Explore It at the Orlando Science Center

Posted on by Thor

Explore It at the Orlando Science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803) allows children to build their own roller coaster. Loop de loops and bridges can be plugged together to create a dynamic gravity fed coaster. Kids have to really reach high after climbing several steps to get the red ball high enough for the launch. A dad decided to “help” his son build a coaster. It was clear the dad was more interested in the new design than his son.

The other device uses vacuum suction to inhale colorful bolts of fabric. The fabric snakes through transparent tubes and then is launched into the air where it floats down to the kids who catch them below. There was a constant line of kids waiting to feed the machine and then shrieks of laughter as they ran around trying to catch the fabric as it gently parachuted to the ground.Part play and part learning, Kidstown delights the youngest of visitors. Dads and moms get to play as well.

These sketched are going live because I am assembling art for a retrospective exhibit of my work at the Orlando Science Center which will open August 17, 2018. Each painting in the show will ave a label that links back to the article on Analog Artist Digital World. I am discovering that some of these paintings had not been shared before.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for July 14th and 15th, 2018

Posted on by Thor

Saturday June 14, 2018

8 a.m. to 1p.m. Free. Parramore Farmers Market. The east side of the Orlando City Stadium, across from City View. Purchase quality, fresh and healthy food grown in your own
neighborhood by local farmers, including Fleet Farming, Growing Orlando,
and other community growers.

4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Free. Young Voices. JB Callaman Center 102 North Parramore Ave Orlando FL. Teen Open Mic Every second Saturday of the Month.

5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Free.  10th Annual Bastille Day Celebration. Audubon Park Garden District, 3201 Corrine Dr #216, Orlando, FL 32803. French Market at Audubon, Wine and Cheese tasting, baguette fencing, live music and more. Oui oui!

Sunday June 15, 2018

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Lake Eola Farmers Market. Lake Eola, Orlando, FL 32801. Farm fresh produce in the heart of Orlando FL.

2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free. Vintage Market At The Abbey. The Abbey 100 South Eola Drive #100, Orlando, Florida 32801. The Abbey will be hosting its first Vintage Market. It will be a fun day of local vendors for your
shopping pleasure, food trucks, and drinks made by The Abbey’s amazing
bartenders. What better way to spend your Sunday Funday than by
supporting local businesses?
If you are interested in being a vendor, please contact us at gcvintageshop@gmail.com

10 p.m. to Midnight Free but get a coffee. Comedy Open Mic. Austin’s Coffee, 929 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL. Free comedy show! Come out and laugh, or give it a try yourself.

Drip Drop Splash Construction

Posted on by Thor

I was fascinated by the construction of Drip Drop Splash happening at the Orlando Science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803). Hydraulics has to be adjusted and everything perfectly balanced. One of the water columns required plenty of tweaking. In the end water would fill the pools and the columns would become the source for a cascade of water falling from above. If one element leaked things could get wet and messy, however the whole contraption was planted on a cement pool which had drainage just in case. Construction workers got used to me being on site and once in a while they would glance over my shoulder.

A group was given a tour to  show them the progress of construction. The area in the background of this sketch is the Toddlers Corner. Every worker had a task to complete and the place took  shape incredibly fast. Part of me wished that I had come in daily to watch the progress but I had to balance this assignment with other events happening in town. I am posting this sketch in preparation for an exhibit of my painting that will open at the Science Center on August 16, 2018.

Harriet Lake’s Kidstown Theatre

Posted on by Thor

Harriet Lake is one of Orlando’s greatest patrons of the arts. Harriet’s Kidstown Theatre is located just past Drip Drop Splash in the Orlando science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803). A quaint little stage is littered with props like a hard hat, and tutus. The backdrop kept changing, I opted to sketch a playful view of the Lake Eola Fountain. It doesn’t take much to fire the imagination in a young mind. Kids are already gifted actors. A dad sat in the audience sporting his foam statue of liberty crown. The bean bag chairs helped keep the audience active.

I am assembling 30 paintings for an exhibition I am mounting at the Orlando Science Center opening August 16th, 2018. I like to include links in the labels that link back to the articles that appeared on Analog Artist Digital World. This quaint little sketch somehow slipped through the cracks, so I am publishing it now.

In some ways, the kids were just playing on the stage with no well defined story line. However some of the best theater happens when the actors relax and are playful on stage. Lets put on a show! After writing this post, I learned that Harriet Lake died July 10, 2018 at the age of 96. She will be deeply missed by the Central Florida arts community.

