Calgary Face Painter

A shout out to a Calgary face painter I worked with on the weekend, Cara Gannon, for your events, parties, you can contact Calgary Face Painter Cara at    caralgannon@gmail.com

Cara Gannon

Caricature Signature

Sometimes I see a caricature artists signature scribbled at the bottom of the page with no way to make out what it says, I'm guilty of this as well! But to show the importance of writing your name neatly, which luckily I did in this case, this young lady that framed the caricature I drew of her has hired me for two events coming up....we never know who we're drawing and with the power of Google, they can get ahold of us quite easily, which this lady did....thanks Alane!

Kelly Gannon

Re-Cover Your Drumset

Absolutely nothing to do with drawing caricatures, I know, but inbetween caricature events I've been busy re-covering my drum kit. I've re-covered approximately 20 kits throughout the last couple decades and still love seeing the kit with it's new look! First the new covering is ordered from Chicago ( right now the exchange rate will give you cardiac arrest....), after careful measurements. Precision Drums is a very good company that I've delt with over the years.

After stripping off the old wrap and carefully removing the badge and grommet (though you can buy new grommets ) first "dry fit the wrap to make sure it doesn't go past the bearing edge. It should overlap a couple of inches in length before glued.

Then tape the wrap tightly around the drum using painters tape to keep the wrap in place. Make sure the seam is placed inbetween the lugs, on the bass drum, have the seam placed at the bottom, the tom toms have the seam placed on YOUR side of the drum kit when set up so it's not visible to someone looking at the kit from the front.

I use contact cement and lightly sand the area to be glued first. Then take a sharp object such as a long nail and poke from the inside all the holes to be drilled. From the outside of the shell, drill the holes.( if you drill from the inside, it will push the wrap outward and bits of wood will fall inbetween the wrap and shell.

Place the lugs back on....take off the tape.....look at your new drum kit...take pictures and bang away to your heats content!

Show Home Caricatures

Wednesday had me drawing caricatures in Calgary at a lottery show home. The home above is priced at 2.4 million dollars. Anyone reading this that doesn't live in Canada may not know we here pay dearly for our housing. The guests below were designers and media folks....all fantastic folks!

The fellow with the beard gave me permission to "have fun with the caricature"......so I did! All in fun.

Kelly Gannon

Editorial Cartoonist

When drawing caricatures in Calgary at corporate events, I'm constantly asked what I used to do before being an event caricaturist....and that is....an editorial cartoonist. After trying to get into papers, then successfully getting into them on a regular basis, just shy of four years, I wanted out. My feeling about newspapers now are that they're great for lining the birdcage. Having to read everyday about narcissistic politicians everyday really takes a toll on your outlook on people. Some nights I was up until 2:00am to finish the cartoon in order to meet the deadline ( for me it was 3:00pm), holidays were spent sometimes drawing in the bathroom of a hotel room drawing while my family slept. Then dealing with....uggghhh....editors, though one of mine ( Fort McMurray Today) was TERRIFIC! Thanks Darrel! I now see why every editorial cartoonist I've met is...well....miserable..... THEN....by chance I flew down to Florida for a convention, and there were "party caricaturists" drawing there....looked interesting! It stuck in my mind....then another trip to Disneyland, and sure enough, theme park caricaturists were drawing guests there ( eventually I landed up with a job at Disneyland drawing guests and my boss was the same guy that years before had drawn myself and my family!:)

So one day I woke up...decided I didn't want to deal with newspapers, and read about creepy politicians ( which I still have the view is the majority of them ) and quit my papers....and a wave of peace came over me that I made the right decision.Though it is a bit of a rush to open a newspaper, and see something that you created from scratch and hard work, though it looks easy. But...that was about 15 years ago....the "party caricatures" are now my focus and all is well in that world....:)
Kelly Gannon

Ural wish list...:)

Ha....a friend of mine that is a motorcycle enthusiast invited me out to a motorcycle dealership to view motorcycles with him a few days ago.....I should never do that. In the past I've owned two motorcycles, but after a bit of a wipeout on the motocross one, I decided to have four wheels under me instead. When viewing these bikes I fell in love with the Ural bike complete with side-car. I know it looks like it's straight out of WW11 ( and used by the opposing side! ), but with my love of WW11 history, perhaps that's what attracted me to it. Even though the bike is manufactured in Russia, I have heard positive comments on the Ural......I should never look at something like this as it's been on my wish list since I viewed it.....damn!
Kelly Gannon

Keith Richards Caricature

I had drawn this caricature of Keith Richards a few years back, but totally re-vamped the whole cartoon as of last week. I had Mr. Richards in the period of say....20 years ago....when he wasn't totally grey and just a few less wrinkles. Keith Richards so far has to be my favorite personality to draw....LOTS to work with! And yes....I hope to see The Rolling Stones touring into their eighties! I seen them when they were on tour in their sixties....they were great!
Kelly Gannon

Drive By - Train - Cover - Trio Avenue

I had an invite to attend a birthday party this weekend at a terrific venue that was done up in a 50's design, complete with chrome chairs with red leather, black checkered floors and if you watched the sitcom "Happy Days," it would be like the diner on the show. The guests including myself dressed in 50's style attire. ( or what we all invision it to have been....actually only a very small percentage wore the black leather jackets....). I drew this wonderful lady and her equally wonderful husband and as we chit-chatted, something just hit me....I asked who her brother was and sure enough he is the keyboard player I did a series of recordings with last year. ( he's now in Arizona). ( I'm playing drums on the recording). 

