I went to James Chonody’s art studio to sketch his living room which has this intricate slot car racetrack. The track has as much detail as an intricate HO railroad diorama. HO scale is 1:87 in proportion. I had a brother-in-law who set up and incredibly detailed HO set up so I am always intrigued by this intricate small world. I am certain that racing slot cars is far more entertaining that watching a train roll around the town in a circle. James Chonody is a painter, so he has an eye for detail. He used to have fireworks that exploded over the town using fiber optics. That was later phased out.
While I was working on the sketch, James was working on a model of an engine which was also incredible accurate and detailed. I wanted to get James in the sketch, but I would have had to make the race track too small to accomplish that.
I like that he has an I Dream of Genie bottle hung on the wall and the sign above the whole race track display says, “Two Men in A Cave.” James and his brother live in the home. At the time, I was still searching for an apartment to rent or home to buy. James was kind enough to offer a spare room but as an artist I have too much stuff. Artists are hoarders. I also wanted to live in Downtown Orlando and that is accomplished for now with my art studio rental on East Livingston Street just 2 blocks north of Lake Eola. Livingston has a bicycle lane which I really appreciate. I use it extensively. Art is going up on the walls of my studio this week so I can share work with anyone who stops by on July 4th. My office has large southern facing windows which looking out to the street, so I am actually happy to welcome visitors at any time.