Hanna Caricature Gig

Every year I have the great opportunity to draw caricatures at the Hanna Teen Fair....and I love it! One interesting aspect about Hanna is that one of the world's biggest name rock bands grew up and came out of Hanna...Nickelback. Like them or hate them, your choice, but no denying that they achieved something incredible especially after you've had the opportunity such as I have of talking to many people that grew up with them as teens. ( most all these kids parents were in their classroom).

Unlike many rock bands, Nickelback has spent money and time on their incredible stage and light show...after all....that's what rock bands should do! (the worst I've seen was Bon Jovi...:(

Why I admire what the group has accomplished in their career, you only have to see the starting point of their career. The hotel ( the large white building ) was a Friday night playing venue and even they played at the local Legion....no overnight success.

I wonder if the band knew they would be playing the venues below....especially after starting out playing in the venues above......

And the common theme when talking to the parents of the kids I drew of the band Nickelback...."they were true bad boys!"

Yes...after listening to parents talk about the band, ( bad boys!), seeing the area they lived in, the smallness of the little town with radio stations only playing country music and of course, the venues they started playing in, I came to the conclusion that if anyone has a dream, with some hard work and a little luck.....one can accomplish them...good on you Nickelback!

I had enough time after drawing caricatures at Spruce Meadows Masters to get through 5:00 rush hour ( dreadful in Calgary...:) to get a parking spot and draw caricatures for the world's largest credit card company...( I'll let you guess that one!). Because it was held in this beautiful venue, I had to change in my car....ALWAYS a challenge.......

The Fab Set

I finally have the lettering of our British Invasion tribute band's logo, "The Fab Set" put onto my bass drum.....looks "Fab!!!"

Spruce Meadows Masters Caricatures

I really should have more samples of caricatures from working at The Spruce Meadows Masters....but I don't even though there were line-ups. There is something about stopping to take pictures of samples when guests have been lined up in the heat and rain for long periods of time....I usually jam out on the pictures, then when they're walking away I think "yes" that was a great sample....maybe the next one!

All over the grounds, very cool uniforms can be seen from the history of the horse, since we're Canadian, a lot of the history is British.

The Friday was burning hot and Sunday was cold and rainy, but the horse jumping show still continued though when the arena's get wet it must be a bit tense with horses that are worth more than a house....

Spruce Meadows Masters

If you're at The Spruce Meadows Masters this Friday and Sunday ( I'll be drawing in Nickleback's hometown Hanna on Saturday), just drop by the BMO centre and have your caricature drawn. I'll be there from 11:00am till 5:00pm.For anyone that doesn't know what the Masters is all about....well, it's kind of like The Superbowl for horse jumping folks.....

Wedding Caricatures in Calgary

The last few months have had me drawing caricatures at many weddings, and I have quite a few more coming up before the end of the year. The one last weekend was full of delightful people from India. They are beautiful people to draw with the large eyes and dark features. Thanks Nav!

Stereotyical Accountant

To continue with cartoonist's "stereotypical" series, here is the " Stereotypical Accountant." Yes...I know, I exaggerated a bit, I know what you're thinking....they don't throw paper on the floor! But seriously now, a good accountant is GOLD! And I have a great accountant! Accounting dates back as far as 7000 years ago in Mesopotamia. Some famous people that studied accounting are... ( you ready for this?) ...Robert Plant....Kenny G.....John Grisham....and the biggie....Mick Jagger....

Calgary Face Painter

Globalfest has been over for a week, but my talented Daughter, Cara, sent me a couple pics of face painting that she did through the entire festival. If you're interested in a face painter for your event, Cara's email is..
caralgannon@gmail.com

This handsome little fellow is off to school for the first time in his life....I am one proud Grandfather ..( or as he calls me... "Grumpa"  ). Only people that know me know the HUGE struggle this little guy had with health problems at the start of his life, and now he's just fine. And we owe it to surgeons at The Stollery Hospital in Edmonton....they are the REAL celebrities!

A FUN caricature for a FUN manager for a major airline here in Calgary last week. When she asked to make her "bad".....how much more bad can you get!  Terrific people to caricature that day! I've been doing a series of caricature events in Calgary but can't post any pictures as they have a media ban on all of them... (believe me....I heard about it...:) I have the last one to caricature at tomorrow, then a mega busy two weeks coming up starting with drawing caricatures at The Spruce Meadows Masters for three days in which I represent a major bank, then on to the small town where the band Nickleback grew up....I'm looking forward to that event as every now and then I meet people that knew members of the band.

New Pooch...Mickey...

I bought my Wife a new pup for our anniversary....she named him Winston....I call him Mickey, poor pup will probably get confused. He's part Chihuahua and Pomeranian....all three and a half pounds of him! When working here in my studio, so I'm not constantly watching the little guy, he sits comfortably in a small carrying case. Out of the many dogs I've had, this little guy stole my heart.....but...he belongs to my Wife!

