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.

By Thomas Thorspecken

I went to a Patriotic Concert and Ice Cream Social at the First Presbyterian Church (222 West 6th Street, Mount Dora, Florida). I talked about sketching the friend who felt that the event would likely be filled with Trump supporting MAGA fanatics.

Politics didn’t play a roll in the concert. Pastor John Lowe gave a quick benediction in which he asked that people listen with patience and get along with those whose views are not shared. Randy Frieling at the piano told a story of a man who was very unpleasant. He was so unpleasant that his donkey kicked him repeatedly and killed him. At the funeral the man’s grief stricken wife shook her head yes to each man who consoled her, and then shook her head no to each woman. When asked about this, she explained that the men were asking if she were alright, and the woman were asking if the donkey was for sale. Kasey Cox and Janelle Woodward filled out the singers.

In each chair there was a small American Flag. A giant American flag waved on the jumbo tron. The first song was the Star Spangled Banner and everyone in the room stood to sing it. Since there were American flags in every corner of the room I didn’t know where to look. This wasn’t a baseball game, so I wasn’t certain if I should place my hand over my heart. Mid way through the song, I realized my hat was still on my heard. If I snatched it off my head, I might draw attention to my mistake. I decided to ride out the remainder of the song with the hat firmly in place.

In a song titled Salute to the Armed Forces,, the pastor asked anyone who served in each branch of the service to stand when they heard their anthem. Many of the audience members might have served in WWII. First members of the army stood, then the navy and marines. I felt a nostalgic glow for those who defended our against dictators.

After the music stopped, I was still throwing watercolor washed on the sketch. By the time I finished, there was no longer a line for the ice cream. I had 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream with some strawberry sauce and whipped cream. Since I am not a member of the parish, I didn’t feel comfortable sitting at a table where people were deep in discussion. I sat at a table alone and savored the ice cream. As I was leaving several people asked to see what I had done. One woman had been to an Orlando Urban Sketching event in the past. She pointed out the boy who had been working the sound board. His mother was an artist and had a gallery in Mount Dora. I put the sketchbook in my art bag and then another woman asked to see what I had done before I got out the door. She said I had taken 30 pounds off the pianist and we laughed.

In Saratoga Springs New York I took a morning to hike up North Broadway to see the immense mansions. This beauty caught my eye and I sat at the end of the driveway to sketch.

Across the street was an estate sale so there were lots of cars parked along North Broadway. I noticed one woman carrying a large item back to her car. I could not make out what she had purchased.

While I was sketching a man walked across the driveway towards the front porch steps. I waved when he looked over at me. My stomach tensed since it could be the home owner who might shoo me away before my sketch was complete.

He approached me and asked if I was sketching. I showed him the sketch as it was. Oddly he asked me if anyone was inside. I said I hadn’t noticed anyone.

He then started telling me that the neighbor two houses down the street had died. He wanted to break the news to the owners of this brick beauty. I guess he thought would know where the owners were since I was sketching. Maybe he thought I was commissioned to do the sketch which is of course a very real possibility. As we were talking several other neighbors walked up and he started talking to them. I almost put them in the sketch but decided against it since they would dominate the foreground.

If I lived near Saratoga Springs I would certainly fill several sketchbooks with drawings of that stately mansions. I definitely love sketching architecture although I am more often sketching crowded events.