By Thomas Thorspecken
The Modiste Market returned to Downtown Mount Dora at the Lakeside Inn (100 Alexander St, Mt Dora, FL). Pop up tents lined several streets and this street side courtyard.
I found a shady spot under a Live Oak tree and sketched. A young family was seated on a park bench next to me resting from the Florida heat between shopping spurts.
In front of me was a farmer who offered bath products made from goat milks. I didn’t pick any up, but people stopped to chat about the products for the longest time. the proprietor had his portrait on a display banner along with pictures of his goats. He approached me, curious about the sketch. He pointed to the live oak tree whose shade I was enjoying and said, “Don’t trust that tree, it is shady.”
The vendor across from him was offering hand thrown ceramic jars. To one couple he told a story of Picasso, who was asked to draw on a napkin by a young woman. Picasso dashed off a quick 30 second sketch and requested $10,000. She was astonished and said, “isn’t that an awful lot of money for less than a minute of work?” Picasso replied, “You’re wrong, it took me 40 years”. What she ultimately bought was the accumulated knowledge, skill, and experience that enabled that specific creation. I don’t think the ceramic jugs were selling for $10,000 but the artisan let people know they were taking home a part of his soul.
After the sketch was done, I was parched and I walked among the tents looking for a vendor that sold ice cold drinks. I couldn’t find anyone who had drinks for sale. I now realize, by looking at my sketch that I was sitting right across from a fruit juice vendor the whole time. Well, I survived the walk back to my car and gulped down a cup of water when I got back to the Lake County studio.