Heather spent this last summer in Italy as a nanny, so I incorporated a well known tourist attraction into the holiday theme. Funny that the tower leans in the candle holder as well...art imitating life!

Kristi loves working at the Cloverleaf bakery where she is a barista creating artwork in customers lattes, so I decided it would be applicable to paint her a holiday cup of joe to soothe her for those occasions when a grinch comes through the door.

Lauren is spending her Christmas in Brazil this year. The family she stays with have ranches and farms which she thrives on because of her love for animals and getting down and dirty...so she gets a jingle bell calf this year!

Since I abhor shopping and can never figure out what to get that my girls would appreciate, I resort to a hand painted card with money...then they can go out and get something they like. Here are this years additions.

The girlfriend wasn't too thrilled with my first caricature of her boyfriend. She didn't get the golf club on his head gag, so I did a second one with just him being a chef. Though I sent a preliminary sketch for approval this time, and it was okayed before final painting, she and her sister still seemed less than enthusiastic when it arrived by mail. Oh well...can't hit a home run 100% of the time, and at least they paid for both.

My sister Shauna had a close encounter with a bear while hiking on a trail somewhere in the Teton National Forest with her son Justin, so I thought this year's birthday card should reflect her rather frightful experience, also perfect because her BD is so close to Halloween.

My oldest daughter has been living with a family near Pisa Italy as a nanny for their little girl. She has been loving her experience and has had some awesome personal growth, so for her birthday I sent this painting which I felt represented her transformations as a maturing young adult.

Commission caricature for a birthday party.

I was commissioned to hand paint some team logos and cheerleaders in the sports room at the Palm Restaurant in downtown LA.

These are ten 4' X 12' panels I painted for my daughter Lauren's grad night at Temple City High School.

I was a bit miffed seeing the final outcome, knowing bodies were going on the mural, just not that they would cover over pretty much the whole thing.  Many hours trying to be artsy on the dang things, when I could have saved time and effort just painting the top 4 feet!!

This was the comment board for the grads to write on.  Not too bad considering I drew and painted the panels freehand and upside down.

The ladies wanted the hotdog to look three dimensional, so I got the painting assignment.

I have been commissioned to paint four sport team logos at the Palm Restaurant in downtown LA: Dodgers, Clippers, Lakers, and a Cardinal banner. The big wigs also want a painting of two Laker girls and a 6'x9' mural on some double doors. First they wanted the Laker girls to be generic. After I sent a sketch they decided on two specific poses with two specific Laker girls, who almost look identical. So much for diversity. As for the mural, they wanted sketch ideas for a Staples Center/La Live scene, and a simpler downtown at sunset scene in silhouette. They wanted them cartoony, and I suggested a night scene of Staples because of the cool colors and they agreed. After working some hours on the sketches, I scanned and painted them in Photoshop, which took quite a while because of my limited expertise in said program. I emailed them and received word some time later that they LOVED them, BUT felt them too colorful compared to everything else in the restaurant. All that time and effort totally down the toilet and of course, no extra pay for more time and sketches.

This is why I love my caricature gigs...go in, draw for a set period of time, get paid extremely well for that period of time , and then get out!! No fuss, no muss, no changes, no complaints, paid for overtime if they request it, finish and move on to the next one.

My youngest turned 18 this month, and since her mom and sisters recently got five little chicks through the mail to take care of, that's what I based my theme on for her birthday card. Kids don't grow quite as fast as chickens, but my girls sure reached adulthood way more quickly than I could have ever imagined...sigh!!!

Kristi's birthday card this year. Her special day is on the 13th, close to St. Patricks day, so as I was going through my usual, "what shall I draw THIS time" process, and since she started a new job this year and LOVES having her own money, I decided to go with the green theme, (a somewhat fashionable lady luck leprechaun and her pot of gold).

Two of my sisters became grandmas for the first time this year. My sister Karen had two grandsons born within one month of each other, Max and Cavin, and since it is her birthday tomorrow, this became my inspiration for her hand drawn birthday card.

This was commissioned by a guy who wanted to do something special for his girlfriends 30th birthday, so he brought me some poster board and a drawing from which he got his idea. Everything in the drawing has significant meaning to his girlfriend, then he was getting pictures for each year from birth to age 29 which would go around the outside, her 30th year picture will go in the center of the drawing. Supposedly there would be room for all her friends to write a note and sign the poster as well. He seemed very pleased with the result.

These are some handmade cards I drew recently. The bird card was for my sister Shauna's birthday, and my idea was based on the fact that all her kids have now moved out of the house (hence the BLUE bird sad about her empty nest), but she still has reason to find joy and celebrate.

The next two are the covers of Christmas cards for my daughters Kristi and Lauren. Kristi is in her first year of college at Pasadena City College, but still lives at home and loves her dog Meesha. Lauren spent 5 months in a study abroad program in Campo Grande, Brazil. Her host family owned a farm where many wild animals would make an appearance. She caught and became enamored with a little baby armadillo, so I thought she would enjoy her experience relived on her card. Inside I write a personal note and put money in so they can buy what they want. Besides, I hate shopping and have no idea what teenage girls would like, so this is my solution. I think they appreciate the time I spend drawing their personal cards anyway.