Let me tell you the Story
I am working on finishing up a piece of art when the phone rings.
A deep Voice greets me.
"Good morning is this the caricature artist?"
"Yes it is, How can I help you?" I put my brush in water so it won't dry out.
"I was wondering if you could help me out. You see I want to propose to my girl, and..."
"Yes!" I exclaim a little too enthusiastically.
I blush, realizing it was kind of like I was saying yes to his proposal.
But really, I am super excited. I've always wanted to do a proposal drawing, but I'm not sure if I am up to the challenge. Like many artists, I suffer from impostor syndrome. I never feel like my work is good enough. I'm not sure if I can do it, but I want to take a shot.
"That's awesome! Let me ask you something else. Would you be willing to be a part of the proposal?"
Again I nearly shout "Yes!" This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I'm all in now, nerves or not.
We discuss the details, Dekontee, my new client, sends me his pictures and his inital retainer, and we hang up. I quickly finish up my other commission and get to work immediately. This will be a fun challenge!
First I have to do the initial sketches. They aren't too difficult, I excel at linework. That is, just drawing the lines. I have to come up with a background too and it needs to look like the inside of a fancy restaurant at Christmas Time. Also not too difficult. I find refence photos on the internet. Easy Peasy.
Here's the inital line art sketch:
Next I have to get it approved. I take pictures and plan on sending them in an email - but I wait until the morning just in case i want to change anything - and also because I'm nervous. I'm always nervous. What if he hates it? Or worse, what if he wants a bunch of changes?
I am sweating like I always do, which is why I hate commissions - I prefer to see my client's reaction immediately and don't like to have to guess if the client really likes their artwork or not -
But thankfully, Dekontee approves it without an issue.
This next part is the part I ALWAYS struggle with.
COLOR.
I HATE color. I would much rather just do black and white lines.
Why, you may wonder? Especially given the fact that I majored in painting in Art School?
Well, there are several reasons, but the main one I think is because it's so easy to ruin a piece when you add color. Then you have to start all over again. This can seriously mess with your head.
There's also so much that goes into choosing and adding color. And I honestly don't feel like I know enough about it. There's so much to know about palettes and what colors, saturation, and values to use. And much more. I did go to art school but with my ADHD and auditory Processing Disorder, I had a hard time with anything that wasn't hands-on in school. And that includes color theory.
After a lot of swatches and experimenting I decide to use a palette of brown, purple and golds since my client and his bride-to-be are people of color. The browns of course would be their skin tones. The purple and gold are opposites on the color wheel which is one good way to arrange your color.
I get to work. I decide to use colored pencil since that's what I have handy, but I will regret that decision later. I will start doing larger pieces with paint in the future specifically because of this piece. It is SO MUCH WORK to layer the color in colored pencil! WAY more work than paint. And paint is actually more forgiving. Colored pencil, if you mess up, you can muddy the whole thing up and its difficult if not impossible to fix. Why do I do these things to myself?
No pressure, right?
The color is SO MUCH WORK. I have to go back and forth with the color and the lines because the lines keep getting obliterated by the color. UGH!
I spend at least 30 hours on this piece. I want it to be PERFECT. This is Dekontee's
WEDDING PROPOSAL for heaven's sake. It HAS to be perfect.
I know about halfway through that I am not charging anywhere NEAR enough for the work I put into it, and that's why I later raise my prices on commissions. 30 hours should cost at least $600 to make a living wage. And that doesn't even include materials.
So I finish the piece.
My favorite art professor in school, Marlene Miller, said you need three things to paint a masterpiece. An artist. Art materials. And a gun. To shoot the artist so they don't keep going back over it and ruin it. Dark humor, I know. This was the 90's after all.
But there's an element of truth there. You have to know when to stop. So I stop.
I finally get up the nerve to send Dekontee a picture of the finished piece.
I wait for his email with baited breath and it suck waiting because I put SO MUCH work into this piece. I put my SOUL into it.
I finally get a return email and i open it, my heart in my throat.
I scan the page quickly.
He likes it!
