Sunset Fire

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I end many of my days in the Yalaha Studio by sitting on a 5 foot fallen and cut pine tree log and staring at a fire in the large fire pit.

There is nothing more soothing that watching the flames dance and keeping the fire burning as the sun sets. After dark, mosquitoes become far more active and will buzz my ears, possibly attracted by the glow of my iPad screen. I thought a hoodie might save my sanity from the buzzing but the sound of the attack is just as loud.

I have a few evenings where my virtual classes end at 6pm which allows for this sunset fire. I am getting better at scheduling sketch opportunities around Yalaha. Most theater rehearsals or theater productions happen around this time and unfortunately the long commute back to Orlando makes it impossible for me to sketch many of those events that I used to sketch every day. Many evenings I am just exhausted and have work I need to do on theater posters, late into the night, so I set a fire to reset my brain into painting mode. I like to dash off quick paintings of the Yalaha Studio to get used to get used to catching different lighting situations and to experiment with different brushes.

By the time the final embers settle it is time to go inside and make some dinner and get back to work. This time by the fire is my chance to reflect, listen to the birds, watch the warm light settle into dusk,  and feel connected to the land. After a short walk each morning, I work in the yard or on the house and feel that same connection to the place. A lone donkey is often hear braying off in the distance. I am so fortunate to have this time in a rural setting. I suspect that the time may soon come to an end with travel or a purchase of a homestead of my own nearby so I can feel part of an artistic community with my roommate who gave me the opportunity to have this experience. As I fix gutters, latches, and doors, I intend to one day leave the place improved. If travel is in the cards I intent to help with some far more major renovations which will make the place a very attractive rental opportunity for someone who sees the charm of the place, as I do.

Front Porch Radio WPRK

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Julie Norris the owner of Spiral Circle Book Store is the host of Front Porch Radio. I stopped in to sketch on the day she was interviewing local book store owners. WPRK is located on the Rollins College campus.

I contacted Julie shortly after a protest happened at her store from a right wing christian group. Spiral Circle offers books from a wide range of spiritual beliefs. A video in which one of her staff spoke to the protest leader went viral sparking renewed interest in the book store and sales soared. The protest which has the intent of shutting down book sales achieved the opposite as people rallied around the book store. Spiral Circle is soon celebrating their 50th anniversary Jubilee and it is the oldest independent bookstore in Orlando.

Across from Julie were the owners of New Romantics Bookstore, Jane Rodriguez, and Authentic Books.

New Romantics is a bookstore entirely devoted to romance novels. The owner had always wanted to have a bookstore and she simply decided to go for it. With the help of her family who literally helped renovate the space, she opened for business at 3018 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL. Over 80% of her clients are woman and the store hosts many community events. One event that I would love to sketch is Stitch and Bitch but unfortunately I would not get there in time with the commute.

The New Romantics is a Romance-Only Bookstore featuring books from a diverse range of authors covering a wide range of romance genres. You’ll find every single type of romance genre. They create a safe, diverse space for all romance readers and uplift the romantic stories we read. The bookstore values community, inclusion, connection, empathy, love, passion, respect, and gratitude.

Authentic books at 1815 North Orange Avenue, Orlando Florida, has a very unique business model. The store packages books with scents flavors and objects that tie in with the book being read. Patrons who shop at the store are given a tote bag or box and they can pick up 3 items that tie in with the book they choose. The store expanded fast when it went online shipping boxes across the country. The idea grew so fast that it became a challenge to keep up with demand. Subscribers receive the best new fiction, paired with carefully selected items from the story that engage each of your 5 senses.

Sight of course is the new book you get to read. Smell is a candle picked to offer a scent that is reminiscent of the aromas found in the story. Taste offers drinks and treats that again tie in with the story. Touch offers self care goodies, and sound is a Spotify play list that matches the mood of the book. Each box becomes a full sensory experience.

After the show I went for tea with Julie and the owner of Authentic Books and I have such deep respect for these entrepreneurs who take calculated risks to grow their businesses. Things were booming as people broke free of social isolation, but the market quickly changes.

