"If I'm lyin’, I'm dyin’."

I had a good feeling about the after party for Pivot Group, where I would be drawing team members and their clients following their annual conference. Jenny, who hired me, was sure that the crew was going to love this experience. I showed up feeling very optimistic that the guests would be eager to sit down with me, and they wasted no time. As soon as I sat down, I didn’t put my pen down for the rest of the night. Within 15 minutes we’d formed a list because so many fun folks were gathered round the table waiting for their turn to be illustrated. I challenged myself to make it through the list, torn between moving swiftly through the names scribbled down and taking my sweet time on every curl and dimple.

Every now and then I draw at a party where the guests linger around, watching while I draw and eavesdropping on our conversations. This was that kind of party. Everyone seemed like real friends, very curious and playful, excited to be all together in the same room. I could see why Jenny knew they’d connect with what I do.

Perhaps not surprisingly, themes tend to emerge within conversations at an event. These portrait subjects readily sunk their teeth into the deeper questions that I asked, sharing what they appreciated about each other and about their lives, talking about what matters to them.

Of course there was plenty of silliness as well. I think I met Trader Joe’s biggest fan. Sometimes I ask people what they would do if they had an 8th day of the week to do whatever they want, and Dawn answered that she would hang out at Trader Joes, seriously. Another woman, Teresa, when asked what inspires her, was practically salivating when she answered “color.” She said when she sees good colors she just wants to consume them. It made me think about that scene in Hook where they’re sitting around the banquet table eating multicolored goop.

By the end of the night I’d drawn 43 people–and 7 of them in the same portrait, which continues to be my record for the most faces on one piece of paper. A few spitting images, a few extra bad portraits, and some extra good quotes. One of them was from Shaye who said she tries to notice one beautiful thing every day, and sometimes it’s a person. “I wish I could tell that person that they were my beautiful thing that day.” My sentimental heart swelled within my chest.

This party was my beautiful thing that day, without question.