Guinness Presented True Sound Live at Rogue Pub.

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An impromptu road trip to South Carolina ended at Rogue Pub
(3076 Curry Ford Rd, Orlando, Florida 32806). True Sound is a music project based in the greater Orlando area. Drawing
upon various musical influences, they have developed a unique, polished
sound. The lighting in the pub was set up on the dart boards rather than the band, so the performers were dark silhouettes against the bright wall. I did what I could with the low light setting. Hayley Rose, and Ben Wozniak performed covers and several of Ben’s original songs. One original was about experiencing a German park and the song was fun and lively. Another song was about settling into routines rather than seizing each day.


Ben had just been on a whirlwind road trip with his uncle John Naughton, Pam Schwartz and myself. We went as far north as Charleston on the 4 day trip, seeking out historical sites and coffee shops all along the way. In Savannah we went to the fabulous Mrs. Wilkes restaurant which serves the food Thanksgiving style in bowls that are passed around large tables that seat multiple guests family style. There were over 20 different dishes served along with fried chicken, meat loaf, collared greens, macaroni and cheese and a wide variety of vegetables. It was definitely the highlight of the trip, but we also found other restaurants that were true gems.


The final day of the road trip was a marathon sprint to be sure Ben made it to his gig at Rogue Pub. I ordered a Hefferweissen, Pam had some sour passion fruit Schnoodlepip and John had a chocolate stout that was delicious. After the band’s first set, Guinness offered beers on the house, so I nursed Guinness as I completed the sketch. We had vacationed hard and I was exhausted by the end of the evening. The beers further relaxed me. Ben’s brother, Josh Wozniak, joined the group for the last set, doing percussion by banging a wooden box (a cajón) he sat on. This was a fun evening and a fun way to cap off an amazing trip.

Wedding Wire Mixer.

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Pam Schwartz and I went to Highland Manor, (604 East Main Street, Apopka, FL) for a Wedding Wire Mix and Mingle. The Manor is a gorgeous little spot right at the intersection of Semoran and 441.  Huge old live oaks line the drive to the property and the Victorian mansion overlooks a quiet lake. I have been doing wedding sketches the last year, and the ad on Wedding Wire has received interest from prospective brides and grooms.

Cara Goldsborough, on the events team at wire, travels the  country to do these networking events. The Wedding Wire education guru, Allen Berg who was the main speaker, gave a sales pitch speaking about reaching the client, engaging and converting them to the sale, etc.
Wedding Wire has
1.5 million social media followers,
87 million visits in 2015 and a
585% increase in mobile app downloads last year alone. The main point of wedding wire is connecting vendors with the people looking for them. There are 36,987 searches in Orlando on Wedding Wire in a month. Most couples plan to spend $14,000 and end up spending $22,000 in Orlando on their special day. Most people don’t know what to ask when contacting vendors so they ask about cost, which is the least productive way to begin a new business transaction from either side.

Alan advised on a pricing structure for work and told a story of a photographer who created a pricing structure that included high end package and within a week a couple had ordered that high end package. No one had ever paid that much for his services before. That got me thinking.

The food at the mixer was average with tiny sandwiches on a stick, chicken strips on a stick and plenty of butterfly shaped crackers with cheese. If this was a wedding reception caterer, I would be less than impressed. The room I sketched filled up, got loud and boisterous for about half an hour and then we were all called away to the main power point presentation. Honestly some of the tips were quite helpful as I learn how to grow my events sketch business. What I offer is unique, and I just need to connect with the right clients.

Wekiva Paint Out.

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At the end of February and the first week of March, 29 artists created plein air paintings at the Wekiva Island Paint Out. I went on the evening of a night paint out to watch the artists at work. Wekiva Island (1014 Miami Springs Dr, Longwood, FL 32779), has a a bar called the Tooting Otter. A band was setting up as I arrived inside the bar,  and I decided this was a perfect sketch opportunity. Plein air painter Barbara set up her easel between the bar stool I was sitting on and the stage. I sketched the room as she got the easel in place. Since she predominated the scene I included her in the sketch.

Barbara focused on a close up painting of the performers. A game of Jenga was stacked up on the table in front of Barbara. In Jenga, you have to remove a wooden block from the stack, without letting the entire structure fall down. The fiddling and guitar music added to the festive evening. Barbara was a bit distracted. I stopped sketching after the first set and I think she got more work done during the performer’s second set.

