Mennello Museum

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The second Sunday of each month is Free Family Day at the Mennello Museum of American Art, (900 East Princeton Street, Orlando, FL 32803). This was a rare day when it was cool enough to sketch outside. A wedding rehearsal was set up lakeside and people slowly gathered to run through the ceremony.

The
Marilyn L. Mennello Sculpture Garden had on display sculptures by Alice Aycock called Waltzing Matilda and Twin Vortexes. These were originally part of series of seven sculptures
in Aycock’s significant outdoor exhibition on Park Avenue in Manhattan
entitled Park Avenue Paper Chase. Aycock, is one
of America’s most recognized and respected sculptors of her generation.

Grounds for Exhibition features
year-long large-scale sculpture exhibitions by nationally renowned
American artists who otherwise would not be shared with Orlando
audiences. It is possible to see the sculptures any time if you are running or riding the Orlando Urban Trail which runs from Meade Gardens to the north down through Lock Haven park, Lake Formosa and down to Magnolia Avenue. An extension is planned to bring the running and biking trail downtown.

Museum Founder Michael Mennello presented over 20 examples of early 20th
Century painting and seminal works from his American Impressionist
Collection to the museum on May 1, 2018.  These painting are is
valued at more than $8.75 million as appraised by Debra Force Fine Art,
LLC, New York. The masterpieces include work by renowned ashcan school artists: John Sloan, Robert Henri, George Lukes, and George Bellows. The ashcan school was named after a sketch done by George Bellows of two bums inspecting a morsel of food they had just lifted from a garbage can. The movement didn’t only show life in the gutters, but also featured the pleasures of art and culture that was booming at the time. The ashcan school of art includes some of my favorite artists who documented everyday life of people from all walks of life.

The next Free Family Fun Day at the Mennello is October 14, 2018 from Noon to 2:30pm. I definitely want to see these new paintings in person.

Joysticks Arcade Lounge and Retro Bar in Downtown Orlando

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ODD 26 (Orlando Drink and Draw) was held at Joysticks Arcade Lounge and Retro Bar (69 E Pine St, Orlando, Florida 32801). Orlando Drink and Draw ventures to a new bar or restaurant each month to sample beers and sketch. There is no model fee and no instruction. This is just a chance to get out, meet fellow artists and draw. I’m hoping to sketch in Central Florida’s best and most unique dive bars, so suggestions are always welcome.

Joysticks is a gaming bar with retro video arcade machines as well as a full bar. I like the references to Little Shop of Horrors, Star Wars, Jaws, Ghost Busters and there is a Game of Thrones sword throne that is great for photo opportunities. Retro arcade games are scattered throughout and there are themes nooks for friends to gather. The place is a visual fest for the eyes and working digitally allowed me to push the extreme colored lighting in the sketch. Four or five artists stopped out and we sat at the round tables to sketch this unique space. Joysticks is the self proclaimed most popular arcade bar in Orlando, Florida. They have a wide selection of specialize drinks, craft beers, and retro
arcade games.

The joy of ODD is that I always get to meet several new artists and flip through their sketchbooks. Most people feel the eyes are a window to the soul, but for artists it is their sketchbooks.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for October 6 and 7, 2018

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Saturday October 6, 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.

8pm to 11pm No Borders Breast Cancer Awareness Edition “Save 2nd Base”.   The Geek Easy 114 S Semoran Blvd, Ste 6, Winter Park, Florida 32792. No Borders presents “Save 2nd Base” our Breast Cancer Awareness Edition.

8pm to 11:30pm $15.95 Science Night Live. Orlando Science Center, 777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803.  It’s social. It’s science. It’s 21 and up! This is also one of the best opportunities to  check out my solo exhibition of Science Center Paintings on display on exhibit on the second floor near the Founer’s Room.

Science Night Live
at Orlando Science Center is your chance to spark your curiosity
through fun exhibits and programs…with some adult beverages, of
course! Bring your friends, or make it a date night, and join us for a
unique and ever-changing experience that proves there’s no age limit on
curiosity!

This event has been known to sell out and tickets are available online only for just $15.95, so get yours before they’re gone!