El Nina

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I have been studying Spanish. Each time I eat a meal, I check in with Duolingo on my phone and do a lesson. My roommate Stella invited me to go to her sisters house where the family would be celebrating her sister’s birthday. Since I am studying Spanish, Stella felt it would be good for me to immerse myself in the family conversations, many of which would be in Spanish. She was absolutely right. I am thrilled each time the family speaks in Spanish. I catch maybe a quarter of what is said but the playful sing song exchanges are a thrill to listen too.

I met Stella at UCF where she was giving her finals presentation and then we hit the road. It was a long scenic drive on endless rural roadways. I loved driving through the wide open horse and cow country. Stella had pulled an all nighter to assemble a map using the paper we had created over the weekend. She was exhausted so she slept through most of the trip slept most of the way.

The original plan was for me to use a iPhone hot spot so I could teach a virtual student for most of the ride and I am glad that the class was canceled at the last minute. It would have been unfair to Stella to struggle to stay awake for that long drive.

Stella had a present for her niece. It was a curved long board. It is such a simple and sturdy toy that encourages balance. As soon as we arrived she and her niece played with it for the longest time in the living room. Stella lit up when she played with her niece. First she taught her how to straddle the board and treat it like a surf board rocking side to side.  Then it was turned over like a bridge and her niece jumped off with glee. The her niece sat on the board and rocked side to side. This was certainly the safest and most balanced way to play.

A box of small animal toys was brought out and the animals hid under the long board bridge like trolls. Stella played with the animals allowing them to chase a ball. All of the interactions were in Spanish and it was such a good learning experience for me. Elephante was one of the first words I learned in Spanish and sure enough there was a small stuffed elephant. Stella also read a book to her niece in Spanish and I was on the edge of my seat hanging on every word. Playtime and pre-school learning are such a thrill for me as I slowly pick up a new language.

On the trip down we stopped in a Spanish supermercado. I needed a bathroom and like a dope asked in English. Afterwards I realized I know how to ask for a bathroom. “Yo necesito uno baño.” I need to get more daring in using the language I am slowly learning. As in art, mistakes are inevitable. I will learn faster if I take more chances and use what I have learned. I now have 2 days of absolute Spanish immersion. Every playful exchange Stella has with her niece is a gold mine of fluent Spanish. Stella reads the children books that are printed in English and translates them for her niece in Spanish. She created several movies with those translations and I want to look at the movies which should be another gold mine.

During her over nighter creating a map with the grass paper Stella discovered an online channel that has an endless stream of Colombia soap operas. She described the over the top villainous and sexy leading lady. Sweet innocent couples weer forced into  turning to a life of evil due to circumstances. The plot twists were silly and unrealistic but that is what makes it sound so fun. If I were to watch this soap opera first with English subtitle and then without them, I should start picking up phrases and conversational Spanish. At least that is my hope.

Making Grass Paper

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Over the weekend I helped Stella Arbeláez Tascón in making grass paper which would be used for her final project in her MFA program at UCF.

Stella started by transforming the back patio of her Yalaha Homestead into a working paper manufacturing factory. She took an unused bathroom door and placed it on two saw horses to create a long table covered in black plastic. A crate from her back shed was used as a station for beating and crushing the bags of grass that we had collected on the roadside.

Grass was boiled in water on the stove and the stove ended up looking like a Chernobyl meltdown and explosion had happened. Canvas stretchers from my room were used to create screens which were used to strain the sheets of paper. The first day of paper production we managed to make 5 sheets of paper which were hung from the small folding drying rack, lightly hinted at in the sketch. We were exhausted after that 5 sheet day.

On day two we became far more productive, having learned from our many mistakes made on day 1. Making paper is less science and more trail and error. I took over the pounding and mashing job that is pictured in this sketch. A painters spatula is used to stab the blades and then a mallet was used to pound the fibers even finer. By the end of the day I developed a very definite technique. The fibers were then placed in a blender to further emulsify the mash. I found that the blending was finished when the machine stopped lurching when large chunks of organic matter would catch in the blades.

A large container was filled with water and the screens Stella made were dipped into the water and grass emulsion mixture. Making the paper is a bit like panning for gold, where you want to catch the perfect thin sheet of fibers. Okra was boiled to get a viscous and slick substance which helped to bind the fibers into paper. Another task that I had was to use my fingers to break up the grass mixture into the water in the large vat. My hands were covered with the slippery green mix all day. I rather enjoyed the process.