Calgary Caricature Artist

Yesterday had me drawing caricatures for a birthday party here in Calgary with a wonderful group of teens! When this body situation is drawn for the guys, it immediately gets a smile....and a large one at that! :)

Calgary caricatures..

Calgary Caricaturist

I spent about 5 days up in Kananaskis Resort drawing caricatures of the families. Sometimes I worked in this room, and other times right beside the buffet! Torture! :) I never took many pictures as most of the guests were kids, but did get a couple. All in all, a fun time and when not working, I had a chance to go to the gym and relax....and yes....eat a lot!

BUDDY RICH IMPOSSIBLE DRUM SOLO *HQ*

Nothing to do with caricatures, but even if you dislike drum solos, hate big band music or whatever, you HAVE to admit after watching this, Buddy Rich is incredible! I had the honour of seeing Buddy Rich play live twice before his death.....I just about floated out of the auditorium! It's sad that young people don't get a chance to know Buddy Rich's music and talent, seems Neil Peart from the Canadian rock band "Rush" takes the spotlight....don't get me wrong, Neil Peart is a monster talent, but even he would admit....he's no Buddy Rich....he bows to Buddy's talent. What is beautiful about this is video is that he's wearing a suit....has a small set of drums and is advanced in age....oh Buddy...there will never be another like him!

Kananaskis Resort

Early tomorrow morning ( Wednesday), I leave to draw caricatures at The Kananaski Resort in Kananaskis Country. It's a pleasant drive, as long as travellers realize they are in the mountains with animals crossing the highway constantly and anyway.....why speed to get there, enjoy the scenery. (you can tell I've driven this route before....:). It's five years now I've been drawing caricatures for the families up there. I do have to return to Calgary to draw at an event, then back up, Christmas Day alone has me drawing two events at the resort. Luckily my lovely Daughter Cara will be doing the temporary airbrush tattoos up there. But to all...."Merry Christmas!"

Heartland TV Show caricatures

A week ago I had the pleasure of drawing a private party for the cast and crew of the television show "Heartland." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartland_(Canadian_TV_series)
The lighting made my camera, which is not good quality anyway, even worse....so excuse the terrible pictures...( my inexperience..:)

I wasn't too sure of the actors, but did draw the main actress Amber Marshall ( a sweety!). A great evening for me! :)

Corporate Caricatures

Saturday evening had me drawing caricatures in Calgary at The BMO Centre. Nice looking crowd! The agent gave us very small paper to draw on though....wow, that was tough, but manageable. I have a rule of thumb when drawing corporate caricatures.....keep things fun and cartoony, no need for extreme exaggeration really....but that's only me.

I did a caricature event last night in this beautiful hotel situated in Okotoks. Because I had to get through everyone...well, no pictures!

Corporate Caricatures

Ready to walk into a corporate event to draw caricatures and I love the entrance! This week had me drawing caricatures at three events until the weekend, then another busy Saturday and Sunday. I still received two more Christmas bookings on Wednesday and low and behold, I was able to squeeze them in perfectly. This event was all engineers and road planners, and yes....they were terrific to draw! Thanks Paige! ps....you'll have to excuse the terrible photography...I tried using my phone on these ones....I certainly won't win any awards with these...

Pomchi

Our little pooch is getting comfortable in his new home....but wow....his energy! He's a cross between a Chihuahua and a pomeranian....I think the Chihuahua side of him took over, but how can you stay mad at a face like this....only about two hours....

Party Caricatures in Calgary

Some wonderful, fun guests I had the pleasure of drawing caricatures in Calgary for last night....thanks! When the guests are like they were last night, it sure makes my job easier to do, if only I had this crowd every event I draw at! :) The event was held at Fort Calgary, a building built in 1875 by The Northwest Mounted Police....I read when hanging was legal in Canada, there were "folks" hanged there.....:( Thanks again Karen!

Christmas at the Gannon's

Creativity comes in different forms, such what some may think is simple Christmas design, but it's harder than one may think! :) My Wife did these Christmas displays above ( and many, many more) for our house this year. One year I tried decorating the tree....it looked like Stevie Wonder had a go at it.....the job is now relegated to someone who knows what they're doing....my Wife! Great job Maizie!

Jack Davis turns 90 today.

The GREAT Jack Davis turns 90 today! You may ask, "who is Jack Davis?" In the cartoon world, he is most any cartoonist's inspiration for doing what we do. The old MAD Magazine being Jack Davis's introduction to all teenage cartoonists who devoured each issue with his incredible cartoon style in each issue. The magazine no longer has cartoonists such as Jack Davis or Mort Drucker anymore.

Jack Davis work hit us all with the same impact as The Beatles did, both being from the 60's. Though my work doesn't resemble Mr. Davis, he was my inspiration for getting into my job. I'll explain....:) I tried to emulate his style when I was an editorial cartoonist, (as did many other cartoonists), then tiring of newspapers in general, I was looking around at other opportunities as a cartoonist....nothing came up!

I heard that a caricature association in the 90's was having Jack Davis as a guest speaker in Cocoa Beach, Florida.....that was it, I hopped on a plane (when air travel wasn't stressful), and headed down there. While there, I seen all these caricature artists drawing guests in mere minutes....something I could never do at that time. With thousands of drawings later, I thought I was ready to draw at my first "live" event and from there it took off.

So in a round-about way, again, Jack Davis had an influence on my career! So with that, I say....Happy Birthday Jack Davis!    ps....yes....he was a wonderful person to meet!