“There’s Johnny!”

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I went to Johnny’s Fillin’ Station (2631 South Ferncreek Avenue Orlando Fl) because I heard a band would be performing. I went to the bar right after work and the place was packed. There was a pool table in the corner and dark wood paneling on the walls. The star spangled sign on the front of the building proclaimed that this is where you get Orlando’s Best Burger. I found a small table facing the bar and ordered a beer and a burger. By the time the burger arrived, I was well into the sketch. I’d take a bite, wash it down and then push the plate aside to work on the sketch. It was a long leisurely meal and it was a darn good burger.

The waitress stopped back a few times since I was taking longer to eat than most costumers.  When she saw the sketch, she proclaimed “There’s Johnny!” She then pulled over other staff to see the sketch. When I was ready to leave, the band started setting up their equipment. I was already satiated, so I headed back home.

Art Therapy heals at Nemours.

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I went to the dedication ceremony at Nemours Children’s Cinic for the art therapy program. Jill Mundry addressed the crowd gathered for the dedication. Creative
volunteers share their passion and bring smiles to children and
families.Creativity of any kind, doing arts and crafts,
listening to music, or writing a story, helps kids explore and identify
feelings, deal with emotions, and even get better, faster. In fact, it’s been well documented that creative therapy can help:

  • improve cognitive skills
  • express feelings
  • increase awareness of others/self
  • enhance emotional and physical well being
  • improve self-satisfaction
  • manage pain
  • improve speech and language skills

Nemours is fortunate to have
a lively creative arts program that include dedicated volunteers and
local artists lead the kids in painting, drawing, and other fun
activities in the waiting areas.

 Located just south of downtown Orlando, (1717 S. Orange Ave., Suite 100 Orlando, FL), Nemours Children’s Clinic, is a kid-friendly outpatient pediatric clinic providing specialized pediatric care for families in Central Florida.  Their pediatric teams work together with your child’s pediatrician or family care provider,  to achieve the very best outcome for your child.

One of their most important partnerships is with you — because they believe in family-centered care. That means they value your input and welcome your questions so that, together, we can help your child grow up healthy.

They offer Central Florida’s only nationally-accredited Cystic Fibrosis Center
state-of-the-art Sleep Center studies a full spectrum of pediatric sleep disorders
weight management consultation programs for kids ages three to 16. Nemours provides
a commitment to family-centered car.

Sketchy Broads offered fun sketching options for Orlando artists.

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Sketchy Broads are two models, Jenny Coyle and Lindsay Boswell, who love to come up with quirky costumes and pose for artists and photographers. The prices for an evening of sketching were, $10 for anyone who wishes to take reference photos. $7 for the full 2.5 hours of sketching (30 minutes of short poses and 2 hours of long poses) and $5 for just the long poses.

This particular evening the event was at Stardust Video and Coffee,  (1842 Winter Park Rd, Orlando, FL). They always have quality lighting using photographers umbrellas. Personally I prefer a single spotlight to get strong shadows but I tend to focus on only one sketch while everyone else is doing the short poses.

The group had been meeting at Austin’s Coffee (929 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL) but I do believe that the modeling sessions haven’t happened lately. Austin’s is a crowded spot to hold the events. I suspect that the turn out at these events might not have been enough to keep the event happening. I also know that Jenny was planning to start work on a film project and certainly once production began on that there would be no time left over for modeling. The last event I notice on Facebook was on December 5th of 2013.

Independent Bar is a cornerstone of the downtown Orlando scene.

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Independent Bar is a multi-leveled nightclub with state-of-the-art
sound and lights. They feature three bars, each with its own unique style;
two dance floors, offering separate genres of music; and cafe´ style
sidewalk seating, allowing customers to mingle with the ebb and flow
of downtown Orlando. It is located on the corner of Washington and Orange, (70 N. Orange Ave

Orlando, FL).

I arrived on a typical weeknight. The bar was full as was the dance floor. My friends danced while I sketched. Landmines and interplanetary orbs hing from the ceiling. The place got more packed as I sketched. A few people grew suspicious of me standing quietly sketching but they were fine once they saw what I was up to. I imagine the art on display must be permanent since it was hung so high.

With the sketch done, I watched people on the dance floor for a while, but I wasn’t tempted to dance myself. I imagined my art supply bag would be a problem to keep track of. For Dina Peterson and the others this was the first stop for the evening. They planned to crawl between a number of the clubs up Orange Avenue. I depend on others to introduce me to Orlando’s nigh life which offers so many sketching opportunities. I decided I had enough excitement for the night and I went home.

Why continue to juggle social media?

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Kandra Ferguson, Sarah Porter and Menachem Kniespeck furthered the discussion on social media. I’m beginning to realize that I have only skimmed the surface in using social media to share my work with a wider audience. I only started using instagram two days ago but people have been using that interface as a way to share work for years. I’ve only just begun to use hashtags this week as well. After hearing so many people talk about how useful hashtags are, I’m finally taking the time to add them. Researching hashtags and using them to find people with similar interests is something I need to get better at.