[TICKETS] www.osc.org/snl

FEATURED EXPERIENCES:

• Hear a presentation from our guest speaker

• Immerse yourself in the world of superheroes, crime fighters, gadgets and spies in our traveling exhibit, Hall of Heroes

• View stars and planets with telescopes in the observatory (weather permitting)

• Experience giant-screen films in the Dr. Phillips CineDome

• Conduct lab experiments in Dr. Dare’s Laboratory

• Enjoy the latest exhibition on display in Fusion: A STEAM Gallery (Work of Thomas Thorspecken of Analog Artist Digital World)

• Delight in food and adult beverages available for purchase

• Experience the Science Center in a whole new way…without kids

Admission to Science Night Live is free for Orlando Science Center Members and $15.95 for the general public.

Sunday October 7, 2018 

10am to 4pm Free. Lake Eola Farmers Market. Lake Eola Park, Orlando, FL 32801.

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 based. Music at the Casa. Flamenco Guitarist Omar Miguel. Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum, 656 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. Members of the public are invited to visit our historic home museum on a
Sunday afternoon from 12 to 3 pm, listen to live music and take a tour
of our historic home museum and the James Gamble Rogers II Studio by
trained docents.

Art Class

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Before I was teaching art classes at Crealde School of Art, I sometimes would stop in at different art classes around Central Florida to see artists at work. This seniors class was in a beautiful location right on a lake with white Ibis hunting for food right on the lawn. This was a watercolor class and I have to admit, I am a bit envious of the wide assortment of watercolor brushes that were available. I scrub watercolor on my sketches with a brush that has clearly seen better days.

I shared my sketchbooks with the class and then settled in to do a sketch of the artists at work. Besides the traditional watercolors being done there was also a large high tech printer available which is again something that would make my life so much easier to have in the studio.

Today was my last day with my Crealde Urban Sketch students and it always feels terrible to leave them just as they are warming up to the journey of doing sketches consistently. Once in a while a student comes along who embraces all you offered and it is a true pleasure to see them blossom and progress.

Jeremy Seghers hosts a public interview program at Urban Rethink

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Urban Re-Think (625 E
Central Blvd. in Thornton Park) used to be the cultural epicenter of downtown Orlando. It was a collaborative workspace, event space and  offered all around
great community programing.  Innovative and experimental programs were tested there each week. In this case, theater produce and director Jeremy Seghers interviewed people in front of a studio audience. The set up was simple, a floor lamp a microphone on a foot stool and two bar stools.

In this sketch, Jeremhy is talking to Darren McDaniel, the founding Director of Urban Re-Think. It was an informal chance to share stories. At the time Darren was having a mural added to the interior of Urban Re-Think based on a drawing done by a very young niece GraciAnn. It was a quirky drawing of a character done in yellow crayon with big eyes. Darren planned to get large mechanical googly eyes which would move. Called the Audacity of Play, the yellow character had a hexagonal head with a mad know of yellow hair, and spiraling yellow hands. The mural was created by Orlando artist, Carolyn Schultz. The functional googly eyes were concocted by Urban Re-Think resident
creative, Kathryn Neel, and empowered by Zach from Hicks Electric.

Urban Re-Think closed down in 2013 and sadly GraciAnne’s mural is no longer gracing it’s walls. Many co-working spaces, studios and creative/tech networking events have cropped up since Urban Rethink was closed but I can attest that the magic created there has not been replicated in any one venue. Though the city continues to grow, I see its cultural heart shrinking.

Art Critique

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An art critique was held at the Gallery at Avalon Island (39 South Magnolia Avenue Orlando FL). Each artist would bring a sample of work to discuss. It is best if the artist has a specific question that can be posed to the group. This artist hand paints electric guitars and other instruments.

The building was donated to the City of Orlando and is now known as the Rogers Kliene Building which is now part of
the Downtown Arts District. It is a contemporary art space that
displays work by emerging and established artists. The gallery is
located in the historic Queen Anne style Rogers Kliene building. It was
built in 1886, and is the oldest operational building in Orlando.

I had two painting on exhibit in what I believe was the last exhibit at City Arts Factory which will be moving into the Rogers Kliene Building. This means that the art scene in downtown Orlando has collapsed and substantially shrunk. The Rogers Kliene Building has 1.5 rooms as exhibition space as opposed to the 6 or so gallery rooms in City Arts Factory. Avalon Island curator Patrick Greene was planning to leave Orlando when Avalon Island closed, but was hired on at Laughing Samurai marketing.

