Drive By - Train - Cover - Trio Avenue

Here's a cover tune that I had the honour to play drums on. They have to remix the drum kit though, needs a bit more "thump" on the bass drum. The only problem with using electronic drums on a recording ( I used some Roland 20's) is that the whole kit is on one channel, so if one drum needs to come up in the mix...well, I have to go in and re-do the entire song.:) But I'm good with that!

Banff Caricatures

I was honoured to have drawn caricatures a few weeks ago in Banff for The World Media Festival, the party I was drawing at was for Nickelodeon, which was suiting to have a caricature artist there.  These were writers, producers, directors and so forth.

Driving up I could see the dark clouds starting to gather right over that mountain, and sure enough, when walking to the event from my parking spot...it hit, hard rain coming down, all I could think of was it spoiling the paper, lucky for me I reached the main street just in time to get under the eves of the buildings.

I've always wanted to give this mechanical bull riding thingy a try.....looking to bring out that "inner cowboy?".....Well I'm here to tell you it's MUCH more difficult than one would think to stay on, I can't imagine being on a real bull. This machine threw me around pretty good, a real one would do even better. I can strike this off my bucket list now.....and riding a real one?  Only when pigs fly.....

I did a caricature event for an accounting firm at Spruce Meadows in Calgary. Because of my bad photography, I have few

caricature samples. But I do have to give a shout out to Spruce Meadows for free parking and making it easier for entertainers to work there (UNLIKE Heritage Park which is my LEAST favorite place to work in Calgary...). In the venue I was working at there were two British Guards placed at the doors before we entered the venue....these guys are amazing how disciplined they are!

Looking out the side window, there was just one of the world class horse jumping arenas. Such a classy place!

Calgary Party Caricatures

Two attractive women that I had the opportunity to draw for an engineering firm a week ago.....they are also the gals that hired me! Thanks Chelsey and Roni....the event was fantastic!

These two guests were the most friendly folks I've drawn! MJ is from Chile and Fran is from Mexico. When I asked about their first winter here in Canada, well.....their smiles disappeared quite quickly.....but soon came back.

Kelly Gannon

Party Caricatures in Calgary

Again....I only had time to take one picture of this young lady as there were too many people waiting and I had to get as many guests drawn before the time limit and run off through Calgary traffic which is a nightmare to get to my next event on time. But this gal and pic is a fun one.....thanks Kathy!
Kelly Gannon

BOBBY CURTOLA - FORTUNETELLER in Stereo!

Before Justin Beiber, Canada's teenage heart throb that racked up a dozen or more gold albums was Bobby Curtola. In the late seventies I had the opportunity to play drums at an event for him....man was I out of my element. Being younger I was into Deep Purple and Uriah Heep and so on, then to play this style of music threw me, though now it would be a snap. But he was more than patient! Thanks Bobby.
The article on Mr. Curtola is here....    http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/former-canadian-teen-idol-bobby-curtola-dies-an-amazing-man-who-did-so-much-for-the-people-in-this-world

Kids Caricatures in Calgary

For the last couple of weekends I was drawing the kids at a major lacrosse tournament for kids held in Calgary. Terrific group of young adults! All very passionate about lacrosse. I still can't draw a lacrosse stick all that well, after drawing hundreds of them....

This young girl is as passionate about milkshakes as she is about lacrosse ...( and so am I...)

I dream of Jeannie theme song

The intro to the 60's sitcom, "I dream of Jeannie" was another influence on me when I was younger. (this shows my age....). Again, just like the opening to the sitcom, Bewitched, the caricatures are cartoony rather than exaggerated, which is exactly what I prefer. Simplicity in the drawings are much more difficult than one may think.

Wedding Gig

I was just to tired to take pictures of guests at a wedding gig I did last Saturday night. I had drawn caricatures at a couple day event where I started at 9:00am and finished at 5:00pm....then a quick change in my vehicle, then drawing at the wedding until 11:30pm. This fella was all I had the gumption to take a picture of..... :)

Kids Caricatures in Calgary

A couple weeks ago had me drawing caricatures for a three day event for lacrosse players in Calgary. Two days had me caricaturing for 5 hours each day, though the Saturday was a marathon....from 9:00am to 900pm. On these ones I just did simple body situations as I had line-ups and speed was important to finish them before they had to get back on the field. But a great weekend it was!

My Daughter, Cara, did all the face painting with me. I think it's harder on face painters as they have to "hunch over" to paint the faces....she was pretty sore after that weekend. To hire Calgary Face Painter, email Cara at...      caralgannon@gmail.com

All You Need Is Love Beatles Trubute Band Calgary

I went out last night to see Calgary's finest Beatles tribute band, All You Need Is Love. Great job by all! Keith.....you nailed it! The Beatles are big boots ( Cuban heeled boots at that) to fill and the band did a stellar job doing just that, recreating both the look and feel of The Beatles. Booted and suited they took the audience on a "magical history tour"....... I love it when a band goes the extra mile with proper equipment, look and of course, musicianship and generally caring about the audience first, as All You Need Is Love demonstrated last evening.

