Montreal Canada

Posted on by Thor

I joined Pam for a conference in Montreal for best practices in Oral Histories. The nocturnal view from the hotel window reminded me of New York City. While the conference was gong on in the daytime, I explored the city with my sketchbook. I went to several really good art museums and the restaurant scene was booming.

I also spent time sketching in the conference specifically at the presentation given by the Orange County Regional History Center about the oral histories being collected in the wake of the Pulse Nightclub shooting.

Local Varkers Market

Posted on by Thor

Pam Schwartz and I went to Aardvark Beverages (2610 South Ferncreek Ave, Orlando, Florida 32806) for the Local Varkers Market. This market was weekly on Tuesday Nights. Pets were encouraged, so we brought our pup Sprout. It is a vintage and handmade market with 20 Vendors, Live Music, Craft Beer, Wine, Coffee, and Food. The Free outdoor market ran from 5pm until 9pm.

All ages were welcome. With all encouraged to bring the whole family out for a community celebration!

If you are interested in becoming a vendor please email Suzette. It was bitter cold that night so I decided it was best to sit close to the open fire to sketch. Sprout made friends with many of the vendors as I sketched. It was a community effort to get the flames started and well fed. The logs crackled and spit out sparks which rose up. blending with the cold evening stars.

Christmas in Iowa

Posted on by Thor

Roger and Jenni had a new baby, Maxwell, who was the center of attention at the Schwartz abode this year at Christmas. This little bundle kicked and squirmed constantly. He also seemed to be consistently amazed by a ceiling fan. Jenni explained that it might just be the contrast of dark against light that caught his eye. Pam’s other nephew, Cooper, just two days older than Max, didn’t get to visit as long as he had to head off to other family engagements.

The Christmas tree was half sized this year and was entirely set up by Pam’s nephew Easton. The star on top was cocked to the side at just the right quizzical angle. When the whole family arrived on Christmas day there were so many loud, boisterous conversations and arguments happening at the same time that I was rather overwhelmed. The best way for me to maintain some straight forward train of thought was to keep adding lines to the sketch. Christmas movies flickered on the TV, including The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and Klaus.

Christmas dinner included huge steaks and cheesy potatoes, followed by multiple pies and then games.

Christmas Day Baby Photos

Posted on by Thor

Christmas day followed a full day of High School Senior photos shot in scenic spots around Iowa. Kim was the photographer and Pam art directed, finding scenic spots to shoot the photos around the countryside. Over 700 photos were shot of Destiny in her new Christmas outfits that Pam helped her pick out. On Christmas day, family gradually trickled into the Schwartz abode with the anticipated present opening happening in the living room.

Pam’s nephews and nieces ripped through paper to unveil electronic furby styled toys and tiny foxes that hang onto fingers. The tiny creatures apparently learn phrases and repeat them. There are 2 new babies in the family and Kim bravely set up a photo studio in the entry hall to the house to take photos of the two well-behaved babies. When it came time to shoot the photos, however, both kids became cranky and uncooperative. One did not like the cushion bed set up and was more comfortable lying directly on the floor. Models are known for their face gymnastics but these two went red faced as they struggled to poop during the shoot. Large bulb Christmas lights were set up in a circle around the kids to make it clear that these were Christmas scenes. A Christmas ornament was used to get these would be models to focus.

Every minute of the shoot was a challenge with moms and the photographer struggling for the best possible shot.

Christmas Games

Posted on by Thor

We traveled to Iowa for the Christmas holidays. Pam’s parents live on top of a hill overlooking rolling hills in every direction. In the morning the ground was covered in frost with thick layer of fog creating a mysterious scene. It took several hours before the sun came up to burn off the fog. On Christmas day it was supposed to be 58 degrees during the day which is unheard of. Usually the temperatures are in the negative digits.

On the first night of Christmas the family gathered to play Tripoly. It seemed to be a combination of a few card games wrapped into one game. Poker played an important role to start and chips were placed on the board. I was so focused on sketching that I didn’t really follow all the rules. Pam’s brother Matt played boisterously and he is known for taking chances in his betting, sometimes placing large stakes bets even when he didn’t have a great hand.

Kim, his wife, was just learning the game so she consulted the poker cheat sheet to figure out how to play her hand. Pam and her nephew Easton played constant hands. This game can go on all night it turns out. Matt and Kim’s little girls started playing a game of tag, running in circles and using me as the home base. I had to brace myself once in a while knowing I was about to be body slammed as I sketched.

