Learning from the moonlighting gig...

I drew caricatures at another prom this evening. Quick-sketch party caricatures have been a sideline gig for me for a number of years now. I always partly dread hauling my booty and my supplies all over creation to jump into potentially stressful situations. Don't they know that I'm a soon-to-be-famous caricature illustrator (he says with tongue firmly in cheek)? But I almost always end up coming of each event with a big smile on my face. Tonight was a good example. Why? Here are some reasons:

1. $$$. This sideline gig pays rather well. If I were to focus on this as my main career, I'm sure I could make a comfortable living. I know some event caricaturists that drive pretty nifty cars and live in pretty spiffy digs.

2. Research and development. There is no better training in capturing likenesses like having an endless line of eager subjects... and the pressure to draw them well and quickly. This will sound like I'm tooting my horn, but when I get into "the zone" I'm incredibly proud of the way I'm able to capture folks; and with a solid line – especially of couples, when I'm only changing out paper every other guest – I'm getting faster and faster when demand necessitates. Tonight, I estimate my average speed at 34 faces per hour (one face every 1.76 minutes). This is incredibly valuable when I'm at my desk at home with a looming deadline and I need to conceptualize an illustration.

3. Organizational skills. It doesn't always work out well, but when I'm on my game, a quick-sketch gig is a huge lesson in the balance of forethought and thinking on my feet. I drew for four hours tonight. While I reserve the right to take a break now and then, I try not to stop drawing for the entire duration so folks don't have to wait longer than they already are. This is especially a goal if I'm the lone artist at a party like tonight. So I've got to be sure I've got everything I need closely at hand, and I've got to try to plan on not needing to visit the facilities if at all possible. Now, while I try not to leave my station, it's unwise and possibly unhealthy to draw nonstop for hours on end, so occasionally I'll take a moment while bagging a caricature, or I'll take a few more seconds than usual to chat with guests before I draw them... while stretching my drawing hand or stretching my legs. When it comes to the end of the party, I do my absolute best to cut off the line accurately so guests aren't waiting in vain. Tonight, with a half hour to go, I cut off the line after eight couples. And as I revealed the final drawing, the final chord played on the last dance song of the night. Perfect. Rather satisfying and fulfilling.

4. Social observations. It's always intriguing to see how some people react when someone is staring right at them for two minutes. Because I'm careful about not making folks feel overly self-conscious, I've developed a sort of quick-read system where I take in rather broad strokes and spend most of the time looking at the paper. But when I look up, there are the folks that stare right back, the folks who get the giggles, the folks that are quick to point out the flaws they don't want pointed out, the folks that really have a hard time staying focused on looking in my direction, the folks who are really nervous, and the folks that get aggressively flirty. Interesting. Also, since prom season necessitates drawing a lot of folks with braces, I've begun asking the kids if they want me to draw the braces or not. Most of them want them included, but some don't. Another interesting situation I witness often is the herd of kids with the definite "alpha dog" leader who seems to steer the cutting up and the jeering and the rowdiness. I always hear them coming when they're in my line, and I always dread them because I've seen some caricaturists just get eaten alive. But I've resolved to treat everyone in my line with respect unless they're really out of line. I do my best to go along with their joking (within reason) and I try very hard to really pay the attention to these kids that they seem to really need. I had two such groups last night. And I'm happy to say everything went smoothly. No matter how negative, vulgar, or obnoxious they had been while waiting in line, as each sat at my table, they returned my respect and behaved. And as each of the two "alpha dogs" sat for me with their dates, it was amazing how quiet the crowd got. I heard a lot of "THAT'S TOTALLY YOU MAN!!" and "THAT'S TIGHT!!" and stuff like that. I think that when it comes down to it, everyone appreciates (and possibly even needs) someone paying attention to them – really trying to "see" them – for a few seconds, especially when they get the results to take home.

So there. I've übergeeked out on you with a glimpse into one aspect of my work life. I can't help but think back to the times I'd hear my Dad talk about how he approached his career, how he constantly tries to find better ways of doing things and finds seems to find joy in streamlining and economizing. We're pretty similar in that way.

Well, I've finally got to get to bed. Tomorrow, I've got church followed by a trip about 40 miles south for a work-related show visit. Then it's back home to sit in front of the TV with my sketch pad as the Tonys air on CBS. It'll be a good day. I wish you all the same. Take care! Peace and love.

More art and some fun news...

Hi all! Here's another Tony related piece I've drawn, this time celebrating the "special theatrical event" category. I'm enthralled by the diversity in this eclectic category: the show bizzy and pizazzy Liza at the Palace, the pop political wackiness of Will Ferrell's You're Welcome America, the fascinating European clowning traditions (and tons of paper snow) of Slava's Snowshow, and the wildly physical Soul of Shaolin. Fun category. Liza should win the Tony even though Will Ferrell has been on talk shows calling her a communist. Ha ha!

A couple fun mentions of the art lately:

1. Ryan O'Connor (host of the online Ryan O'Connor Show) gave me a happy shout out on his Broadway Space edition of his show. See it here. He shows a sketch at the tippy top and then talks about the art towards the end. Thanks, Ryan!

2. Peter Filichia (columnist for Theatremania.com, critic, and president of the Drama Desk) is giving me a mention and a link in his column coming up on Monday. I'll repost the link once it's actually up, but if you want to see his current column, click here. Peter plugged my work back in 2003 after he visited Music Theatre of Wichita to do an article on the resident company, and we've kept in touch. I'm so grateful for his support!

Well, I've been drawing a LOT lately, so I'm headed out for a bit of an escape at the Descanso Gardens. Maybe I'll take my Camelot script and work through some lines. And then I look forward to meeting up with friends this evening for some dinner and jazz... Jack Sheldon. Remember him from Schoolhouse Rock? That voice is comfort food.

Anyway, take care all! Peace and love.

Monday is a Tony day.

Does anyone still use the word "tony" when referring to something stylish? Seems like its heyday has passed, but why not bring it back now and then. Anyway...


Here is my latest piece over at Squigs Knows His Lines: The 2009 Tony Award musical nominees! It's the latest in my Tony series. Next week, I'll be watching the Tony ceremony and sketching some key and favorite moments. I'll then post the results by Monday morning. And in the days leading up to Tony day, I also anticipate posting another squiggle or two.

As far as who and what is featured in this piece, here ya go: Best Musical: Billy Elliot, Next to Normal, Rock of Ages, Shrek. Best Revival of a Musical: Guys & Dolls, Hair, Pal Joey, West Side Story. Leading Actors: David Alvarez/Trent Kowalik/Kiril Kulish, Gavin Creel, Brian d’Arcy James, Constantine Maroulis, J. Robert Spencer. Leading Actresses: Stockard Channing, Sutton Foster, Allison Janney, Alice Ripley, Josefina Scaglione. Featured Actors: David Bologna, Gregory Jbara, Marc Kudisch, Christopher Sieber, Will Swenson. Featured Actresses: Jennifer Damiano, Haydn Gwynne, Karen Olivo, Martha Plimpton, Carole Shelley.

I've been drawing a lot lately and I look forward to taking a bit of a break this evening and catching my friend Meloney's jazz show at MBar in Hollywood tonight. It's also her birthday, so happy happy, Mel!

Take care, all! Peace and love.