Smoke Alert in Calgary

Calgary is under a health warning today because of the forest fires in Washington State. The smoke coming up here has caused the skies to be hazy and dark with warnings for people with respiratory problems to stay home with the windows closed. I had a caricature event here in Calgary to draw at today and it was cancelled due to health concerns. I have two outdoor events tomorrow that I'm concerned about as it's quite a hit in the pocketbook. Many construction workers and city workers were pulled off the job today as well. I'm beginning to feel like I live in Los Angeles......:)

Stereotypical Grocery Store Manager

To continue with the "Stereotypical" jobs....here's the Stereotypical Grocery Store Manager.They're usually busy but come across like one of your favorite uncles! When drawing cartoons, we cartoonists have to come up with a cartoon that reflects what the public thinks they look like.....:)

Caricaturing Kids

My Daughter Cara and I were hired to face paint and draw caricatures for an organization here in Calgary for four events. Included were a magician, and balloon artist. We have two more events this week. I'll be working my events drawing for Air Canada around them and my Daughter will be rushing to Globalfest to face paint guests right after our events together. It's going to be a busy week....but that's all good!

Paul Revere's Raiders

I had the honour to cartoon-caricatures of Paul Revere and the Raiders a few years ago. Included was Paul Revere's cartoon ( though not shown here), but since Paul's death, and I really consider myself to be lucky to meet Paul a couple of times ( great personality!!), the band has decided to continue on and I was requested to caricature the new member of the band...Paul Revere's son, Jamie Revere. Though my workload next week is mega heavy, I'll get started on his cartoon-caricature the week after....I can't wait for this one!

Al Barrett Band

Stampede Week had me drawing caricatures at an event twice where a terrific Calgary band was playing.... The Al Barrett Band! I had a few minutes to draw some quick caricatures of the guys, here's the cartoons put together.

Retirement Caricature

Okay, normally I really don't do any studio caricatures any more... (only a couple with no deadline...no cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles, bicycles, trucks, planes huge crowd scenes, pets..........) I had fun doing this one using Copic Markers because they gave me free rein, with no political correctness involved.The guys were all fun blue collar workers without a HR office to run it through first........:)

Not a cartoon or a caricature, but I had to come up with a simple visual for a sixties band that added spy and surf music to their song list. Instead I found a "woody" station wagon they used to haul their surfboards back in the sixties and put two "Man From UNCLE statues behind the surf wagon, add the band's logo in front,  and voila....:)

Caricaturing Kids

Jazzberry Entertainment has me doing a number of kids caricature events in Calgary this week and next week. The one factor is that I have to draw FAST. There are long line-ups and the trick is to get as many kids drawn as possible in the allotted time frame. Today perhaps I shouldn't have started drawing any bodies at all instead just the caricature with head and shoulders only.....the trouble is when some kids see the bodies at first being drawn, then it can be difficult to switch to just head and shoulders... ( sounds like a shampoo commercial....). Sometimes for me, drawing in a gag and body can spark more interest in the drawing aspect, but tomorrow I'll discipline myself to just head and shoulders....it gets tiring standing in a long line-up...in the sun! :)

Calgary Wedding Caricatures

Another wedding here in Calgary that had me drawing caricatures for them....and a fun one it was at that! Caricatures are always a fun add-on to the DJ at a wedding. I usually entertain the guests either before the dance starts or during the dance. In the case above, this event I was asked to draw caricatures during the dance....below it was during dinner until the dance begins. I prefer the "before" aspect as it's nice to talk with the guest whereas during the dance, it's dark and a lot of staring....:0 I can't speak above the music all night. an alternative I've had is the planners place me in the lobby....then I'm happy!

Calgary Wedding Caricatures

Drawing caricatures at weddings is becoming more and more popular here in Calgary. This weekend had me doing a few and last weekend had me at one in Cochrane with many more coming up this year. With slumping oil prices scaring off the corporate sector from having large events, people are still getting married! Here's a couple from one of the weddings this weekend,. Each person takes about 4 1/2 minutes to draw....though not every guest will get drawn, it's also entertainment for those watching the process! If you'd like me to draw at your wedding, my email is...    kelstudios@telus.net

Reaction to caricatures

I never know the reaction I'll get when I've completed a guest's caricature, but in most all cases it's very good. Here's a reaction from a couple of ladies at an event drawn at this weekend. Because they were attractive and had bubbly personalities and thought I would/could have more fun with their caricature...it might be just a bit too racy for some, but not for these gals.......it's always a judgement call when the guest sits down to get a caricature drawn but these two lovely ladies put me at ease right off the bat! I won't show the caricature....but it was.....fun.......

Disney builds Star Wars theme parks

Disney has an ambitious new project in the works...Star Wars World. I'll preface by saying I'm not a fan at all of Star Wars, though think it's very well done...but I am a huge fan of the Disney Corporation. Though these theme attractions will be built in several parks around the world, the US parks will see 14 acres in both THE California and Florida parks. I've often said after visiting both parks and working drawing caricatures in Disneyland, that Calgary city planners should meet...talk....study....learn......and execute ideas on how to make large areas of land efficient, instead of the traffic mess they've created here in Calgary. I'm sure they'd love the idea! :)

Kid's party caricatures

Well this weekend coming up will be all weddings, and last week/weekend was all children's parties, again, I'm too busy to get pictures because of speed issues. The last five years or so I only draw head and shoulders now, though years ago I learned dozens of "gags" to spice up the cartoon-caricatures, but because kids really don't like standing in line for long periods of time, the head/shoulders formula seems to work. Usually the child could care less about the picture, instead focussing in on the cake and candy....but the Moms love them! :)