Art Class

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Dog Powered Robot rehearsals were held in this art classroom. Christie Miga taught art classes here and I decided to stop by to see a class in action. This was before I started sketching at Elite Animation Academy and it was while sketching this class in actin that I decided it was inspiring to see kids creating using pencil and paper. One of the instructors actually posed for the students and it was great t see them step up to the challenge and sketch her as she sat in her chair. Kids don’t accept limitations. If you suggest they try creating something, they create something.

It is only when kids get older that they start to feel like they aren’t doing sketches accurately enough. I on the other hand keep striving to get back some of the childhood innocence and directness each time I do a sketch. Inspiring kids to catch the world around them by sketching is a challenge but sometimes it feels so good to see a kid embrace old technology as a way to slow down and truly experience the world.

The Eola Wine Company

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I sketched at the  Lake Eola Wine Company (430 E Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801) during a private workshop I hosted for with an undisclosed artist from NYC. On the subject of mysterious artists, I enjoyed watching the a painting being sold at auction of a girl releasing a heart shaped balloon by Banksy at a Sotherby’s. It sold for 1.4 million dollars. As soon as the gavel went down, the painting self destructed. The artist had built a shredder into the frame and he must have been in the auction house and pressed the self destruct button. On Instagram, he posted an image of shocked auction goers with the caption going going, gone. IT was a brilliant stroke of genius. I has not been reported yet what the auction house will do for the person who purchased the now shredded art.

Orlando Drink and Draw at Thai Island

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Orlando Drink and Draw  (ODD) ventures to a new bar or restaurant each month to sample
beers and sketch. There is no model fee and no instruction. This is just
a chance to get out, meet fellow artists and draw. I’m hoping to sketch
in Central Florida’s best dive bars, so suggestions are always welcome.

Wendy Wallenberg suggested we go to Thai Island (2522 S Semoran Blvd, Orlando, FL 32822. Thai Island is a casual spot for familiar and country-style regional Thai dishes in a quaint setting. About four artists showed up and sketched while sampling the dishes. I had a spring roll with the accompanying sauces on the table was good but didn’t  order a full meal. 

Artist Orit Reuben stopped out and worked in pastels which was a colorful alternative the watercolor sketches I do each day.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for September 29 and 30, 2018

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Saturday September 29, 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.

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

10:30pm to 12:30am Free but get food and drink. Son Flamenco.  Ceviche Tapas Orlando, 125 W Church St, Orlando, FL. 


Sunday September 30, 2018

9am to 4pm Donation based. Shampooch 2018! Lambs Eat Ivy Salon 804 E Washington St, Orlando, Florida 32801. ALL PAWS ON DECK! BRING YOUR DOG(s), A FRIEND’S DOG, A
FAMILY DOG, AN Exes DOG, ADOPT A DOG, <>DOG TO THORNTON
PARK for a dog washing block party to raise
money for Rescue Me Orlando!
•DOG WASH
•NAIL GRINDING
•PHOTO BOOTH
•LIVE MUSIC
•DOG POOLS
•DUNK TANK
•STREET MISTERS
•DJ
•FOOD TRUCKS
•DRINKS
•VENDORS
•APPLE WATCH/FITBIT RAFFLE
•ADOPTIONS
Washing paws for a good cause.
Bring em dirty!

1pm to 4pm. $60. 10 X 10 Workshop: The Frankenstein Effect. East End Market and Domu (Upper balcony) 3201 Corrine Dr. Orlando FL 32803. With instructor Thomas Thorspecken.

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:

When sketching events on location it is sometimes helpful to
search for the high ground to get an overview of the scene. From above
people are less likely to block your view. This class will discuss how
to place figures in the scene as viewed from above. We will discuss
perspective, sighting to find angles, human proportions and gesture.

When people move you can piece together individuals from
multiple people in the crowd. I often track an individual adding detail
to the location where I placed them initially in the sketch. This is a
way to “Frankenstein” the scene together. If we were sketching a scene
in a movie, this would be the establishing shot. The goal is to utilize
the course material to finish one sketch in a two hour time frame.

SUPPLIES:

A sketchbook of your choice, HB pencil, Micron pen or fountain pen
with waterproof ink, Pentel waterbrush, travel watercolor palette, brown
and black colored pencils, a rag and small water supply. A camping stool
is a great addition but not 100% necessary.

Thomas 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.

10pm 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 & laugh, or give it a try yourself.