I later learned that she was a bit uncomfortable with my being at the bar and sketching. She had the strange notion that I was copying her painting. I really didn’t pay attention to her work in progress. My back was against the bar, so there was no opportunity to back away from her work in progress. We joked about the difficulty of working in a tight space and parted ways on decent terms. I later saw her finished painting in the wet gallery where it hung with all the other paintings completed at the paint out.

My favorite work in the wet gallery was by Elizabeth St. Hilaire who does collages instead of plein air paintings. Her pieces were mostly of palm trees executed with colorful strips of paper. seeing all the variety of work created on the one week was in itself exciting. Outside artists were doing nocturnes of the riverfront. One artist had Christmas lights wrapped all around his easel which acted as his working lights. That was a sketch opportunity, and perhaps Ill catch him at work next year.

The Big Chill in South East Orlando.

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I was commissioned to do a sketch at a dinner party in South East Orlando. The host had a gorgeous home in a brand new development surrounded by woods and plenty of lakes. On the table were photos of his class mates. Some of the photos must have been rather funny judging by people’s reactions.Years have passed since their careers have blossomed and developed. Such a reunion always reminds me of The Big Chill. Everyone makes the most of the life they have and reminisce about the innocence lost.

I set up as soon as I arrived and sketched the table as everyone mixed and mingled. It turned out that the leather chair I was sitting in was pushed aside and was intended for the host himself at the head of the table. We switched seats when everyone settled in with their plates. It pays to always have an artist’s stool on hand.

A Chihuly chandelier illuminated the entry, and a painting of a warm Mediterranean scene overlooked the table. Yellow and red roses acted as center pieces. The candles were lit just before everyone sat down. One woman insisted I sketch her good side which was the opposite side of her face if she sat where she was placed at the table. Honestly, I couldn’t see her anyway once everyone was seated and eating. Just the luck of the draw. There was plenty of laughter. The host had wanted me to sketch a party quite a few months ago, but I was pulled away on another assignment. For that party he invited people by Facebook, and not many people showed up. This time around he kept the dinner party small and everyone attended. The fun in being a casual artistic observer is in wondering about everyone in attendance, writing my own scenarios in my head. Everyone was pleasant and fun and I felt honored to document an important occasion.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for July 15th and 16th.

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Saturday July 15, 2017

10 AM to 4 PM – Free. Commander’s Call. Museum of Military History, 5210 West Irlo Bronson Hwy, Kissimmee, FL 34746. This ongoing program is held on the 3rd Saturday of each month and is designed to appeal to families, military memorabilia collectors, history buffs, re-enactors and others interested in military history. In addition, persons interested in displaying, trading or selling their military items such as honor coins, swords, photographs, military buttons, scale model boats & planes, military art, uniforms or other equipment should register in advance by calling the museum. Re-enactors and veterans are welcome to come in uniform to add to the history and authenticity of the military experience. Non-military booths such as health care providers, home improvement, local attractions or other businesses are invited to be vendors for a minimal donation. 

INFO and Register: 407-507-3894 or to register your table space.

6 PM to Midnight – Free. Eva’s Birthday Bash. BeBest Events by David Merritt The Alfond Inn Lounge, 300 E New England Ave, Winter Park, Florida 32789. Join us to toast and celebrate Ms Eva’s Birthday!!

Appetizers + Happy Hour Drink menu pricing ALL NIGHT!

– Includes: $7 Stoli Premium Vodka & Bullett Bourbon, $7 William Hill Chard & $8 Cab, $6 Champagne Special!

Plus Dance to the sexiest vibes, both current and past, with DJ Joe Magic, spinnin’ up awesome fun on the dance floor 9pm – close!

Complimentary Valet!   No Cover Charge or ticket required.

* Appetizers available to purchase til 10pm

8 PM to 11 Pm – Free. Guinness Presents True Sound Live. Rogue Pub, 3076 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL 32806.  Join
us for an evening of live music with True Sound presented by Guinness!
Get your chance to score some swag and sample some tasty brews while
enjoying some amazing local tunes!  True Sound @truesoundorlando

Sunday July 16, 2017

10 AM 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. 

10 AM to 4 PM – Free. Lake Eola Farmers Market. South East corner of Lake Eola Park.

Noon to 1 PM – Free. Yoga. Weekly at Lake Eola near the red gazebo.

