Mario Lemieux Fantasy Hockey Camp

This is the second year I've been asked to work an a group caricature of for The Mario Lemieux Fantasy Hockey Camp. This year we had Coaches and retired NHL Players included in the poster. They are : L to R Top Row: Pierre Larouche, Bryan Trottier, Randy Hillier, Clark Gillies, Eddie Johnston Middle Row: Paul Coffey, Tie Domi, Gary Roberts, Theo Fleury, Mark Recchi, Michel Goulet, Jay Caufield, Bill Guerin, Rick Tocchet Bottom Row: Mario Lemiuex.

This was given to all the Coaches and Players as well as the participants in the camp. All proceeds from the camp go to the Mario Lemieux Foundation. For more information you can visit www.mariolemieux.org

From Stephen Silver: I wanted to share with you a bit of my philosophies in the art of enjoying yourself. Nothing worse than being stressed out, I hope this advise helps. Maybe print it out and hang it on your bathroom mirror and read it every day, until it becomes second nature. The goal in our lives is not for us to be BUSY, but for us to be happy, active and engaged. enjoy the actions you are doing. Today I am going to wake up slowly, and take an extra minute to get out of bed Today I am going to take a longer shower and really feel the hot water Today I am going to brush my teeth longer Today I am going to enjoy whatever it is I am going to eat for breakfast Today I am going to slowly sip my coffee and taste it as it warms up my body Today I am going to chew my food longer and appreciate all the tastes and textures Today I am going to take slower steps as I walk to my car Today I am going to count to five before I drive off when I approach a stop sign Today I am going to be patient waiting in any line or traffic, I know I will arrive Today I am going to say hello or smile at everyone I walk past that I make eye contact with Today I am going to take many breaks even if they are for only 3 minutes Today I am going to pay full attention to anyone that talks to me, my boss, kids, wife, etc.. Today I am going to enjoy whatever it is I am going to eat for lunch Today I am going to find a quiet spot, close my eyes, take deep breaths and listen Today I am going to focus on just one thing at a time Today I am not going to think about tomorrow Today I am not going to over react to any situation that occurs Today I am going to take my sweet old time. Today I am going to pay some more attention to my pets Today I am aware that every little thing is going to be alright Today I am going to enjoy whatever it is I am going to eat for dinner Today I am going to watch some t.v or read a book before I go to bed Today I am going to sit in a hot bath and do nothing for 30 minutes Today I am going to have a great nights sleep Oh look, it's today again. Every day is today! Today don't be BUSY!!!!!!! Be HAPPILY ACTIVELY ENGAGED. Enjoy your day! Stephen Silver

Art Dump

Been a while since I've update this blog, so I'm going to add some recent artwork. Pittsburgh Sports Legends.
Click on the thumbnails for full size.

Top Ten Most Interesting Faces of 2009

In October I was asked to step up and be Treasurer of International Society of Caricature Artists (http://www.caricature.org/)

One of the projects we decided as a board to do was set up a Top Ten List of 2009. There are a ton of list like this, but we felt we had some pull with the most interesting faces since we are facial experts. Who else could do this? Of course us. We put this on our forum and based on what the members listed as a combination of their favorite faces based on their looks of course and the newsworthiness we complied our list.

Fortunately I was asked to submit ones I had or new ones based on the ten we came up with. I was honored to be chosen along with amazing artists Lorin Bernsen, Lar DeSouza, Glenn Ferguson, Roger Hurtado, Court Jones, Paul Moyse, Tom Richmond, Jason Seiler and Ed Steckley.

This was my Obama I painted based on a photo from his acceptance speech in November of '08 He may have a few more gray hairs now, though that it's a year later.

















Click on the drawing for a larger version

Here is the list, you can click on it for a larger version or go to
http://www.caricature.org/caricature_news.php?id=19

Michael Jackson Tribute

I started this the weekend after Michael passed and never really got around to finishing it. But I had a few hours and was able to put the final touches on this this past week.

Perlora Mailers

This is the third year I've been doing this job for Perlora, an upscale modern furniture company here in Pittsburgh. Every year they have a Warehouse sale. They mail out postcards to their customers and place ads in the local paper with the artwork and of course on the website www.perlora.com

This is this year's artwork. They add text and a the logo after I submit it. They have the husband say "Now is the time to buy Quality Furnishings at our 13th annual Warehouse Sale"

I was really disappointed how last year's artwork came out so I tried redoing the characters and colored them in more of an airbrush style. There are some problems I still have with this, but I like it better than last year's.



This was last year's. I'm surprised they called me back. The theme was to have them riding furniture. Race to the Warehouse Sale. So I chose two chaise's.

This was the first year's in '07

I love that chair, I don't have room for it now, but maybe when I decide to move."

Look at what I helped facilitate!

So I got a call shortly after Thanksgiving from a client named Jon who asked if I could meet him at a restaurant and pretend to be hired by the establishment. Then draw them, but have him in a cartoon bubble "Will you Marry Me?" I thought "That's something I've never done" he said he'd get back in touch with me. Thought nothing of it, my girlfriend and I thought it was a sweet idea, but were sure he was just tire kicking.

So I get a call about a week ago and he said he wanted to do it. I said to him, I'd rather he send me photos and I can do a nice drawing that he can frame rather than a five minute sketch. He was up for that.

So he tells me where to meet up. So I do my thing drawing of them up, show up at the restaurant. I end up drawing a bunch of the staff there. So they get there. There is four of them, his best buddy and his wife too. I have a little sign I hand drew while I waited, "Free Caricatures by Mugshotz" She was up for it but the girls needed to head to rest room. He's nervous as a soldier heading off to war. I tell a few jokes and remind him he needs to get on one knee of the proposal isn't legal etc.

So she comes back... completely clueless I can tell. He's nervously laughing at all my stupid jokes. I actually start a live sketch of them even though he's just a wreck. I get through his face in a few minutes trying to calm the poor fella down the whole time with little stories of his hometown where I drew for a few days etc... So I finally got through that and then I say "Alright... I can't do this any longer and pull out the studio drawing... her reaction...

"Shut the #*@% Up!" "This is a joke right?" "This has to be a joke" ... he gets on one knee and she starts crying... and bobs her head... "YES!!!"






The color on the scan seems to be washed out.. but here they are...


That's one I've never done before.... lots of fun. I was starting to get nervous for him. I'm so glad she said Yes. He seemed like a good guy. Best of everything Jon and Lauren!!

Finished Crosby Digital Painting

I finished this last week, during the Thanksgiving break. I'm pretty happy with the final results.

Finished Piece from over the Summer

I ended up losing a bet with fellow caricaturist Robert Bauer from Detroit for the Stanley Cup finals. Robert obviously is a Detroit Red Wings fan and I'm a Pittsburgh Penguins fan. Well they are fantastic and one of my clients. It works out well. :) So the Pens lost in game six and i had to pay up.



I ended up doing a 11x14 digital painting of the Captain Nick Lindstrom. Part of the bet was that you had to put Stanley Cup Champions just to rub the dirt in a bit deeper. He fortunately had a great face and I like the Red Wings uniform, but I didn't let Robert have a free ride. I had to put my feelings on the bottom partof the drawing. :)

Click on drawing for full drawing.

Sid the Kid (in progress)

click on photo for full size version

Working on this for the banner for the Penguins Games this year.  The Pens are using the blue 1968 Throwback jerseys they made popular in the Winter Classic on New Years Day 2008 as a third jersey this year.  They are selling like crazy.  So I decided to use a photo from the WC and see what came of it.