But I still have a hard time not second guessing myself since again I can't hear his tone of voice in an email. But never mind. It's done. He likes it. Now for part 2 of The Plan.
This is where the story gets good.
One cold night in February I dress up in my nicest dress. I have the caricature with me along with a back board, paper and my art box that holds my markers and colors.
It is biting cold as I park on the side of the street and head towards a tall building that
reminds me of my days in Philadelphia where I grew up.
I have never been to this restaurant which is in Mobile and is called Dauphin's. I am surprised to be directed to an elevator which has an elevator operator dressed in a red and white uniform and white gloves like in old 40's movies. This must be some restaurant. He pushes a button and up we go.
I get to the top floor and step out into another world. Now I am not in Philadelphia but in
Las Vegas, where I spent a decade of my life drawing caricatures for the rich and famous.
It's a 360-degree view restaurant with windows all around, overlooking the Mobile Bay.
Potted Plants and twinkle lights adorn the beautifully appointed room. Crystal stemware sparkles from the tables. Wine is flowing. The tinkle of silverware and murmurs of guests talking and eating greets me. Wonderful aromas of steak and bechamel sauce fills the space.
The staff are expecting me.
A waitress directs me to a seat. She smiles and asks if I need anything. I ask for a glass of water and I pull out my backboard and some blank paper, and begin a different drawing. THE drawing is tucked snugly behind my pad of paper. I guard it carefully from people passing by.
I am waiting for Dekontee to arrive. He has given me instructions ahead of time.
I bide my time sketching the patrons - a handful of lawyers in suits having dinner and talking animatedly as I sip my ice water. The room is chilly. I guess the windows are a little drafty since we are on the 36th floor.
Finally Dekontee comes in. I recognize him immediately. He is as big as a linebacker, which I had not expected since I only had a headshot of him to work from. I wonder for a moment if he isn't actually a famous football star and I didn't know it since I know less than zero about football. This type of thing has actually happened to me before.
But my thoughts are interrupted as Dekontee passes me by and is followed by his beautiful girlfriend. I try not to stare. It is always strange seeing someone in person whom I have drawn from a photo. Its almost like I already know them, but of course they don't know me.
Dekontee gives me a look as he passes by me. I know what I'm supposed to do. I nod ever so slightly. The girlfriend doesn't notice and she sits down behind me somewhere.
I wait. I pull out my colors and begin coloring the sketch of the lawyers.
A few minutes later, Dekontee passes by me. I catch my breath. This is it.
I quicky but surreptitiously pull out THE drawing, and I get ready to stand.
An eternity later, Dekontee comes back from the bathroom and passes me again.
I stand up and wait.
He approaches the table where his girlfriend is sitting reading the menu.
Dekontee approaches the table as if in slow motion. I take a deep breath.
Why did I agree to this? Will I ruin this for him? No pressure, no pressure!
My heart feels like it's going to burst. I waited with bated breath.
The wait seems like an eternity.
Dekontee gets to the table.
I keep my eye on him, waiting, waiting...
As soon as he gets down on one knee, I turn and scurry to their table.
"Aisha " He asks, getting her attention. By now I realize the whole restaurant has hushed and they're all staring at us.
I turn the drawing around. "Will you marry me?" he asks at the same time.
Aisha she gasps and puts her hands on her face.
"Yes!" she cries.
I quickly step to the side so that everyone can see them. Aisha is crying.
Dekontee kisses her and I say, "She said Yes!"
The entire restaurant breaks into applause.
I am crying.
This has been one of the highlights of my entire 25-year career.
And you know what? It was all worth it.
______________________________________
This could be you! If your bride to be is fun loving and likes surprises,
This is one amazing way to propose that she has probably never heard of. It's as romantic as it is unique.
In 25 years i have only ever drawn a proposal drawing like this ONCE.
Also there are only about 1000 professional full time caricature artists worldwide.
So imagine how rare and special a proposal like this must be.
If you are interested in having me help you to get a resounding YES! From your significant Other, contact me now. WE will set up a Free phone call and you can tell me all about it.
Commenti