Urban Sketching with the Elite Animation Academy Summer School students.

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I had 16 students for the Elite Animation Academy Urban Sketching class last week. My thought was to bring the students to a different venue each day to sketch.With 16 students we tended to fill up any available seats. The best solution was to divide the class in half and have half the students in one venue and the other half in another. I stayed with the students at Subway, and the interns stayed with students at Planet Smoothie. The lesson for the day was largely about one point perspective. I encouraged the students to find a vanishing point at their eye level and have all the lines in the ceiling panels and floor tiles point at it. There was a mirror on the brick wall across from us and one student could see his reflection in the mirror. I explained that the vanishing point was right between his eyes in the reflection.

I sat down with each student and did a quick composition sketch so they could see how to build a sketch from the outside in. Prior to going on location we had done a series of five minute sketches that broke down the scene into 5 or 6 large shapes. Some students caught on quickly while others needed time to grasp the concept. I painted this sketch digitally the evening of the class by scanning the pencil sketch and painting behind it on a layer. A stop motion movie was created of the entire painting process and I showed that to the students to encourage them to push any sketch that they do towards being a painting by adding color. On the last day, they took their favorite sketch and added watercolor to it. It was a bit of a messy class but the students were very focused for the duration. There is something about adding color that makes a sketch become art.

Kelly Day’s Firehouse Tavern in Tampa.

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I joined Pam Schwartz for a Pulse related interview in Tampa, Florida. After that interview, we decided to head to Ybor City for a drink. Pam claimed that chickens roamed the streets of Tampa which I found hard to believe. When we parked, there were indeed chickens clucking around the parking lot. The wild chicken population that currently resides in Ybor City are
direct descendants of the chickens that lived in the backyards of the
neighborhoods earliest residents over 100 years ago. Ybor City’s
chickens crossing the streets have become a welcome sight for those who
live, work and visit the area.

Kelly Day’s Firehouse Tavern (1708 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605) is where we decided to park for a bit after the interview. Kelly Day’s offers Caribbean-inspired eats in a rustic, tiki bar hut with occasional live music from rock bands to DJs. Formerly the Green Iguana, Kelly Day’s claims to have the best burgers in Tampa along with 33 draft beers and 33 bottled beers. An acoustic guitarist was on stage offering classic cover songs. I couldn’t resist a quick sketch despite the fact that we were probably here for just a quick drink.

It turned out however that Gasp! The Gasparilla Fringe Festival was going on this week and we couldn’t resist seeing what quirky talent Tampa might have to offer. Orlando native Brian Feldman was at the Gasp Festival and I wanted to see how his performance art fit in to the Tampa Arts scene.Just exiting the parking garage was an adventure since there were hundreds of people doing yoga on the lawn in front of the museum where the festival was being held. The festival promised to be a kaleidoscopic circus of theater, dance, music, spoken word, visual art, soundscapes, cabaret, and more. 


In the lobby of the Tampa Museum of Art, Brian Feldman‘s “Skill Crane Kid” was set up. Brian was located inside one of the skill cranes that you might see at any tacky roadside attraction. Around him was packed plenty of plush toys. For a quarter, you could use a leaver to maneuver the crane and release the metallic jaws to try and retrieve a plush. I decided to try and get a plush Rubix cube. The crane lurched as I played with the joystick. Brain looked nervous that I might try and pluck him out of the machine. I had my eye on the prize however and aimed for the colorful cube. The jaws dropped on the cube and for a moment it seemed like the prize was won. As the chain lifted the jaws, gravity took hold allowing the cube to slip free of the limp clutches of the jaws. AAAArgh! So frustrating. Brian watched and shrugged his shoulders. 

As Pam and I walked away in defeat, Brian’s dad suggested that I try my luck one more time. I was hesitant to be lured in again, I’m not someone who ever bets at a race. Brain’s dad was insistent however, so I gave it one more try. The person who used the skill crane after me ended up grasping up the cube that I had been aiming for. Ugh! I have absolutely no luck. Despite that I put another quarter in not even thinking about what the prize should be. I considered bonking Brian but the metal jaws dropped without me even considering the target. They clasped around the head of a brown puppy plush and as the jaws rose up, once again the weak clasp started to slip. Brian’s hand rose up out of the sea of plush toys and he kept the dog from falling back into the pit. He basically placed the plush in the prize door. I snatched the dog up from the machine and found that I had won a second prize, which was a triangular shaped plush poo.


