But things usually do have a way of working out
for me. Even though the weather forecast predicted
rain and it looked gray and rainy, by the time
I got there - clear skies!! I parked my car and ran
through a big state park - regular easel and art supplies
ALONG WITH BIG SIGNS that I made up especially
for this event - client's request.

Drew pictures of
dogs that absolutely did not stay still.
I was looking at back of heads and
actual rear ends most of the time that
I was trying to draw those cute faces.
Drawing dogs is a different game than drawing people.

Then I literally Ran through the park once again.
Had to get to my car quickly
to drive from Yorktown Heights, Westchester
down to Oceanside, Long Island.
I usually leave more than enough time to
get to each party calmly,
but this time I had made different arrangements
with my Oceanside client.
He really wanted me to draw at his grand-neice's
Communion. So he took a chance. I told him that
I might not even be able to make it there before
the end of the party, but he took a chance by asking
me to see what I could do. And me - once I've decided
to try, I was really committed to doing the best I could.

What a whirlwind. Ran in, and actually had plenty
of time to enjoy drawing. People again!
This was a lovely demure Communion - just a few kids
running around, but mostly adults who just sat at
tables around my easel and watched the Art happen.
It was like being on stage.
They applauded after each picture, and we all had Fun.

So different than the exciting Communion that I did
the next day (Sunday). That one was right here in
my home-town (Wantagh! Yay!). This was a ParTay!
Countless kids running around
as well as Very Active Party-fun adults.
Just goes to show that there isn't only
One Way to Party.
or One Way to Live.
(or as I'm always saying, there isn't only
One Way to Draw.)
It takes effort, but we can create the experiences
we want.

This is Your Life. Do It as well as you can!

I'll try to post some pictures from the weekend's events later.
Meanwhile, I want to remember the following two pictures.
I had drawn them on paper-plates while watching Groundhog Day
with my breakfast yesterday morning. Groundhog Day - the movie
with Bill Murray. Sometimes the pictures that we 'doodle' are beautiful.

I just made up the first face. Simple and direct.
The second face wasn't supposed to be Bill Murray, but
I kinda used him to give me ideas of what to draw:

I've been hired by the Westchester SPCA to draw at a Dog Walkathon.

On Wednesday, I worked for NYU.
A small 2-hour gig, I got there early,
hung around Washington Square Park - It was a beautiful day.
Plenty of time to set up at the event,
drawings going well:

And ten minutes
before the end of my shift,

RRRRrrrrrrppp. VVVVVvvrrrrppp. RRRrrrrp, RRRRrrrrpp.

Loud noises don't affect me.
I live with a musician
and I work at parties.
I take the subway.
I kept drawing.

What is that - the people around me asked.
It's a Fire Drill - was the answer.
A Fire. A Fire Drill. A Fire.

I'm busy! This Caricature is coming out Great ~
I kept drawing. The room started clearing out.
Could this really be a fire? I wondered. But
I don't see any fire.
I finished the drawing quickly.

Okay - we'd better go. I was the last one to
leave the room because I packed up my supplies.
(If it is a fire, I'll need this stuff....)

The large beautiful building was cleared out.
There I was
with all those college students:

I called my agent when I got out there. We met in that park.
Most unusual. But she told me to leave early.

That's why it was such a Surprise that
the very next day,
the Very next day - Thursday,
who would think that I would be told to leave early again????

I was working at a Brooklyn Housing Project
for the NYPD. Now, if you know anything about
the NYPD, they do not tolerate anything questionable.
They had made a block party, hired entertainers, set out
food - - We could all have Fun, but be sure that you
Mind Your Manners!

I was hired for 4 hours. It was another beautiful day.
Shortly after I arrived, people started coming out.
I was set up very comfortably. The guests chatted
and watched me draw. The Police Officers were kind.

Here are some of the pictures that I drew:

Then, 50 minutes left of my shift, a young Mother sat down
with her baby. As I drew the baby, a Police Officer
handled the crowd for me. She let them know realistically
how many more I'd be able to draw.

She counted the baby as one,
and then she counted ten more people on the line
(that's the number I suggested).

Baby drawing finished. Next.

"But what about me?" asked the Young Mother.
"It's my turn."

"You had the baby drawn" said the Police Officer.
"Now it's somebody else's turn."

The young woman was upset. She talked back
and kicked over the chair as she got up.

"That's it," said the Police Officer.
"There will be no more drawings for anyone."

Huh? What do I do? My job is to draw.
"I don't mind," I said. "I can keep drawing."

"Oh no" said the Police Officer. "Pack up your things.
"There will be no more Caricatures here today.
"Violence will not be tolerated."

I should make note here that I'm freely
rewording the gyst of what went on. I was
at the incident, but I didn't write down
everybody's exact words.

