Dr. Sketchy

Dr. Sketchy is held the first Wednesday of each month at Tatame Lounge which is located at 223 West Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park. The place had an unassuming glass storefront but inside I found a huge crowd of young artists. The event only costs $5 so it is a cheap and fun sketch opportunity. I found a spot near the front windows and squeezed in behind a table. This location offered me a view of most of the artists in the room. I noticed that the young girl in the stripped shirt and purple beret was a really good artist just from the doodles she was doing before the model posed. I began my sketch watching her work. Her friend had bright pink hair. Quite honestly I would have been happy just watching and sketching them working. I ordered a peach sake and on this night if you ordered a sake you got another for free. The sake came in a small white pitcher shaped like a woman’s figure. I drank out of a small thimble of a porcelain cup which requires you to raise a pinky just to hold it. The model was dressed like a 1940’s pin up girl and she took some challenging fun and provocative poses.
Just as I was finishing up drawing all the artists and photographers, the model took a break and I realized it was getting near the end of the event. I used the break to start throwing down some watercolor washes. The artist sitting next to me started joking that I had spent all my time drawing the artists and I might never get to draw the model. For the next pose the MC announced that the following sketch was a competition. The artists in the room were asked to incorporate the theme of “Ghost Busters” into their sketches. Whoever won would get a Making of book for Pixar’s CG Movie “UP”. Since I was knee deep into my blog sketch I didn’t compete. The model was the judge of the competition. The winner was the girl in the striped shirt and purple beret. I coulda been a contender. My sketch wasn’t finished, I hadn’t even sketched the model yet!
After 2 sakes, I was feeling pretty good and the lines were flowing freely. The model took one final 10 minute pose and I sketched her into position as fast as I could. I was lucky and thankful that I had finally caught her.
This is a fantastic informal gathering of artists in a hip fun setting. The next event is August 5th at 8PM at Tatame and I can’t wait to do it again.