Pam snuggled the puppy for the rest of the night as we explored the riverfront. The poo kept getting hidden in unexpected places. It has dropped from ceiling fan blades and now resides in the glove box of Pam’s truck (for now). The dog has been named Gasp!, and he guards Pam’s passenger seats in her truck, but the poo remains unnamed. Who names poo anyway?

Bikes Beans and Bordeaux Central Florida Song Circle

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On March 29th, I wandered into Bikes Beans and Bordeaux (3022 Corrine Drive Orlando, FL 32803) for a sandwich after sketching at an East End Market wine mixer. Unknown to me there was a monthly song circle going on. Most musicians had guitars and they went round robin performing original songs. One musician performed on percussion, and there was a harmonica, but mostly several guitarists would join in as the performer sang. I had met one guitarist at a monthly guitar song circle that is held at the Winter Park Public Library. He remembered me and introduced himself.

The Central Florida Song Circle is Central Florida’s oldest continuous song circle where musicians get
together with guitars, violins, bass, fiddles and so on, playing and
singing everything from homemade music to OPMs (other people’s music). Besides that, the food was good and there was art on the walls form a local artist who creates personalized bike gear, covering helmets and shoes with bold line work. Drawings done on location were of Paris, France. I was pleased to discover another artist who draws on location.

Elite Animation Sketch class.

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This week I have been teaching a summer sketch class at Elite Animation, (8933 Conroy Windermere Rd, Orlando, FL 32835). I have 16 students and the goal of the class is to encourage the students to carry a sketchbook everywhere they go.  The first class we went over basic shapes and perspective and then for the afternoon we took a field trip across the street to Panera Bread. With 16 students we pretty much filled up the restaurant. It was encouraging to see many of the students using one point perspective for the first time while drawing on location. I remember when I first started drawing on location in NYC. I would circle the block multiple times until I worked up the nerve to start a sketch. Getting these kids started early means they are less likely to be concerned with sketching in public as they grow older.

For the second class, we went to a local retention pond to draw the ducks and bucolic scene. A family of ducks were very cooperative, with the mama duck and her chicks perfectly happy to pose for the intrepid young artists. It was hot however, even in the shade, so attentions wandered. One student started herding the ducks rather than sketching. It was a typical case of leading them to water but it was up to them to drink. Several students took in the entire scene and were right on task. We left a bit early to get back to the air conditioned classroom.

For the afternoon, I taught them the basic proportions of a face and then we set out to do 16 sketches in which students faced-off and did a sketch of each other. I tend to throw out the tasks rather fast and one student unfortunately got intimidated. I thought the student was acting when their head went down on the desk in agony. I later learned that another student had told him that his drawings weren’t any good. I’m of the opinion that any drawing if closely observed and sincerely done has value. The interns reassured the student for a bit and then I offered a personal lesson which gave him the confidence to return to the group and start working. It was reassuring to see the student that had been crushed only an hour before laughing as the next sketch was completed. Honestly art is a game, it is challenging, but can always be fun if approached with the right attitude.

Elite Animation Academy’s slogan is, “Developing young minds through the art of animation.” I’m proud to be part of a team that helps keep art alive in the hearts of students here in Central Florida.

Orlando Cringe: The Valentine Show!

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The Orlando Cringe Valentine Show was held at The Abbey (100 S Eola Dr, Orlando, Florida 32801). The evening consisted of four brave souls who shared stories of unrequited love, cringe worthy love poetry, and a victory or two from their childhood journals. My favorite couple read from their college journals. He was desperate and often asking for forgiveness and she was career focused. It was enlightening to hear their opposing viewpoints. It was also reassuring because it was clear that the couple found common ground since they are together to this day.

An ongoing joke was about Axe fragrance for men. A poet came out and read a very over the top sappy love poem and then sprayed Axe fragrance. I felt sorry for the folks in the front row, but it was the funniest moment of the night.

Four couples also took part in a Newlywed Game. It was fun to see couples who had been together for years who knew nothing about each other. Two women who had just started dating swept every round to take the prize.