On day 2 we managed to make about 25 sheets of paper and we could have made more since there was more grass emulsion that I had pounded into a fine slurry. We started using a large clothes line that Stella has in her back yard to dry off sheets of paper and microfiber. Once the  grass mixture was on a screen it would be flipped over onto micro fiber and then more micro fiber sheets would be used to dry off the back of the screen. Stella became really good at pealing the paper away from the screen. She let me try pealing one late in the day and I failed miserably at first. I finally developed my own technique of easing the paper away with my index finger sliding delicately around the edge.

It was a sunny, gorgeous day with the birds chirping in the trees. It was so much fun assisting. I can’t imagine a more pleasant and productive weekend.

 

Stuart Little Final Poster

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For the final poster image of Stuart Little I had to reduce the size of Snowbell and move him into the background. Stuart remained standing right where he was and I made Snowbell’s head as large as I could in the negative space to the left of Stuart.

The title looks much better against a bright blue field so it can be read from a distance. I kept the chalky typeface for the credits.

Staurt Little is running right now at the Shakes. It involves some puppetry and a brightly colored set.

The vertical poster was adopted for a horizontal format in the promotional video. Since I am always rushing to finish the posters on time, I don’t paint behind foreground layer. In this poster Stuart is the foreground layer, that meant I didn’t paint the parts of Snowbell that could not be seen. When Stuart is removed, a Stuart shaped unpainted negative space appears on Snowbell’s fur.

This year I am re configuring every poster as a horizontal image as well so that such strange unpainted areas don’t happen when the poster is dissected and pulled apart for various uses.

The jealous gaze of Snowbell now is softened to curiosity or concern. Since he is reduced in size the threat is also softened.

Stuart Little runs through April 27, 2025. Tickets are $20.

Third Pass with Snowbell

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For this pass at the poster I wanted to play up how big Snowbell was in relation to Stuart Little. Stuart is a true gentleman with his ivy league causal jacket and vest. I wanted jealousy to radiate from Snowbell’s eyes.

I felt a bit uncomfortable that the title might not read well enough against Snowbell’s brilliant white fur. The chalky typeface I liked from the second pass at the poster I kept for the credits.

The note from the approvals meeting was that Stuart Little needed to dominate the poster instead of Snowbell’s huge face and jealous gaze.

I needed to make Stuart big and the cat in the distance smaller. This would reinforce the basic rule of perspective in that what is close to the viewer is usually bigger that what is in the distance.

I decided to keep Stuart the size he was and Snowbell underwent a major size reduction. I am thankful I was working digital because I only had to make adjustments to the one layer while leaving everything else alone. If this was an oil painting, or watercolor, then every aspect of the painting would have to be changes or redone.

I am slowly learning to appreciate the advantages of living in a digital world. Stella has been showing me how to share images using Google photos. Images shared are a full resolution. Whereas if I were to share the same images in a text, message of email, the resolution would drop to 72 DPI.

I shared folder full of images from Stella Arbeláez Tascón‘s Fresh Squeezed opening at the Morean Arts Center (719 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL ) and I was so impressed with how she used them when promoting the show on social media. Panoramic shots I took, showed up as interactive pans on my iPhone. The show is up through June 26, 2025. If you find yourself in Saint Petersburg you should check it out, it is an impressive show. It was a simple drive to the opening reception. I am super happy I went. I sketched at the Morean one time before when performance artist Brian Feldman squeezed orange juice for visitor to the gallery.

Second Pass at Stuart Little Poster

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This was the second pass at the Stuart Little poster for the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. The show is being performed through April 27, 2025. Tickets are $20.

For this poster I focused on the scene where Stuart captains a tiny radio controlled sail boat in Central Park in NYC. I used to live in NYC and this lake was a welcome get away from the hustle and bustle of surviving in the city.

The scene takes place in early morning as the sun rises in the east. I know that because I am familiar with the warm light.

It should be noted that this is a quick color sketch which I assumed might get rejected. Because of that I don’t refine the brush work very much. Working fast like this, I often prefer to leave some of those panicked brush stokes rather than refining and polishing every aspect of the piece.

