The Young Democrats

Thanks to Zac, I found out there was to be a meeting of the Young Democrats downtown at Ember (42 West Central Boulevard). When I entered the place was bustling with activity. I walked around searching for signs of the Democratic meeting. One area on the opposite side of this bar was roped off for a private gathering but I never saw signs of an organized meeting. I finally decided to sketch the folks who were gathered after work to drink, laugh and talk. With the constant flow of people the sketch was of course a challenge but I did manage to catch the people that most interested me. The people I was sketching probably were Democrats and this social gathering was “the meeting” that I was looking for.
A waitress warned me that the table I was sitting at was reserved but the party wouldn’t arrive for another hour so I could sketch till then. With this deadline in the back of my head, I made sure to work fast and get out. I never even had a drink. I am always surprised when no one asks if I would like a drink at a bar.

Truth or Dare!

I was invited by Heidi Dog Productions to sketch Pepe and Miss Sammy as they performed Truth or Dare at the Peacock Room located at 1321 Mills Avenue. The twist in this strange sketching excursion is that I was to sketch the act from on the stage. After Pepe and Miss Sammy finished their introductions, (It turns out miss Sammy was in La Cage aux Folles on Broadway for 4 years) Pepe had the crowd summon me to the stage by shouting my last name 3 times, Thorspecken, Thorspecken, Thorspecken, just as Beetle Juice was summoned. I hopped up and gave Pepe exaggerated French cheek kisses. Then I sat in a stool at the back of the stage and started to get to work.
The first guest to be called up and the one I decided to draw was Jeff Horn. Jeff was fund raising for a charity project he co-founded with Daisy Lynum called Genesis Community Program. This program helps teach young aspiring tennis players the game in the Parramore neighborhood of Orlando. A large jar was passed around to see if anyone wanted to donate. Jeff is also a nationally recognized tennis professional. After Jeff, a politician named Todd Christian was given the Truth or Dare challenge and he ended up putting a condom on a banana with his mouth.
Things started to get crazy when Dewey Chaffee and Douglas McGeoch got on the stage. When confronted with the Truth or Dare challenge Dewey made a bold decision to tell the truth. Pepe asked him “If chew could have a one niiight stand with anyone in the room, who would chew peeeck?” Bet Marshall shouted out, “It would have to be the youngest boy in the room!” He chose a young man with very curly hair standing in the back of the room with his girlfriend. Pepe shouted for the young man to come up onto the stage. The fellow looked just like Frodo from the Lord of the Rings movies. He was given the Truth or Dare challenge and the audience gasped in anticipation. He chose a dare. Pepe held up a stack of playing cards and fanned them out. He told the victim, I mean contestant, to pick a card. The contestant was told to pick a card, any card. Before he did, Pepe threw away the 2 of hearts and said, Chew don’t need dees card”. Frodo picked a five of clubs. He was told that he must remove 5 items of clothing. He removed his shoes which as a pair made up the first item, then his socks, his tee shirt, shorts and finally his underwear which left him totally naked. Miss Sammy and Pepe actually shielded the audience from seeing everything with a leopard skin towel. I didn’t have time to sketch the towel, I don’t think it is needed in the sketch. I worked furiously to catch Frodo’s bottom knowing only the folks on stage could see what was actually going on behind the towel. I am so glad I got a chance to document this strange and fun theatrical experience. I had a blast with my first on stage experience.

The Peacock Room

Before getting on stage for the Pepe and Miss Sammy “Truth or Dare” show, I ordered a Heineken and sat down to do a sketch of this couple sitting at the front table. The Peacock room decorates the place with a real flair. High quality demons and monsters along with cobwebs, were everywhere.
I started the sketch because I couldn’t help but want to read into what they might be talking about. Based on their body gestures and attitudes, I guessed that they are friends but not particularly intimate. I separated them with the centerfold on purpose to indicate that subtle divide. I also love the fact that they both have monsters lit with complimentary colors, lurking behind them acting as psychological indicators that all is not right. For me the scene has all the elements of an Edward Hopper painting with the added flair of horror.
At the bar I bumped into Matt McGrath and he introduced me to Alexis Jackson who is playing the roll of Molly in the play “Love Song” now at the Mad Cow Theater. She told me a bit about the play and the cast and now I really want to see, and sketch it. The show runs through October 25th.
Matt said he will hook me up with information about a cool Irish bar with live music that should make for a good sketch down the road. I finished up the painted aspect of this sketch after I was done sketching the Truth or Dare Show then I headed home.

