel controlled.

It was a very successful event. The guests really enjoyed what my client was offering them. But I like to do Best. Everything. For the client, the guests, AND myself. What it is to be an Artist. Why I do it.