Banff Caricatures

Set in the beautiful Rocky Mountains at The Banff Springs Hotel, I spent three days caricaturing some wonderful professionals attending a convention from as far away as South Africa.

Thats my view from where I worked. A bit cloudy but soon the sun peeked through.

Thanks Daryle and Tina! My pleasure!

Banff Caricatures

Caricatures in Calgary

Working with other entertainers while drawing caricatures is one of the highlights of being a caricature artist. The attractive duo above are both exceptional at their crafts. Tristan Court is mega talented as an illusionist, magician, stilt walker and even a balloon twister. He also owns an entertainment agencey...you can view Tristan's site at..   www.trixtan.com

And Kayla Kielek is one of Calgary's most in demand face painters.

Caricaturing the mature female

When caricaturing the mature female at corporate events here in Calgary, I still stick to my own basic rules....I look for "the cute or pretty" in the subject....like a cartoon! I know other caricaturists really go for the jugular when drawing a mature guest...but why? Personally...I find it fun to see how attractive my guest can look in a caricature...and still retain the likeness....plus....it's ALWAYS a beautiful feeling to have the drawn guest smile and thank you sincerly.

   

K

Kelly Gannon, Mature Female Caricatures, Calgary event caricature Artist

Event Caricatures in Calgary

If I had to put on a scale from one to ten on just plain NICE, FUN guests to draw caricatures in Calgary for...this group of guests get an eleven! Thank You! It was an odd experience as a few minutes before I began drawing at the event, I had just heard that Robin Williams had passed away apparently from suicide...it was a bit un nerving to draw the first couple of caricatures as I liked Robin Williams work ( who didn't!). You gave the world many hours of laughter with your talent Mr. Williams...the world will miss your contribution to comedy.

Calgary Wedding Caricatures

Trio Avenue

I'm really looking forward to trying out my new Roland 15 electronic drum kit with my band, Trio Avenue tomorrow. I was using a great Gretsch, pearl white kit, and they sounded wonderful, but, while in a music store I sat down on the ectronic kit and was sold....thousands of dollars later.....because the group has our keyboard player playing bass parts with his left hand that are digital, and running through a clean Bose system, the Roland 15's just seemed like a natural fit considering we do tunes by Farrell Williams, Train and Michael Jackson with sounds I couldn't get off of an acoustic kit. After a late night Saturday music gig, it's up at 7:00am to get ready for a caricature event at The Paliser Hotel in Calgary....but it's ALL good.........

Karl Green

This was a sweet project I finished last week....loved it! A previous Herman's Hermits bass player and friend, Mike Bruccoleri remembered I had drawn the caricature for Peter Noone's tee shirt design for his "Noonefest" concerts ( Peter is lead singer of British Invasion band Herman's Hermits)....well being a previous "Hermit," Mike had brought to the US origional Herman's Hermits bass player, Karl Green....also one of the composers of some of their hit records. So in the pic above, I was to combine the British and US flag, then in a retro-style cartoon-caricature, draw Karl Green when he was with Herman's Hermits and then draw him recently....the tee shirts are now out and for sale ( the money doesn't go to me....) if you're interested in purchasing one, here's the link...   http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=FZKV3PS89D8Z8

Karl is the first figure on the left.....I get my tee shirt autographed! :).....thanks again Mike Bruccoleri .... above pic is of Karl in The Swinging Sixties....

Kelly Gannon, Karl Green, Mike Bruccoleri, Herman's Hermits

Calgary Cartoonist

I'd love to do these cartoon assignments all day if I could! Crazy looking simple cartoons. This was done for an advertising print job. I was contacted by the graphic designer that designed a book I had drawn all the cartoon characters in.....thanks for remembering me Shayne! Again....drawn very simple, leaving room for the graphic designer to do her magic with the border, background and lettering....LOVE doing these!

Kelly Gannon, Calgary Cartoonist

Retirement Caricatures

Normally I turn down studio caricatures, but I'm so glad I accepted this assignment. First off, they sent me GREAT pics to draw from....one of the main reasons I stopped doing studio caricatures in the first place was the less than easy pictures I had to draw from....like pictures of the subject taken from 20 feet away, people wearing hats and sunglasses....pictures that are five years old. Secondly, because they will be working with a print shop (these are for invitations), they asked that the cartoon-caricatures be drawn SIMPLE.....that I like! No cars, trucks, snowmobiles, quads, motorcyles, bicycles, airplanes, spaceships, boats.....you get the idea. I'd love to do more simple style caricatures like these ready for print....simple is GOOD...........

Kelly Gannon, Retirement caricatures

Caricature Artist in Calgary

During this caricature event in Calgary, I had a first...the lady at top and her Daughter sang an entire song to me while standing in line to get drawn....there was no music and they certainly spiced the event up! Thanks! You sounded great!

Kelly Gannon, Caricature Artist in Calgary

Bikini Bodies

Even though it was all western garb during Calgary's Stampede Week, some guests still wanted the "bikini body" drawn in while getting their caricature drawn....that was fine with me....

Kelly Gannon, Caricature Artist in Calgary

Mr. Bean

Every caricature artist should have a go at this fellow....Mr. Bean, or Rowan Atkinson. I whipped this up quite quickly because I'd seen him on TV a week or so ago. Mr. Atkinson created this character while studying at Oxford College to be an electrical Engineer of all things. Good on you Mr. Bean!

Kelly Gannon, Mr Bean

Kelly Gannon

Ahhh...now you know why I go to a gym every day....other than walking from my car...this is how active I get when working...... :)
Kelly Gannon, Calgary Caricature Artist

Stampede Caricatures

Another Stampede Week in Calgary is officially over. 5:00am mornings, lots of egg mcmuffins with buckets of coffee....battling traffic to make it to the next caricature gig on time.....but all well worth it!

Kelly Gannon, Calgary caricatures

Stampede Caricatures

Kelly Gannon, Calgary caricatures

Stampede Caricatures



Stampede Caricatures

I haven't had time to post many Calgary Stampede caricatures as of late....it's been mega hot (temperature that is) and sometimes the pens "act up" in the heat...but all is well in cowtown! During Stampede time, I've had a number of studio caricature offers which I've had to turn down, but one came through from a previous job ( doing a caricature for a tee shirt for the British Invasion band Herman's Hermits)...well... another member is coming to the US for a series of concerts, so I'm trying to squeeze in a tough deadline for another tee shirt design...though this one is quite a bit tougher to draw. Funny thing is, I just watched two movies on television previously with this person in it....sure wish I could give it to him personally!

Kelly Gannon, Stampede caricatures

Stampede Week in Calgary

One more event to draw at Tuesday ( Canada Day)... then it's ten full days of Stampede parties to draw caricatures for. Till then....yee haw.... (just practicing.....)

Kelly Gannon caricatures

Caricaturist in Calgary

Fantastic group.... the best way I can describe this group of professionals. Getting a chance to caricature these fun people inside their office tower in downtown Calgary makes my job enjoyable....these guests are at the top of my fun list! Thanks so much!

Kelly Gannon caricatures, calgary caricature artist, characters calgary

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