Central Florida Packer Backers

Brian a reader of Analog Artist Digital World suggested I do a sketch of the Central Florida Packer Backers. He tempted me with an offer of free beer while I drew. How could I pass up an offer like that?
As I approached One Eyed Jack’s, at 15 North Orange, I heard the crowd shouting from a block away. When I entered, I stood for a few minutes at the entrance to let my eyes adjust to the dim lighting. Next to the door was a paving stone which fans rubbed for good luck. The stone was a duplicate of a stone that the club had donated to the paving outside Lambeau field. Football fans are a superstitious crowd. The club also supplies Packers tee shirts to the homeless in town. This was a fun crowd and they can be found every Sunday at One Eyed Jacks at Wall Street Plaza downtown during the football season, I don’t know where you would find them the rest of the year.
I was facing a huge crowd that filled every seat in the bar. Most fans had on green and yellow Packers Jerseys. Brian came over and introduced himself. he suggested I get up on the stage where bands usually play and I took his suggestion since it gave me a good view over the crowd.
While sketching I didn’t have time to follow the games score. I know the packers were playing the Cincinnati Bengals and it was a close game. Periodically music would fill the bar and the whole crowd would shout “Go Pack Go!”
At halftime, a line of fans formed and each tried to kick a field goal with a beach ball sized inflatable football through a 5 foot high yellow inflatable goal post. I had to move since I was seated on the stage right behind the goal post. In hindsight that was actually the safest place to sit since so few got the ball close to the goal posts. Most fans kicked the ball into the rafters but 2 managed to get it right between the posts. Some kicks sent the ball flying out into the crowd. The announcer said ” Watch your drinks everyone!”. Wouldn’t you know the next kick landed the ball right on a table spilling 2 drinks.
I am tempted to become a rabid Packers fan, but I would need to get a green jersey. The game ended with an agonizing defeat when the referee claimed the game was over before the last play began.

The Savoy

Prior to opening night of War of the Worlds Michael Wanzie invited people to come out to Savoy for a drink prior to seeing the show. I decided to go to this event to get a sketch at the bar since I knew I didn’t want to sketch during the War of the Worlds performance, I wanted to finally see the show straight through without having to glance at my sketchbook. When I walked in to the Savoy I was caught by surprise. Men were dancing on platforms and shaking their stuff. I walked the length of the bar and found an empty table in the back with a view of all the action. I ordered a drink and got some sort of Mango pink drink shot for free that was delicious.
I quickly got out the pens and paper and got to work. Terry never joins me when I am out sketching, she prefers to have my full attention. However this night she agreed to meet me as I finished up my sketch just prior to the show. Terry arrived about half way through the sketch and she called me to make sure she was at the right place, she wasn’t sure she should enter. I talked her back to my corner. The owner of the bar came over to see what I was doing and he really liked the sketch. I wrote down by blog address for him so he could see this post when it comes out. The waiter who served my drink made sure to brush my hand. That probably helps with the tips. I rather liked the music and festive atmosphere, everyone was so friendly. As it turns out Michael Wanzie was sitting just two tables away, he is the fellow with the green shirt in the sketch. Terry and I said hello as we headed out to get to the play.
Post Script: September 1st I got a letter from the city stating I had an unpaid parking ticket and that I owe the city $45. After researching where I was the day the ticket was supposedly issued (there was nothing on the windshield) I discovered that I got the ticket when I parked near the Savoy on opening night of War of the Worlds. The ticket wasn’t for parking in an no parking spot but for parking with the butt of my vehicle facing west rather than east. This leads me to suspect the city is targeting members of the gay community or simply punishing people who love the arts. I have no way to defend myself against this bogus ticket so lesson learned this city is in need of money and will do anything to get it, Beware!