I spoke with Caroline Moore and she wrote an article on Linked in that generated a huge spike in readers. Although I am signed up on linked in, I’ve never understood it’s potential. With social media, I feel like I’m always expected to juggle multiple balls while more balls keep getting thrown in. The second this all becomes work rather than play, then I’ll have to cut back.  In the mean time I continue to listen and learn at a glacial speed.

Media Panel Discussion

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I went to a panel discussion about media in the age of the Internet. Mark Baratelli, who founded The Daily City blog was part of the discussion, so I wanted to support him and learn a thing or two. The other panelists were Lora Daiz, a journalist from Local 6 News and Catherine Brown from Clear Channel Communications. Social Media is offering opportunities to reach an ever increasing audience if you have a message to share. New platforms keep appearing and media need to keep on top of the curve to keep track of what is trending. Yesterday I tarted using instagram for the first time and I was shocked at the response when I posted my first blurry photo of a sketch in progress. Now I need to set aside time each day to fire off some instagram image. The problem is of course that involves devoting more time to marketing rather than creating art. My iPhone always spins for a few minutes thinking about what it wants to do. I am beginning to think I am spending too much of my life waiting for software to click on. When the technology works it is magic. I need to find the right balance so that I’m not overwhelmed by the demands of having a virtual social life. When I’m sketching everything comes into focus and I feel that my life is being fully lived. Social media is my way to find sketching opportunities that get me fully involved in the world around me.

Max Starks Football Camp inspires the youth of Orlando

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The two day Max Starks Football Camp is free to girls and boys 7-17 years of age but space is
limited. Each summer, numerous community partners, dedicated volunteers and
several NFL colleagues and coaches reach hundreds of kids in the annual
Football Camp in Orlando, FL. The program incorporates life skills, literacy, education and
stresses the importance of maintaining a sterling image on and off the
field.

Physicals are requested and all registered participants receive a
breakfast snack, hydration fluids, lunch, camp t-shirt, Ford sports gear
and a minimum of one age appropriate scholastic book.I went to Lake Highland Prepertory School, (901 Highland Ave, Orlando, FL) to sketch as the two days of training kicked off. The auditorium bleachers were full and the anticipation grew as the conversations grew louder.

Max Starks and several team mates opened the day welcoming all the brave young sports enthusiasts. Everyone wore the free tee shirts sporting the Max Starks logo. When everyone was pumped up they all ran out to the football field. Everyone ran laps to start to warm up followed by stretches. I didn’t stay for all the training workouts since I was sweating form just doing a sketch.

This years camp location will be announced on April 1st, 2015.

NFL Mixer raised funds for the Annual Max Starks Football Camp

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This NFL Themed fundraiser was held in a luxury car dealership near the Millenia Mall. Silent auction items at many fundraisers often have signed footballs or sports Jerseys, but this fundraiser sported these man cave items only. Funds were being raised for the annual the Annual Max Starks NFL Youth Football and Speed Camp held at Lake Highland Preparatory School (901 Highland Ave, Orlando, FL).

I glanced around the the auction items but my man cave is full of sketchbooks and art leaving little room for framed sports jerseys.  Since there wasn’t any musicians or other talent to focus my attention on, I quietly slipped away to get home.

No More Drunken Monkey

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I often stop off at the Drunken Monkey Coffee Bar after work at Full Sail so I don’t have to drive all the way home before going to an event to sketch. Everyone sipping their coffee seems to involved in some form of work be it digital or traditional. It is right across the street from the plaza theater, so I often end up waiting her prior to a performance at the theater. The coffee bar is also half way between Full Sail and downtown which makes it the perfect stopping spot for me. If I plan to sketch downtown later that evening.

There are plenty of tasty sandwiches on the menu as well which makes it a fine place to grab a bit for dinner as well. I’m a creature of habit and if I love a spot I return often. I also like getting to see the ever changing art on the walls which feature local artists. I always support any business that supports the local arts scene.

I no longer go to Drunken Monkey since they used one of my sketches on their server home page without consulting me..

Cigars and sports at Corona Cigar Lounge

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Located near the Plaza in Downtown Orlando, Corona Cigar Company (127 South Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL) offers liquor and stogies for any occasion. During any Orlando Magic game the Lounge fills up with fans and smoke. I decided to stop in to sketch during a Magic game. The lounge is filled with old Spanish furniture with leather studded cushions. I sketched with curiosity as a patron snipped off the end of a cigar before lighting up. While many establishments are converting to no smoking policies, that will never happen here.

When I got home, Terry could smell the smoke on my clothes and sketchbook. She has a keen sense of smell but smell is my weakest sense which is a blessing when folks light up around me.  Since I always sketch in crowded environments I have to tolerate and even celebrate peoples habits. I’m never tempted to smoke myself but I’m curious about people that do smoke. I feel a little nasty when I sketch in a smoke filled room and that can be a good thing. The Magic lost.