Emma Watson's Promoting the Penultimate Potter

So, the penultimate Harry Potter film hits the screens, with the Preview in London last weekend. To carry on the spirit, I thought Emma Watson would be fitting. And what else could she be but a witch! With her beloved books.
I wonder if she will ever manage to shake off the Hermione association?

And look how she's grown. Weren't they just adorable, so cute! But like all children, they become adults.
It's a strange thing watching child stars grow up. There is that sense of the child next door. You know them by sight, but not necessarily very well.

Now should I do Rupert Grint next week? Or wait until the final film in the Summer?
What do you think?

Anjelina Jolie Action woman!

Anjelina Jolie pencil sketch

This is my third or forth attempt at Angelina. With her lips, it's very easy to make her a caricature, but I thought I should try drawing her straight, for a change!
I was initially indifferent to Angelina Joli. I watched Tomb raider and thought Ho hum! But she's kinda grown on me!

First  when she did Mr and Mrs Smith an action movie with domestic arguments at the height of all the action.

This weekend I watched SALT. And it was a refreshing change to have a female lead who wasn't pouting - scratch that with those lips, it's impossible not to! But you know what I mean, there was enough empasis on the action and her sexuality was played down. It was refreshing. And I loved that the ending was not her finding her Mr. Right.
Suddenly I was impressed with Angelina. There was still some gratuitous nudity at the beginning. Nothing too graphic, and over mercifully quickly. But then for the rest of the film she kept her clothes on!
Action scenes where she took the lead, no cowering in corners whilst her "protector" fought the bad guys! The inner feminist in me was shouting at last, a decent action film meant to appeal to women!! Love it! Sure, it was corny, in a James Bond kind of way, there were plot gaps and inconsistencies. But, hey if you want realism, don't look to Hollywood!!!

Live caricaturing – survival techniques for the nervous

Ever had a time when you were so nervous your hands shook? Imagine then having to draw…and not only draw but do it well! That is how I usually feel when doing a live event.

For my first event, I was producing zigzags for straight lines. Even now, I still need to psych myself up before drawing live caricatures.

Here’s how I prepare myself, beforehand.

1. Practice drawing caricatures -using photographs for reference. I concentrate on one feature repetitively e.g. eyes, noses or mouths
2. Gather together equipment – pads of paper, pencils, rubber, drawing board etc
3. Practice quick drawings using images from magazines.  I use these to experiment.Like with Marilyn here. I thought I’d play with the lips, not sure it really works. The “doe caught in headlights” look is accurate and I’m loving the body! 
4. Practice some more. ( Do you see a theme emerging here?)
5. Practice drawing real people by press ganging family members.  It’s usually accompanied by phrases such as “Go away, I don’t want to be drawn!” “ Pleeeeeese leave me alone!”… @@@@@@@@ (This stage doesn’t tend to go too well as my family are wise to all my strategies!!- NB Must devise some more cunning plans!)
6. Practice some more. Here I might concentrate on body positions. It’s a good idea to have a stock of poses that you can draw comfortably. You know, like a ballerina, footballer, artist, musician,… I could go on!
7. Go into blind panic that I’m never going to be ready and it will all turn out to be a disaster!
8. Practice yet again…
9. Concentrate on practicing 5 minute sketching with marker pens!
10. Check my equipment and pack up the car.
11. Pray!!! Maybe I should do that earlier in future?

On the day I aim to

1. Arrive early and get set up.
2. Think positive. i.e. keep telling yourself you’ll do well not I’m going to get the noses wrong!
3. Try to make the sitter at ease when I’m actually doing a caricature. It usually that helps steady my nerves! Usually I’m fine once I’ve started drawing.

So, what do I do after the event?

1. Pack everything away
2. Collapse on the sofa with a bottle of wine vowing NEVER EVER to do THAT again!

Do you have any suggestions for remaining calm before a live event?

Calista Flockhart – can you caricature a name?

When you hear a name like Calista Flockhart, you have to wonder is it her real name? I mean it’s nothing like Jane Smith, is it? It’s fabulous in its uniqueness! You could never call it dull, or conventional! Given the tendency for stars to have stage names I was impressed to find out it’s her original name.

Although I sometimes wonder when I hear American names, what were the parents thinking? I understand that - whilst traditions need to be respected – sometimes parents aren’t thinking of anything. For example, I have three Christian names which I’ve understood meant Pure White Rose, in that order. Lovely you might think! But through no conscious thought on my parents behalf. They couldn’t decide so finally lumped all the ones they liked together! Takes away the glamour doesn’t it! Although when you name a child Moon unit Zapper or Zowie Bowie I think there might be a case for suing the parents!!!!!

Naming traditions across cultures vary so wildly. The Romans sometimes had such large families that they got lazy! And would just give their children a number. E.g. Septimus would be the seventh child and Octavius the eighth! Then again, the Victorian’s also did that!

Then I’ve heard of a Native American tradition of naming the child after the first thing they see! I found more here

I thought it might be fun to look up her name and came up with Most Beautiful "People-army" … Conjures up images doesn’t it? But do you go for a Russian or Chinese dictatorship or Californian Summer of Love? Tricky…

So here’s Calista, I decided not to go with Ally McBeal in favour of a reference to her size. I’m sorry but she’s far too thin. Whatever her reason may be! Women should have curves! Maybe that should be my theme next week? Women with curves!! Mama Cass and Dawn French perhaps?