Day 29 - Self Caricature

"Me, 2019" (Prismacolor markers and art stix, 14x11 inches)

Day 29 of my 31-in-31 posts in January.

Yeah you guessed it, no new painting today. So here's something a little different to celebrate the San Antonio Rodeo coming up February 6-23, 2020. Some of you know that I've been doing caricatures since 1988 with a long history of working in amusement parks, and I still do them each year at the SA Rodeo along with quick portrait sketches.

This is my recent updated caricature, the first one I've done of me in a couple decades. Here's my old one, from (wow) ...18 years ago... Been a long time since I've had long hair and short bangs!

Come on out to the Rodeo if you're in the area! Find my booth in the Freeman Coliseum just down the stairs from the front entrance.

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Yellow Duckling (and a double caricature at the S.A. Rodeo)

"Yellow Duckling"  (pastel, 6x6 inches)  click here to bid

Finally! I was able to get a few minis done for my daily posts late last week while at the San Antonio Rodeo. This is one of my favorites of the batch. I like the severely formal pose contrasting with the severely cute subject! This one's from the Fry's Fun Farm Petting Zoo, same as all my bunnies!

Here are the couple of progress shots I managed to get, in between being distracted by paying guests getting their portraits and caricatures drawn...

Meanwhile, here's a caricature I was rather proud of on the weekend. It's been a while since I got a record of one of my better caricatures. (And I just love how these look in the Rodeo Barnwood frames!)

What a cute couple. Perfect faces for caricatures!

Quick Sketch Portrait at the San Antonio Rodeo

Double Portrait Sketch in Barnwood Frame ($116.90 promotional Rodeo pricing)
(sepia conte pencil, burnt umber pastel, and white pastel, 15x12 inches, framed 20x16.)

Here's a sketch from Friday at the San Antonio Rodeo. It's always a joy to draw mature adults who know how to sit still (lol!) and of course it's better all around because the portrait comes out better too!

(Btw, my booth is in the coliseum, C-400, on the floor right down from the front entrance!)

Here are some progress shots, from the gent's face. (this was a frontal sepia portrait sketch, which took about 15-20 minutes per face)

Bull Profile #1

"Bull Profile #1"  (pastel, 15" circle) 

Here's the first of several bulls I photographed at a local rodeo festival. They were moving restlessly about in their small pen, so I was able to get a lot of various angles. But even then I had a suspicion I would be wanting to do profiles soon.

I just love the floppy horns.

Here are some progress shots:

Thanks for watching! Please share!

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The Quick-Sketch Portrait - day 18

(the portrait sketch: conte and pastel, 15x12 inches)

Well, the Rodeo is over now, whew! It went by fast, but it's always exhausting, especially the tear-down and pack-up! Sunday was the last day, and here's a sketch of a mother and daughter. I think I got a great likeness in the faces, but I didn't quite do justice to the hair styles.. Fitting two faces on the same page, while keeping in mind the size of the matting in hopes that one can sell a frame with the portrait, can sometimes be a challenge!

This Thursday and Friday is my workshop in Rockdale, TX, "Pastel in Miniature". I may not have time to post again until Sunday, but I'll be sure to try and get some shots from the workshop!

The Quick-Sketch Portraits - day 16 and 17

(The portrait sketch: conte and pastel, 15x12 inches, about 15 minutes per face)

Today, the last Saturday of the San Antonio Rodeo, was our busiest yet! I did several portraits that I would have liked to photograph, but when I get in that 'zone' of busy-ness, I don't want to stop for anything that might delay the next customer in the chair!
For this one, though, I made an exception. This couple was so distinctive looking, the portrait almost drew itself. Now I wish the lady hadn't been half hiding behind the frame in this shot -- I loved her hair! It had a life of it's own, floating around her head in fluffy waves!

I've been proud of myself for being so consistent in posting through this entire busy event. I was sorry to miss posting yesterday, but my body demanded sleep instead!
So here I've included twin portraits from Friday, literally. These ladies are identical twins who 'like to look different,' evidenced by the fact that one sister had her moles removed. I recognized a family resemblance, but never would have thought that they were identical until they told me.

...and her sister:

Scotty (and the Quick-Sketch Portrait - day 15)

"Scotty"  (pastel, 7x5 inches)  sold

OK, I've drawn this calf I think 3 times now ("Flekk", and "Spot"-reversed and with a smaller spot) I've decide that I finally need to get out and replenish my supply of photos, because I'm using up my supply and I find I'm getting drawn back to all my favorite pics that I've already painted! I guess there's nothing wrong with that - my paintings have evolved over the last year. I could probably start over with the same images and repaint them all, and they'd all be very different! But for my own need for variety and freshness, I do need some new references.

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Here is today's Quick-Sketch portrait from the San Antonio Rodeo. I did several more as it got close to closing time, but I tend to get into the 'fast' mode when there's a rush, and I don't want to take the extra minute to ask if I can photograph the model with the portrait.

The Quick-Sketch Portrait - day 14

(conte and pastel, 15x12 inches)

Today was a busy day. No time for a cow painting. This was my favorite quick-sketch of the evening at the San Antonio Rodeo. Her father dropped of her photo and picked up the portrait near closing time. He has another photo to bring back tomorrow!

The Quick-Sketch Portrait -day 13

Here's today's Quick-Sketch Portrait selection from the San Antonio Rodeo. This one took about 10 minutes per face.

Scarlett (and the Quick-Sketch Portrait - day 12)

"Scarlett"  (pastel, 6x6 inches)  click here to bid

Titling one's painting is definitely part of the creative process (or struggle, as it may be!) And I admit, after 100+, names for ranch animals are beginning to be hard for me to think up without repeating any. Sometimes I'll simply consider whatever name first pops into my head, and if it doesn't seem overtly wrong, I'll go with it. Sometimes I'm lucky, and the name is obvious from the first look at the photo reference.
This one took some thought. No name seemed to fit, that I hadn't already used. Then I decide to ignore the look and coloring of the cow, and began to look for clues in the painting itself. This is a more contemporary feel, bold colors, in-your-face pose. She looked to me as if she was on a stage, like a starlet. Ah! The rhyming "Scarlett" popped into place. I laughed. "There's not much red in this painting," I thought. But then my odd sense of humor said "It's perfect!" What else could you name a black and white bovine stage actress on a blue and gold field?

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And here's today's Quick-Sketch portrait from the rodeo. It was a day for cowboy hats!

Circus (and the Quick-Sketch Portrait - day 11)

"Circus"  (pastel, 6x6 inches)    sold

I love how her face looks like circus makeup.

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And here's my quick-sketch of the day, from the San Antonio rodeo. With the color option this time! This young lady had the perfect 'model' smile, and held perfectly still throughout the entire 20 minute portrait.