Calgary Caricatures

KISS or....Keep It Simple Silly. Seems to work the best sometimes. I was drawing caricatures at a cosmetic counter and was asked to draw the ladies in a high-heel shoe. Most turned out quite well, but was asked just to draw "head and shoulders" by the guests. Often I'm asked to draw with "theme" ideas, such as when I was asked by a major airline to draw all guests in an airplane.....after a few, guests just said..."skip the plane.....just draw me by myself." Sometimes just drawing caricatures the simple way just seems to work the best. :)

Calgary Temporary Airbrush Tattoos

A shout out to the best temporary airbrush tattoo artist in Calgary, Cara Gannon. I worked an event with her recently and here's a couple different ones that adults requested....she was able to put them together quite quickly. If your event or function would like a temporary airbrush tattoo artist in Calgary, Cara's email is...    caralgannon@gmail.com

Kids Up Front Caricatures

It's always a good idea when an entertainer has the opportunity to give back to a great organization, and that organization is Calgary's "Kids Up Front." I don't do any studio caricatures anymore, but do cartoony, simple ones for the board of directors for this important organization. I've done about triple this number but was requested again last week to add to the many cartoon heads of people that do work for Kids Up Front. It's MY honour!

Calgary Party Caricatures

I had the pleasure to draw caricatures in Calgary for employees at a retail outlet last week....I sure love it when I can draw only one subject onto the paper at a time, though most of my work has couples drawn in.

Party Caricatures

Delightful guests is one way to describe all the subjects I drew caricatures at here in Calgary last week. This event was a large one with 800 guests and 5 caricature artists. The venue is situated beside the bobsled run that the movie "Cool Running" was filmed starring the late John Candy. One of my favorite events I've drawn at....thanks to the guests!

Bewitched Opening 1969

A fantastic, fun cartoon version of the main characters of the 60's sitcom "Bewitched." These are the  type of caricatures that perked my interest in cartoons and caricatures. It's sad television shows never use the type of openings anymore. I also love the minimal amount of lines the caricaturist used while still getting an exact likeness, and he also didn't need to draw an overly exaggerated caricature to make it good. Sometimes fun wins over the caricaturist's ego.

Fort McMurray Fires

Thank God today it started raining up in the Fort McMurray region. To readers that haven't heard about the fires in northern Canada, the area on fire is the size of New York State. I must say, even Russia has offered to help, with our VERY inexperienced Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau turning them down...don't ask. I always wanted to visit Fort McMurray one day as in the 90's, I was working as an editorial cartoonist for The Fort McMurray Today newspaper. I hope the city comes back just as vibrant!
UPDATE... I usually stay non political on my blog, but I find it disgusting that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can GIVE away billions of dollars around the world and to areas that voted for him, but simply "match" dollar for dollar Red Cross donations. He hasn't had the courtesy yet of even coming to Alberta and this is May 12th. That tells you something about what kind of man he is...doesn't say much to me.😐
UPDATE OF UPDATE... Okay...Trudeau showed up and seen the devastation...not a lot to say... So far, unemployment benefits are going to be extended..  ,.. wow.....what a Prime Minister we voted in......😕

Sugar Skull Caricatures

As far as I know, I'm the only caricature artist that does "Sugar Skull Caricatures," and I had the chance again last week being hired by a Tequila company to draw these at an event. I had first tried them at the Calgary Comic Con. There were two situations the guests could choose from, first the make-up artist would apply the make-up, then I try to draw it like the one above, and the other is that I create the make-up design for the guests that didn't want their face painted. The night was a success. Thanks Sarah!

Pentel Arts Color Brush

On my quest for the perfect pen to use when drawing party caricatures, I overspent and bought a Pentel Arts Color Brush......what a mistake! In my opinion, these so far are the worst brush pen I've tried....bar none. ink is hard to flow properly, you have to squeeze the handle ( WHO thought of that?). Messy and sloppy lines are all that I got from this pen. In my opinion, a total waste of money on my part, and I have tried tens of thousands of drawings with many other brush pens.

Surfer Dud

A cartoon design for a new Facebook page I've just created....if you enjoy cartoon design, how about click onto my "Like" page just to the right of you :) (more shameless self promotion....).

Calgary Caricatures

Last week had me caricaturing a delightful group of ladies at an event here in Calgary.....always enjoy this event!

I think if you were to ask most caricaturists, it's so much easier drawing just one guest on each page than the customary two people, though two people is the norm.

I even had a chance to draw a young fellow....

Finally getting used to using a cell phone for a camera....instead of....a camera....hmmmnn

And the young gal greeting guests at the door.

Mini Wheats Commercial

Oh...come on.....this is one fun commercial! Gotta love it!

Retro Cartoon Design

I completed another cartoon for a Facebook page called....   Kelly Gannon Retro Cartoon Design   If you like cartoon design with a yesteryear flair, drop in and give me a like... (( how's that for shameless promotion!)
Kelly Gannon