Uhm, what was I to do? I was paid to draw for four hours.
I was there. I was ready and willing to do my job.

"How about if I gave a little Art Lesson instead," I offered.

"Okay. We'll set you up inside." said the Police Officer.

I found myself on the side of a large gym
where people were running around, playing
basketball and stuff. I had a group of kids
in front of me - all different ages, no supplies,
no lesson plan. My voice didn't carry easily....

Okay, Alison - what are you going to do now?

I handed out plain papers from my time-off drawing folder.
I handed out my Lucky Pencils. With very little talking,
the children followed me very well in a 'Draw Along'.
I came up with the following picture:

I had had the group do a light predraw first -
planning on making 2 cartoon heads sticking
out of the car. I checked after each step,
seeing that the kids had it going well.
The way they did the predraw, Aha! A Creative
idea popped into my head. I could just have two
EYES popping out of the car. It was fun.
Thinking on my feet like that.

I mentioned things like line quality -
light and dark lines. Predraws. Shading.
And I remembered one of favorite slogans
that I glommed onto
when as a teacher:
"The first rule of teaching is to do no harm."

Gotta roll with the punches.
Gotta bend with the wind.
Gotta be flexible.
And I'm glad that I've developed several skills over
the years. That B.A. degree that I got in Teaching
from Stony Brook University came in handy this day
for sure.

To Hire this Artist for Your Event:
(516)579-4706
visualdust@gmail.com

So I focused in on Corners of some of the mats that I used today. That's a way that framers show their products:

<    <    <    <    <    <    <    <    <   

And here's some studying that I did while waiting for my dinner at the Sherwood Diner tonight.
No reference material or dogs - just my imagination:

<    <    <    <    <    <   

Saturday. Drawing at a Communion. A man in the chair.
Some comments from the crowd about his 'position'.
"And what position is that?" I asked. Turned out that
I was drawing the chairman of the Republican Party of Queens.
I recognized that they weren't just fooling around
when I saw the professional way
he automatically held his Caricature for this photo -
like he was accustomed to 'publicity shots'.
I looked him up on line just now. I think his name is Chairman Phil Ragusa.

Sunday, not officially booked. Overcast. So tired
because I got home after 2:00 a.m. from a Passover Seder.
But I forced myself to get up early
and get out into the world.
It's just too easy to sleep through life
and then wonder why life is boring.
So I went to do my first Face-Painting in Central Park of the year.

But what happened? I had to cross Park Avenue
to get the the Park. Police were at every street corner.
And we absolutely were not allowed to cross the street.
From either side. "Why? Why?" I asked. "Because the Pope
will be riding along this way.

"Safety reasons" I was told.

"How long will it be?" I asked.

"As long as it take. Half-hour. Hour. I'm just to stay
on my of the street until I'm told..."

Initially frustrated. Tired.
When I suddenly realized that this was a momentous occasion.
How many people would have Loved to be here - right where I was!!!
I took out my camera-phone.
"Don't let me miss it," I said.

"He's coming. He's coming."

Quick! Press the Camera-mode. Again. Options. Take Photo.
I got a motorcycle cavalcade.
Quick! Camera! Options. Take Photo. Press button.
Pause............and.......Click! "Did I get it?
Was that the Pope?" I asked the woman who was next to me.

"Yes." She was certain.

But I did not actually see him. Dagnabbit.
We never know if we're making the right decision
until afterwards. I thought I'd at least be able to see
him in the photo, but, well, here it is:

Wonderful day continued. I felt special. I am part of
the New York scene. I am a New York Artist.
Loooonng day. I remembered the experience of
being out there all day working the crowds.
Handling the other Street Artists. And the Authorities.
Gotta be tough to handle this. It's not for the timid-hearted.

Went out to dinner with a friend after my Park experience.

Here are some of the pictures I drew at Saturday's Communion:

I love this song -
Time of Your Life
by Green Day:

Another turning point;
a fork stuck in the road.

Time grabs you by the wrist;
directs you where to go.

So make the best of this test
and don't ask why.

It's not a question
but a lesson learned in time.

It's something unpredictablev but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

So take the photographs
and still frames in your mind.

Hang it on a shelf
In good health and good time.

Tattoos of memories
and dead skin on trial.

For what it's worth,
it was worth all the while.

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

(music break)

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

Now I'm focused on a very busy week.
So many gigs, I'll even have to cut out
of the Dahn Mudo class that I love to go to.
Because that day I will be drawing for NYU.

Then, Thursday, I'll be drawing the NYPD in Queens.
Saturday, it's a Walkathon for the
Westchester SPCA. From which I'll have to
pack up fast to get back to Oceanside
to draw at a Communion that same day.
And Sunday - it's another Communion -
right here in Wantagh (where I live)!

I'm having the time of my life ~ We all are ~