Caricature Express

A wild party. Loud music, small space, lots of kids being encouraged to ‘dance’ (jump around and wiggle) by the dj. On the one hand, I wonder what it is that we’re teaching them. On the other hand, I wonder if we’re not teaching them anything anyway - we’re just enabling them to do the things that kids naturally do.

Here are some of the pictures I drew.
My natural tendency is to question things, but through this job of working at Parties, I’ve learned to give it up and just jump in. It’s fun.

To Hire this Artist:
(516) 579-4706
optidust@gmail.com

I felt sad tonight. I had been so grateful for the good things
in my personal life for so many months in a row now, with no
break. Add that to my happy party attitude (It’s my job), and
I had been glued/frozen into happies. The sad actually felt good
- relaxing.

Lol - as soon as I noticed that I liked the feeling, it lost its
power. I am now just calm. Neither ecstatic nor crummy.
Maybe we all have to feel all the emotions. For balance.

I went through some of my photographs.

Here are some from an Adult Corporate Party.
I felt like the people were just there because
they thought they had to be. Still, I got some
good reactions out of them with my Pictures:

And here are some pictures from a Child’s Party.
It was a last-minute deal, and it was hard to fit in
before another Party that I was already committed
to. But I’m so glad I did. I was pleasantly surprised
and really appreciated by people who treated me
so well. Some of my clients are so sensitive and
kind. Coming across these photos tonight, when
I’m thinking about emotions — made me think about
how we all did things to make each other feel happy,
appreciated, wanted. Hmmmm.

At Yoga, they recommend coming from a neutral place -
so we’re not constantly changing because of our fickle
ups and downs.

To Hire this Artist:
(516) 579-4706
optidust@gmail.com

I am so glad that I take photos of the people
who I draw, the people who pass through my
life. So I can remember them. It’s not only
the significant others in our lives who can
affect us intensely - It could be anyone.
Who knows if we say or do something
that’s taken to heart. If we say or
do something that a person acts
on, that affects the totality of
her life.

Might even….be….the Purpose of My life.

And even on a simpler scale,
it’s good to remember people
who were pleasant. Alive.
Just a peaceful, appreciated
part of my life. Here are some
pictures that I drew at a
Long Island Community Center.
They’ve hired me at least 2 years
in a row now. And I’d want to remember
them when/if they call me back again
next year. Since I draw at 3-5 parties
each week, the photos help me remember
the nice individuals who I appreciate -
who keep me able to earn my living pleasantly.
Which is, actually, quite monumental.
If I couldn’t earn a living, I could die.

To Hire this Artist:
(516) 579-4706
optidust@gmail.com

Oh woe. I try to do such a good job. Really looking. Making exaggerations. That’s what Caricature is supposed to be. It’s not supposed to be pretty pictures in which everybody looks like some preconceived imaginary fashion model.

There I was at a party. I started drawing the first picture you see here. It’s unfinished because the Mother of the Birthday Girl, with good intentions, quietly asked me to put it away and make a ‘better’ one of her guest. I did that, and the girl is holding the picture that came out of shocked me. My Flow was halted. I did the best I could to please my client.

But the girl was cool. Fun-loving, she came to me afterwards and asked to see the first picture. I gave her a quick glance at it, and she laughed - fully comfortable with herself.

I think the girl knew what she looked like. And she sensed that there was no animosity in my drawing. And I think that the well-meaning Mother was actually giving the girl a message that it’s Not All Right to Look Like Herself.

We all look ‘Different’. It’s the ones that can accept their individuality and go with it that have the higher self-esteem. Self acceptance. Happier. And actually ‘look better’.

How I ended up watching this movie - Summer Catch - don’t ask. But there I was……What to do? I know! I’ll draw some pictures!

Actually, I did pick up one good line form this movie.
I don’t remember exactly how they said it, but it was
something like - The reason the Indian Rain Dance worked
is that they didn’t stop dancing until it rained.

To Hire this Artist:
(516) 579-4706
optidust@gmail.com