Meditation in the wake of Pulse

Posted on by Thor

In June of 2016 I became obsessed with sketching every wake, vigil, memorial and fundraiser devoted to the cause of the Pulse Nightclub Massacre. Every post at the time was about the shooting and the cities attempt to heal in the wake of the tragedy. To find some personal balance in my life I turned to meditation. I honestly hoped that the discussion on this day might be about the Buddhist teachings that might address such a tragedy. Certainly Buddhists must have thoughts that would shed some light on the feelings and confusion that follow mass murder.  I learned that the previous week had addressed those insights. The Mindful Medition Discussion Group meets weekly on Wednesdays behind the home of Peter Carlson (1818 Carrigan Avenue, Winter Park, 32789).

We all sat silently for an hour to meditate. My high blood pressure caused my ears to start drumming. I was concerned that my body didn’t allow for enough quiet for me to get lost in the moment. My legs started to ache so I shifted to a new position. I must be doing this all wrong.  I was biding my time until I could sketch during the discussion to follow. Despite my annoyance at my inability to find any semblance of peace, I was glad that I had taken the night to do something for myself. I hoped meditation might allow me to come to terms with what had happened at Pulse. That never happened. Conversation turned to the four noble truths, but my mind wandered back to Orange Avenue just south of the Orlando Regional Medical Center.

I returned to mediation many times in the following months to  keep trying. Glen Weimer, an old college friend offered me a chance to escape to Nantucket and it was there that some quite meditation on the beach finally brought me a moment of respite.

The Dali Llama‘s thought on violence seem to ring true. He teaches the universal human values of peace, harmony, and community… “If
we emphasize more on non-violence and harmony, we can herald a new
beginning. Unless we make serious attempts to achieve peace, we will
continue to see a replay of the mayhem humanity experienced in the 20th
century. We
need a systematic approach to foster humanistic values, of oneness and
harmony. If we start doing it now, there is hope that this century will
be different from the previous one. It is in everybody’s interest. So let us work for peace within our families and society, and not expect help from God, Buddha or the governments.”

So what can  I do? I have just one tool at my disposal and that is to sketch. Now two years after the attack, I am still sketching and listening to try and understand.

Projected : A Creative City Project Special Event

Posted on by Thor

The Projected event was held at the City Beautiful Church (1220 Alden Rd, Orlando, FL 32803). And was a fundraiser for the Creative City Project which shuts down Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando each year to showcase some of the cities most amazing talent.

Six projection artists came together to create an immersive world of light an sound.
Each artist brought a unique, interactive installation that allowed patrons to experience digital art in a whole new way.There was live music and dance presented with responsive light installations which cropped up throughout the evening.

Live performance elements brought the entire evening together for a compelling art experience unlike any other.

I decided to sit on the edge of the stage to look back at the room full of projections. Green and purple lasers cut through the air and a dual wall installation featured alternating stripes of vibrant color. People stood on tip toe to wave their hands through the bright green laser beams. When Pam Schwartz and I first entered, our eyes were not accustomed to the dark. A long hallway lead to the main room, but a line of tables covered with black tablecloths blocked a straight approach to the room. I had to tap the table tops with my hands to figure out what the best way in might be.

We wandered down a hall illuminated by a projection of thousands of moving points of light. Several children crouched at the end of the hall looking back at the beams of light that caused every wall to flicker with moving points of light. Later that night I saw Cole Nesmith in the hall using a red light bar to illuminate couples who posed for photos in the sea of moving points.  

Becky Lane had a room set up that was an installation that was built around the experience of her long commute to Tampa. One whole wall had a projection that showed the Florida landscape flying by shot from the side window of her moving car. Palmetto fronds were scattered throughout the room. And when I glanced in at first I saw people waving the fronds in the air. The space incorporated movement, viewpoints and puppetry to give an interactive feeling for her commute.

Outside that room was a projection that used a sensor to track a persons movements. Pam and I were standing in the area looking at Becky’s installation when we were scolded for disrupting the sensors. Only one person could be in the space at a time. Basically that person could create an image on the screen built up from a series of triangles of varying sizes. By waving their arms triangles would appear. I lost interest.

Nathan Selikoff had a projection that looked like a colorful cloud which people could manipulate by waving their hands over a sensor on a table near the projector. Some people couldn’t figure out how to manipulate the cloud because they always had their hands too close to the sensor. Eventually most people figured out the proper distance to get the digital storm to brew.