I had spent the whole day at shopping malls with Pam and Destiny. We ended up going to 15 different stores to get outfits for Destiny’s High School Senior photos. There is no activity more exhausting than shopping at a mall right before Christmas. Before the game was over that I was sketching, I decided to curl up on the couch over by the tiny Christmas tree. I immediately drifted off to sleep. At some point Pam must have put a purple leopard print blanket over me. Matt won the game and Pam decided to wake me up to actually go to bed. It was close to impossible to drag myself off the couch. Downstairs it was freezing cold and I went to bed fully dressed with my hoodie tied tight around my head so that just my nose stuck out into the cold.

Hot, Hot, Hot!

Posted on by Thor

Hot, Hot, Hot was one of the History in a Glass events held at the Orange County Regional History Center. On display were items from Orlando’s fiery past. On the table was a melted telephone recovered from a fire. Sparky the fire dog stood proud in his red suspenders. Pam Schwartz, the History Center chief curator introduced some of the history before the drinks started getting mixed.

Mainly historic photos and documents showcased Orlando’s history with fires. Back before fire trucks, Orlando Residents had good reason to complain that the fire department always showed up late to a blaze. The firemen responded that they had a stubborn horse who refused to pull the wagon, so if citizens got them a new and more energetic horse, then they could get to a blaze on time.

In the History in a Glass series, local craft bartenders competed for
bragging rights by creating libations inspired by historical themes and
artifacts. In the summer Central Florida gets blazing hot, so we cooled
off at this event with some hot-hot-hot history with
artifacts and stories of fires blazing, fireworks poppin’, and even a
fire insurance company with some risqué sales tactics!

As depicted in a historic photo from the museum’s collection, the American Fire and Casualty Insurance company had a sales meeting in which they had women come out only in a cardboard box. The sales slogan was, “We cover it all.”  Lady Jaimz of Corsets and Cuties recreated the risque sales dance. The drinks were indeed hot. Several were too hot for my palette. Domu won the bragging rights for the evening.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for December 28, 29, 2019

Posted on by Thor

Saturday December 28, 2019

10am to 5pm $8 Accidental Historian. Orange County Regional History Center (65 E. Central Blvd.
Orlando, Florida 32801). Their creations were never meant to become history.

On exhibit through January 19, 2020
You might be a historian without even realizing it! That’s certainly
true of many bloggers, urban sketchers, photographers, and more. In this
engaging exhibition, created at the History Center, learn how
individuals who are absorbed in documenting the world of today
accidentally become some of Central Florida’s finest historians for the
future. Catch a glimpse into some of our favorite collections that were
created for the now – more than 100 years ago.

The Accidental Historian features both historic and
contemporary work and collections, including drawings by the renowned
artist and teacher Ralph Bagley and Urban Sketchers Orlando, poetry by
Orlando’s inaugural poet laureate Susan Lilley, audiovisual work by food
blogger Ricky Ly, historic images by photographer T.P. Robinson, and
more.

Visitors to the exhibit can create 19th-century “tweets” and step
into a larger-than-life, Instagrammable photo station, along with other
fun features. The exhibit is fully bilingual, presented in both English
and Spanish. Related programs range from preservation workshops to
poetry readings and a historical food-based demonstration.

 8am to 1pm. Free. Parramore Farmers Market. John H Jackson Community Center, 3107, 1002 W Carter St, Orlando, FL 32805. Purchase
quality, fresh and healthy food grown in your own neighborhood by local
farmers, including Fleet Farming, Growing Orlando, and other community
growers.

 7pm to 11pm. Free. Ybor City Art Walk. 7th Ave Ybor Tampa, Florida 33605.

Officially
beginning the second Saturday of July (the 9th) we are bringing back
the Ybor City Art Walk! Featuring a number of arts organizations and
artsy businesses, be sure to R.S.V.P. here to get the official map for
the walk!
Here are the participating locations:

The Bricks of Ybor
Bloodline Tattoo
Ybor Arts Colony
Hot Wax
Wandering Eye Art Gallery
Dysfunctional Grace
Moon Over Havana Arts Gallery
Live Arts Labs

There
will be other businessess joining the lineup so stay tuned! For any
questions please feel free to contact the Ybor Art Alliance here through
Facebook.

Sunday December 29, 2019

9am to 11am.  $10 for Guests, $5 for Mennello Museum Members. Yoga in the Mennello Museum Sculpture Garden. Mennello Museum of American Art 900 E Princeton St, Orlando, Florida 32803.
Start your Sunday morning out blissfully with a relaxing lakeside flow.
Practice is suitable for beginner to moderate levels and will be led by
certified instructors from Full Circle Yoga, Winter Park. Don’t forget
to bring your own mat and water to practice. 

Your
practice also includes a complimentary pass to enjoy the museum’s
indoor exhibitions at your own leisure during our operating hours.

