A new restaurant catering to celebrities is opening here on the East Coast. About a month ago, they put me on retainer - so I'd be available to draw whenever they want. They like the Caricatures relatively tame, so I'm just getting the feel for it. Here are the first three that they wanted:

Mayor Gerald Jennings, Robin Williams, and Jeff Spurber:

Oh My Goodness! Oh My Goodness! I just got back from Sag Harbour. The day was a whirlwind - from the moment that I found out that I had been awarded Best of the Best by the Readers of Dan's Papers. Best of the Best Caricaturist. Me.

I consider Dan's Papers to be the most established paper out in the Hamptons. It's The place to be. And they chose me as the Best Caricaturist! I work out that way a lot, but I had no idea that this sort of voting went on!

So I went to the presentations today. Met as many of the 'Bests' that I had time for. Each person there was so interesting. Best Doctor - who told me about Botox - smile. Best Hairdresser - who recommended that I get my hair stacked more in the back. Best Aerial Photographer who was so excited to meet me because she's been dreaming of a business-campaign that would need some Caricatures... Best Vineyard.

We all took a picture with owner Dan Rattiner - I guess it will be in the next issue of Dan's Papers.

In addition to all the parties I've been working, I've been doing a lot of Studio Caricatures too. Including the Political Scene - it's so expected that it's a Caricaturist's place ~

Here's one where I tried not to sway the voters' opinions. A company that makes yummy Smoothies wanted to get people to vote for their favorite Smoothie - and it wasn't clear whether people would be voting for Drinks or Political Candidates. At first I thought I was making a banner for them:

But then I was told that it was for postcards. And the client had all sorts of changes requested. I preferred my own color choices, but of course I delivered what the client wanted. Both my original design and this new design - they both have something different that's good about them:

I was very fortunate when I was doing the Robeks job. Because my web-designer was around, and he taught me some neat things with PhotoShop - such as how to use 'Color Burn' with the 'Brush Tool' (He actually did the Color on the post-card-sized Obamas). So now my PhotoShop skills go way beyond 'Paint Bucket'. And someday, maybe someday, a Waakum Tablet (I hear the Cintiqs are fun.)

And here are 2 recent gifts created from the information that my client gave me about 2 men who were Retiring:

Ever have some idea posted on your wall for years before you get up to it? I sure do.

Last Thursday, I finally got myself out to meet the Berndt Toast Gang. Joe Visichetti had invited me years ago.

No camera! There I was with people that I'd only heard of, and I didn't have a camera. My cellphone (camera) wasn't working for a change - the company said they'd send me a new one in 5-days, but that's a different story.

Anyway, here I was, lunching with the Berndt Toast Gang. No camera, I did what I could. I drew their pictures!

Here are a few of the people I drew:

Dan Danglo. He did Story Boards. Worked for some of the famous studios. Worked on things like Felix thet Cat and Mighty Mouse:

I talked with Dan for quite a while. Found out his approach for quickly getting his ideas to come to life.

And there was Jerry Jurman. He was the first person who welcomed me when I showed up. Jerry has made some of the most excellent photographs:

I wished they had us all at one table. But maybe this was the best. Because you really got a feel for the different personalities at the table. Still, I wish I could have talked to Stan Goldberg (who does Archie) or Bunny - who does the Lockhorns:

And here's a full-figure sketch I did while Roberta Fabiano entertained us:

Makes me feel like I should be going in to something else - like cartoons. But we can get so scattered. I'm happily busy round the clock doing Caricatures, Face-Painting, and Balloons. Sometimes other work when it just lands at my doorstep. I'm good with illustrations, signs, logos, portraits, oil-paintings, story-boards.... But to seriously pursue each thing is a separate career. If I was to do any of them, it would be Illustrations. I naturally love to tell a story with my pictures.