KC Cali is a local artist who is a member of Orlando Urban Sketches. Her paintings range from country scenes to bold and large nudes. She and Bob Szafranski have been together for years, through rough times and good times. She confided that when Bob asked her to marry him she cried. As she put it, this wasn’t her first rodeo. She has two daughters from her first marriage, Kit and Liz Cali. Both girls have left the nest and are making their own way in the world. Bob also has a daughter from his first marriage.
The wedding was at Elixir downtown (9 W Washington St, Orlando, FL 32801). There is a quaint, barn like room in the back of the bar. KC warned me that the we did was going to be fast, no more than 7 minutes. What?! I usually take two hours to finish a sketch! I immediately sat down and started blocking in the room. KC’s daughter Liz, was thankfully 20 minutes late which bought me the time needed to set the scene.
When the wedding march finally began, everyone stood and turned to watch the bride walk down the aisle. I kept sketching. Every one kept standing through the entire ceremony. I was faced with a wall of backs. I decided to move my seat out in to the aisle. I was probably a fire hazard but, I had a sketch to finish.
It is reassuring to see a couple reach out to each other once again putting their faith and hopes in marriage. Life is short. We all need to believe in the power of love.