Caricature Artist in Calgary

A few more delightful guests drawn at an office tower in downtown Calgary..
Kelly Gannon, Calgary caricatures

Ben Smith

This super nice guy posed for a picture for me....then went off directly after this pic to step on stage in front of thousands of fans....Ben Smith...drummer supreme for the rock group "Heart". ( Maybe you'll remember one of their 35  million recordings sold worldwide, such as Barracuda, These Dreams, Heartless, Crazy On You, Dreamboat Annie, Magic Man....just to name a few ).

Ben came in and did a giant drum lesson and I was lucky enough to see him in a small setting. I've been fortunate to attend drum clinics up close and personal for drummers that have played with Michael Jackson, Lional Ritchie, Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond, Rod Stewart, Ozzy Osbourne, Ringo Starr, Phil Collins, David Lee Roth...the list goes on....
But Ben Smith's clinic was the best in my opinion...why? Because he was one of the friendliest, and didn't JUST do long winded drum solos..( though his solos are incredible!). Ben spent time talking about the psychology of the business, and talked about simplicity, dependability, and a great listener with interaction.......thanks Ben....you are one very cool guy!
                 
Ben Smith, drummer for Heart

Caricatures

One of a fun group of teenagers I had the opportunity to draw caricatures for beside a boathouse in Calgary. I'm sure the organizers were biting their fingernails as it was raining hard all week and this was an outdoor event....but.....the sun didn't let anyone down.
Kelly Gannon, Kelly G, Kelly caricaturist, Kelly Gannon caricatures

Caricature artist in Calgary

I finally had the opportunity to cartoon-caricature my booking agent that arranges all my flights....the ever-talented...Rose! When I worked on the cruise ships drawing caricatures, Rose would always arrange my flights...but I know she was always wondering "someone in another part of the world wants this guy to draw a caricature???"

I had recently booked a trip to England to draw caricatures  aboard a cruise ship that was to go to Norway and Iceland...but had to cancel for many reasons after Rose had put in so much hard work lining up trains and rooms, flights etc.....a big thank you Rose!!!
Kelly Gannon

Caricaturist in The Yukon

Here's just a small sample of the many high school graduates I had the opportunity to draw caricatures for in The Yukon Territories....a delightful group of young adults to draw for...and thanks for waiting in that long line-up!
Magician Murray Hatfield and myself getting ready to entertain a graduating class in The Yukon Territories....I can see by the picture I was pretty tired from getting up early and catching a flight to The Yukon that day.....it was a long day before this gig....I'm NOT an early riser.......but the great kids and management ( thanks Shannon!) made the evening one that I'll remember...
The huge video screen with a camera trained on my drawings were projected beside the stage...what a great add-on for any event! But I did learn mylesson with projecting a guest while they're being drawn...make sure their back is to the screen. At one time I drew caricatures in Disneyland where the screen FACED the guests while they were drawn....tough...I had to keep asking the guest to look my way so I could draw them.....yes...behind the guest works just fine!
Kelly Gannon caricatures in Calgary
As you can see by the crowd below, I had four and one half hours to draw all the graduating kids....I think I did get most of them drawn...and to all that did wait in those long lines....thank you from me!

Caricaturist in The Yukon

Again....I don't as a rule read many newspapers, but I leafed through this one and imagine my surprise when I get to a papge and lo and behold...there I am at an event! It's tough to see yourself when you havn't had a chance to "pose" for a picture.....  :)
Kelly Gannon, Kelly G

Caricatures in Calgary

Another fun event I had drawing caricatures in Calgary for an accounting firm...I'm here to tell you...yes...accountants are fun!!! Thanks Michaela!
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Working beside an ultimate jazz singer Shari was a treat for me. I've worked before beside Shari at cosmetics shows where she entertains with her fantastic voice, and I draw the caricatures. You can check out Shari's website at  www.sharichaskin.com

KEL Entertainment

I finished making this prop for KEL Entertainment that holds theme parties with props. The last thing to do is "install" the udders, which will be a pair of surgical gloves.....this is part of a large display for a party obviously for Stampede Week. Their website is   http://kelstudios.com
KEL Entertainment props, theme parties
I thank all the allies who landed on the beaches of Normandy that fateful day over half a century ago....thank you!
A couple of delightful guests I was fortunate to draw caricatures in downtown Calgary today...most of my guests worked at the courthouse. Couldn't have been better, bright and sunny and smiling people to be drawn....thanks...you made my day!
Kelly Gannon, characters in Calgary, Calgary characters, Kelly G

Calgary Caricatures

I got lucky with the weather today...bright and sunny for drawing caricatures in downtown Calgary....one day drawing in the mountains, the next day drawing the concrete jungle.

Calgary Caricature Artist

My art friend Veronica Funk invited to draw at one of her classes....thank you Veronica! I've always admired Veronica's work and business acumen as she is both an artist and a writer. You can check out information on her at...   

Calgary Wedding Caricaturist

A couple of the delightful guests who all flew in from Toronto to celebrate a wedding in The Rocky Mountains. And of course, out of about 20 pictures...only two turn out! The guests were all professionals in the financial field....fantastic group to draw caricatures at a wedding for....thanks Peggy!! And thanks to the guests getting a ribbing about Toronto's most infamous character....Rob Ford..............
Kelly Gannon, calgary wedding caricatures, wedding caricaturist

Caricatures in Calgary

This year I've had more caricature events drawing young adults thean ever before. The right hand side is just one third of the guests I drew that day. These were for a graduation....because of time and budget, it was agreed that instead of me drawing their hobby, sport, future occupation....or bad habit, it was quicker to draw a thought bubble or very simple drawing to save time, I JUST completed all by the time school ended that day.
Kelly Gannon, caricaturist in Calgary, characters in Calgary

Turks and Caicos....one day part of Canada?

Talks are under way that PERHAPS one day, Turks and Caicos could be to Canada, like Hawaii is to The United States.....but remember, we have quite a dull government in Ottawa at the present, come to think of it, we havn't had an adventurous govenment since the railroad was built through Canada. I guess it would be a stretch for a govenment to perhaps think that over the years billions of dollars go to other countries from Canadians that want to excape our harsh winter.....would it not be better to take a chance on letting Turks and Caicos join us? We've turned them down three times before....but knowing Canadian governments, I think we're going to let this one slip through our fingers again....pessimistic? Yes...I think we're still stuck on the 3m's.....moose, mounties and mountains.......lift your sites Harper........

Caricatures in Airdrie

Yesterday had me drawing caricatures for a terrific family in Airdrie....a couple of birthdays coming up for the family! Thanks Rob and Shav!

Caricaturist in Calgary

Just a few samples of the girl athletes that competed in Calgary for the annual Lacrosses Championships. Though the history of lacrosse is difficult to trace, it is said to have been created in Canada by the Native American Indians...all I know....it's one tough sport to play!
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Calgary Caricaturist

A fun event for me drawing for the finals girls lacrosse play-offs in Calgary....these young ladies really give it their best in these tough games.
Kelly Gannon
Every year for the last four years I've had the honour of drawing caricatures for the girls play-off lacrosse games in Calgary. It's an intense one for me as each team that wants one has only an allotted amount of time, so speed is essential. It's a full out eight hours of drawing and when finish, I can hardly stand up! But all worth it! Thanks Rhonda!
Here's my yearly shameless self promotion post. I was surprised to see my name in not one newspaper, but two. Thanks so much Veronica!
It was a rainy cold day at this caricature event a week ago held in Okotoks at a golf and country club....but the party goers didn't let the gloomy ouside dampen their spirits.


"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over again in my life. And that's why I succeed."...Michael Jordan