I am thinking this because I am working on the final stages of the posters for next season. Part of me wants to refine everything, but I resist and only work on areas that have changes or adjustments. I always want to have the poster look like it was made by hand. The best way to do that is to leave hints of the human touch.

I like the look of Stuart in this sketch but once again he is the sole focus of the poster. I wanted to include at lead one other character as well.

My research turned to Snowbell who is jealous  of how well Stuart fit into the family where he was once the sole prince.

Stuart Little First Concept Thumbnail

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This is the first Stuart Little Concept I did for the Orlando Shakespeare Theater poster. I did similar thumbnails for all the posters for the season. The idea was to see if it made sense to have all the posters use the same limited palette.

This concept was built around a scene in which Stuart gets caught in a washing machine. To save time I used a photo of the Brooklyn Bridge in the background. If I wanted to finalize the idea of course I would sketch and paint everything.

The idea didn’t fly. I needed to incorporate more characters for the final poster. the idea of having all the posters with the same color palette also didn’t fly. There was no enthusiasm for the limited palette when I showed the concepts at the first approval meeting.

I kind of liked the chalkboard title but I later abandoned that for a much bigger and bolder look to the lettering. The one good thing about this fast approach is that I could get ideas out fast and with more ideas on the table I could pick and choose what was working best.

Doing these children’s show posters are always a fun departure from all the other shows of the season which are usually more serious. With the kids shows I could fall back on a more cartoony look. This sketch is a rare case where I didn’t even bother to add shadows to the character. Of course if the idea had legs I would have refined it much further.

I am right now in the throws of doing posters for the next season at the Shakes and it is amazing how many changes and adjustments each poster goes through. At the last approvals meeting three of the poser ideas were approved and I have about 4 posters to change and adjust. A sloppy sketch like this is like me throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.

Flower Animation

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Video Player

Every afternoon except Sundays I am online teaching students for Elite Animation Academy. Today was the last class for a student and this is the character she wanted to animate. I thought I should share an example of the types of scenes we work on. this must be a character from a video game my student plays. The assignment integrates squash and stretch, fast and slow movements incorporating slow in and slow out, arcs, a change of expression and a blink and creating a cycle. The flower pedals incorporate drag and some follow through. As simple as the assignment looks it incorporated quite a few of the 12 major animation principles.  I like to follow the student’s interests which means I get introduced to a whole lot of characters and culture I wouldn’t otherwise get exposed too.

Since this was a final project, I wanted the student to push the scene to a more final look by using color and a background. The reference the student showed me had the simple grey background so I went with that. I enjoy teaching animation online. I go over the same 12 principles each time but each student inspires me to push each assignment in a new direction to match their interests.

This is a bit of a departure from my sharing my illustrative journalism work, but every afternoon when most events are beginning, I am in my studio online teaching a student. This student wanted to include an audio clip with her animation in Procreate, but the program doesn’t have an audio feature. I use a program called Callipeg and it does allow for audio clips, so with more ambitious students I sometimes have a short dialogue clip to work on. By short, I mean one word, like “no!” which could be finished in one two hour class.

First Ad seen of Stuart Little Poster Art

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This is the first ad I found featuring the art I created for the Orlando Shakespeare Theater production of Stuart Little. The show runs through April 27, 2025. I need to arrange to get to the theater and sketch the actual show.

I watched the Stuart Little movie on YouTube for inspiration and found so many illustrated renditions of Stuart. Designs started with thumbnail sketched and then I did multiple versions of the poster before this one was ultimately picked.

I remember that Snowball the white cat at first was immense, with his cat face filling up most of the poster while Stuart was small and diminutive. When I reversed that size dynamic the poster started to fall into place.

I find it fascinating how many steps it takes to reach a final look for the poster art. On rare occasions I hit it out of the park on the first try but that is rare. Being flexible and rolling with the punches is what makes illustration challenging, and so much fun.

By working digitally, changes could involve just turning off a layer to eliminate a character and then start over while the rest of the poster remains intact.

I am in the heat of the moment making changes to the posters to next season. Three posters were approved in the last meeting but four have more adjustments that need to be made. The goal is to know that every change can and will make the poster even better.

One play was dropped to be replaced by another and I had one day to come up with a new concept. That is when things get really fun and exciting!