On the stage wall behind me a series of movies were projected on the wall. The brightest image was of a cloud formed after an explosion. Dancers took to the stage and improvised. One dancer held a laser and projected the point of bright light on the floor. Dancers would follow the light like a cat. The same dancers later dances behind the dual wall of bright striped colors. Their silhouettes wold break up the wall of color dramatically.

The event was very well attended, and I am sure more people kept arriving as the night progresses. This year The
Creative City Project will present their annual event, IMMERSE, on October 19
and 20, 2018. More than 1,000 artists and performers will bring the heart of
the city of Orlando to life! It is possible to book tickets early.

Lil Indies

Posted on by Thor

Lil Indies (1036 Mills Ave N, Orlando, FL 32803) is right next to Wills Pub. I hosted an Orlando Drink and Draw event (ODD) there and when I arrived, Indies was not open yet. I decided to take the time to do a sketch outside and meet any artists as they arrived. Storm clouds loomed a steely blue grey on the horizon. Mills has a constant flow of traffic, and as I did this sketch, a van pulled up to Wills and a band started unloading their instruments and equipment. The sign outside the club says, “no colors and no weapons” which is a good policy in this day and age. I don’t think they actually check for weapons.

The storm clouds blew my way, and it started to rain just before I was finished. I decided the sketch was done when the first big drops hit the page. Greg Bryla arrived just before the deluge and we went inside together.Lil Indies is decorated like I imagine my grandmothers basement would look like. Kitschy paintings adorn the walls, and vintage couches and chairs are scattered around the entry rooms.

The bar itself is built from various colors of hand stained boards and feels hand made. The signature cocktails can be delicious. I found a table in the corner for the artists and set about drawing the stage area. I believe four of us were drawing that night.

On this evening Tod Caviness was hosting a literary event called Loose Lips. Five writers reflect on the news
with their own words, their own frightening words, and the drinks flowed (some of the best cocktails in town are made at Lil’ Indies), and
the world shall continue on as though uninterrupted. It was a good night of drinking, drawing, listening, laughing and reflecting on where we are headed as a nation.


The next loose Lips will be July 3, 2018 at 8 p.m.again at Lil Indies. The event is 21 and over and will return under the terrifying regime of the Functionally Literate crew.

Chris Cortez at Blue Bamboo

Posted on by Thor

Blue Bamboo Music Center for the Arts has become an amazing new venue that features top musicians. Blue Bamboo is part
venue, part recording studio, and part art gallery!  Located at 1905
Kentucky Ave in Winter Park, Fl, just off Fairbanks between Formosa and
Clay, this unique new space offers live performances most evenings,
state of the art recording studio, and gallery space.  More concert
hall than night club, they’re open to all ages and present all kinds
of music, theater, dance, and spoken word events.  They’re also available
for private parties.  Browse the schedule for tickets or call
 407-636-9951 for more information.

The venue has limited seating so you are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance or make reservations.
 Tickets are also available at the door, based on availability.  Most
shows begin at 8PM and the doors open at 7.  They offer beer and wine,
soft drinks, and light snacks. 

Chris Cortez is a talented local acoustic guitarist and I have sketched him before. In the low light, I got to play with my digital drawing tablet to try and capture the light and mood of the evening. On Tuesday nights there are ongoing acoustic guitar sessions that feature Chris Cortez. Best of all there is now cover, so this becomes a great sketch opportunity.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for July 7th and 8th, 2018

Posted on by Thor

Saturday July 7, 2018

8am to 1pm Free. Parramore Farmers Market. The east side of the Orlando City Stadium, across from City View. Purchase quality, fresh and healthy food grown in your own
neighborhood by local farmers, including Fleet Farming, Growing Orlando,
and other community growers.

6pm to 9pm $60. Digital Nuts and Bolts: Getting Started with Digital Sketching. (Canceled)
INSTRUCTOR: Thomas Thorspecken. LOCATION: Orange County Regional History Center Downtown Orlando. For the second year, Urban Sketchers Orlando is taking part in
10×10, the worldwide initiative to offer educational workshops wherever
sketchers live. Launched in celebration of Urban Sketchers’ 10th
anniversary in 2017, the program brings a variety of courses on urban
sketching techniques taught by talented local instructors in their home
cities. In 2017, cities around the world began offering 10×10, a series
of 10 courses telling the stories of our places. For 2018, Urban
Sketchers have a new creative plan of long term workshops.

DESCRIPTION: Have you wanted to venture into digital sketching but aren’t
sure where to start? This nuts and bolts class will teach you the about
the necessary tools, how to navigate digital programs such as Procreate,
and share tips and tricks for creating incredible works from start to
finish. Straight from the World of Sketch-reportage journalism Thomas
Thorspecken will guide you through Digital sketching medium and onto
your iPad.