Full Circle Yoga Instructor: Sarabeth Jackson.

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. 

11am to Noon. $5 Yoga. Lake Eola Park near red gazebo.

Central Florida Camellia Society 72nd Annual Show and Festival

Posted on by Thor

Pam Schwartz and I went to Mead Gardens (1300 S. Denning Drive Winter Park, Fl) for the The Camellia Society of Central Florida’s annual flower show featuring award-winning blooms from Central Florida and the southeastern United States. Of course all the beauty was to be found in the microscopic details in each individual bloom on display. Each vibrant bloom was in a tiny glass vase with a label to note what type of bloom it was. Larger place cards with capital A, B, and C grouped the blooms together.

I was more interested in capturing peoples’ gestures as they admired and photographed the blooms. Some men were stoic with crossed arms, while women might lean forward to get as close as possible. More flowers and plants could be found outside on this gorgeous day.

74th Annual Camellia Show and Plant Sale is coming up on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at the Orlando Garden Club Clubhouse at Loch Haven Park (710 E. Rollins St., Orlando, FL (between Advent Health and US 17). The event is free and Open to the public.

Camellia Show from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Plant Sale  from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

2020 Camellia Show Activity Schedule

7am – 10 a.m. Enter camellia blooms (ANYONE)!  Volunteers available to assist with registration. (Location: Orlando Garden Club)

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Camellias plants for sale.  (Location: Clubhouse Area)

10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Camellia 101 Class – Robert Bowden, director of the City of Orlando’s Harry P. Leu Gardens (Locations: in Clubhouse Library)

1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Camellia Show is officially OPEN to the public.  See thousands of competition blooms up close! (Location: Orlando Garden Club

4 p.m. Camellia Show closes

Art in the Alley

Posted on by Thor

Christmas lights are ablaze in downtown Mount Dora. On every 2nd Friday of the month, Art in the Alley brings art, music, and more to Mount Dora. 

Art and music exhibitors line Royellou Lane, in the heart of downtown Mount Dora, showcasing their original art, handmade goods and acoustic sounds. Downtown galleries have extended hours and are open to the public free of charge.

This is a unique opportunity to experience a vibrant, eclectic mix of emerging and established artists.

Start your stroll at the Mount Dora Center for the Arts Gallery (138 East Fifth Avenue

Mount Dora, FL 32757) to pick up the Art in the Alley map. As you stroll down Royellou Lane have your map punched at each of the gallery stops along the way. Once you have visited all of the galleries, bring your completed punched map to the Gatehouse Gallery at the Lakeside Inn (100 Alexander St, Mt Dora, FL 32757) to be entered into a raffle for a special prize. By the way, the rocking chairs on the front port of the Lakeside Inn are a great place to watch the sunset should you want to make an evening of it.

Each month provides new themes and exhibitors to enjoy, completely free of charge.
So be sure to stop by each month to see what’s new!

The Galleries are open from 6 pm to 8 pm,
and the Sidewalk Artists and Musicians are out till 9 pm. The next Art in the Alley is January 10, 2020. Check out the sunset, some holiday lights and some art.

Crealde Urban Sketching Class

Posted on by Thor

I teach a 6 week Urban Sketching Tips and Techniques Class at Crealde School of Art (600 Saint Andrews Boulevard Winter Park, Fl). Even in the heart of winter we head outside each class to get out of the studio environment and sketch from direct observation. Half of the class is usually in the classroom as we explore a new premise then we sketch from life. We expand from drawing a single person to capturing the entire scene. Each class builds on the last. The goal is always to get the students to finish their sketches using pencil, pen and ink and watercolor within a two hour window. Sketches in the beginning of the course might be unfinished but towards the end of the course the work becomes more complete. A sketch by definition is unfinished however and I try and relate that form of acceptance.

I dash of fast digital sketches like the one above as the students at focusing on their own work. I also make the rounds and offer suggestions in the form of sketches to each student when they start out. The initial composition is what I try and get them to focus on before the details. In the first 5 or 6 strokes of the pencil the entire composition can be established and I try and get the students to embrace the same bold approach.

I end up missing each group of students when the course is over. Six weeks is just enough time to get them started on what could be a life long journey but I always wish that I could have shared more. I set up an Instagram hashtag (#crealdesketcher) so I can share notes and students can also share work with each other. Communicating and sharing is the main reason to become an Urban Sketcher, so I am hoping this platform will open students up to sharing their work online.

My next Urban Sketching Tips and Techniques Class in studio 1B begins Sunday January 19, 2020 at 9:30am until 12:30pm and runs for the following six Sundays. The price is $270 for Members and $290 for Non-Members. Go to the Crealde website to register.