SUPPLIES Digital sketching materials recommended: iPad, iPhone, iPencil, Procreate, or other digital program.However a simple pencil and paer are fine if you just want to learn about the digital world.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: Thomas Thorspecken (Orlando, FL)
Thorspecken is a correspondent for the Urban Sketchers
organization since 2009 and has been an official Urban Sketching
instructor for two years. An illustrator and journalist he is working in
and around Central Florida and has been documenting arts and
entertainment for eight years in one sketch a day for his online news
site, Analog Artist Digital World.
Thorspecken was an animation artist for Disney for 10 years and has
taught courses at Full Sail University and Elite Animation Academy. USk Correspondent.

8pm to 10pm Free. Shuffleboard at Orlando’s Beardall Courts. Orlando’s Beardall Courts 800 Delaney Ave Orlando FL.  1st Saturday of each month. Free fun!

Sunday July 8, 2018

10am to Noon. Free. Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation Class. University, 5200 Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32811. The Method of Heartfulness A simple and practical way to experience the heart’s unlimited resources.

Noon to 3pm. Donation. Music at the Casa. Beautiful Music with Shannon Caine. Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum, 656 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789.  Listen to live music and take a tour of our historic home museum and the James Gamble Rogers II Studio by trained docents.

2:30pm to 5:15pm $15. Roll Playing Game workshops: painting mini figures!  Gods & Monsters 5421 International Dr, Orlando, Florida 32819.

How can one possibly paint a figure so small? Your trusty Game Master
Jess, is here to show you! Once again we venture into unkown territories
with a beginners class to painting your mini figures! This class will
cover all the basics of painting your tiny heros, including bases,
drybrushing, watering that paint down, how to not have wonky eyes, and
much more!

This workshop is free to attend, but if you would like
to paint a mini figure along with us, we have model paints and brushes
for you to use, and the mini you get take home afterward for a $15 fee.
(This fee will also cover one regular soda or bottled water and snack
per painter.) This will be a great opportunity for some individual
attention, as you and your friends learn a new skill that you can use
for all your future RPG needs!

Participants will also receive 15%
off your gaming and snack purchases! If you enjoyed painting your mini,
you can use the discount to purchase your own starter paint set and
brushes and more miniatures to work on.

If you would like to
paint with us, be sure to message us or stop in store to reserve a spot,
at least 5 days prior to event. Please note, if we do not have enough
attendees registered by the Wed prior to workshop date, we may have to
cancel and reschedule for a later date.

Waiting for Fireworks at Lake Eola

Posted on by Thor

I finished teaching an Urban Sketching class at Elite Animation at 3pm on July 4th 2018. I decided to drive to the Pine Street studio since it is so close to Lake Eola and there is a parking spot behind the building. I didn’t think to see if any of the downtown Orlando side streets were closed. My direct route to the studio was blocked, so I had to snake north in an effort to make my way around Lake Eola. Luckily my block was not closed as well.

Walking to the lake only took a few minutes once I had parked. Rain threatened, with dark grey clouds on the horizon and it began to drizzle. I seldom sketch outside in the summer since there is usually a rain storm every afternoon. My plan was to sketch the early arrivals at the Lake. People come with picnics and hang out for the afternoon so that they are guaranteed a spot lakeside for the fireworks after the crowd presses in.

This couple has three pizza boxes along with some cans of coke and an incredible assortment of groceries still in the plastic bags they got at the check out counter. The band shell across the lake still sported he rainbow paint job it got for Pride after the Pulse Nightclub Massacre. The fountain was working and come evening, it would be lit up with red, white and blue spotlights. All the swans were out in the middle of the lake probably intimidated by the crowds of humans that kept circling the lake. The path was barricaded at the World of beer, so i imagine the fireworks would likely be launched from around that area.

The couple I was sketching smoked the entire time I was there and they were perched on a carped of dry pine needles which would ignite like a wildfire with any spark. Of course with all the sparks raining down from the sky, I imagine a few cigarette butts might be the cities least concern. To my right was a stage for a band, so this spot would certainly be extra crowded once the sun set. I left when the sketch was done because a fabulous meal of ribs awaited back at home. The neighborhood is a war zone of amateur fireworks anyway. Last year the smoke was so thick on the street that visibility was reduced to a few feet as if a London fog had descended. It is now dusk and the explosions are picking up their pace.