Tiki Lounge

On a third Thursday I had plans to attend a number of art openings downtown. I had another commitment that kept me from getting to the openings on time. I rushed downtown and got to the galleries just as the shows were closing for the night. I walked in and out of 3 shows in short order knowing I would not have enough time to do a sketch. I was then left wandering the streets hoping inspiration would strike. A biker gang pulled up in front of a bar with gorgeous custom choppers and after they all parked curbside, I crossed the street for a closer look. I started roughing in a sketch but something about the bikers activity left me feeling they were not staying long. I decided to walk up to them and ask if they were planning to stick around. They said they were illegally parked and just resting, they would be gone in ten minutes. Again in agony I decided to pass up the sketch opportunity. As I wandered the hot humid streets I passed this Tiki Lounge and felt a cool blast of air from the air conditioning from the open door. That breeze was enough to lure me inside where I immediately sat down and started sketching the music act, named John Neff. He played a soothing mix of contemporary pop tunes. As I sketched I heard the roar of the biker gang as they rode by. A woman walked up to me and asked to see what I was up to. As it turned out she is John’s mom who came to watch her son play. Later a man approached me and wouldn’t you know it was John’s dad.

Dr. Sketchy

Dr. Sketchy is held the first Wednesday of each month at Tatame Lounge which is located at 223 West Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park. The place had an unassuming glass storefront but inside I found a huge crowd of young artists. The event only costs $5 so it is a cheap and fun sketch opportunity. I found a spot near the front windows and squeezed in behind a table. This location offered me a view of most of the artists in the room. I noticed that the young girl in the stripped shirt and purple beret was a really good artist just from the doodles she was doing before the model posed. I began my sketch watching her work. Her friend had bright pink hair. Quite honestly I would have been happy just watching and sketching them working. I ordered a peach sake and on this night if you ordered a sake you got another for free. The sake came in a small white pitcher shaped like a woman’s figure. I drank out of a small thimble of a porcelain cup which requires you to raise a pinky just to hold it. The model was dressed like a 1940’s pin up girl and she took some challenging fun and provocative poses.
Just as I was finishing up drawing all the artists and photographers, the model took a break and I realized it was getting near the end of the event. I used the break to start throwing down some watercolor washes. The artist sitting next to me started joking that I had spent all my time drawing the artists and I might never get to draw the model. For the next pose the MC announced that the following sketch was a competition. The artists in the room were asked to incorporate the theme of “Ghost Busters” into their sketches. Whoever won would get a Making of book for Pixar’s CG Movie “UP”. Since I was knee deep into my blog sketch I didn’t compete. The model was the judge of the competition. The winner was the girl in the striped shirt and purple beret. I coulda been a contender. My sketch wasn’t finished, I hadn’t even sketched the model yet!
After 2 sakes, I was feeling pretty good and the lines were flowing freely. The model took one final 10 minute pose and I sketched her into position as fast as I could. I was lucky and thankful that I had finally caught her.
This is a fantastic informal gathering of artists in a hip fun setting. The next event is August 5th at 8PM at Tatame and I can’t wait to do it again.

Ignite Orlando

I went to Slingapour’s on Wall Street Plaza downtown to find out what Ignite Orlando was all about. In the first part of the event speakers were invited to give creative presentations with the limitation being that they had to give the presentation in 5 minutes and the slides would be on a timer and would change automatically. Some of these presentations were quite entertaining and the fast pace kept the evening lively. One presentation I particularly liked was about toys and play. He pointed out that people do not find enough time in their adult lives for play. This may be true for artists as well. I may start a sketch with the most serious of intentions, but it is only when I let loose and just relax and play with the lines and values that things fall into place.

The last speaker was the woman in this sketch named Jessica Mariko. Being the last speaker I realized I had to catch her and fast. She stood before the microphone and I waited for her to start to talk. Instead as music began to play, she slowly rose up on her toes and then broke into dance. The music had a voice over by her describing her creative process, her thoughts about art, thoughts about the need for artistic collaborations, and a lament that many artists do not know how to market their talents. All the while she danced. I sketched her at the beginning of her routine and towards the end. All of her commentary resonated with me and her playful presentation left her and many in the audience breathless at the end.

After the Ignite Orlando event was over, the MP3 Experiment began. Everyone in the bar had an MP3 player and had downloaded an MP3 from the Internet. I had also figured out how to use my wife’s MP3 player and had downloaded the file, but I suddenly realized that I had left the MP3 player on my kitchen table next to the users manual. I was forced to observe the experiment as an outsider. In the bar everyone stretched and then began pointing at different places in the bar. All at once they silently walked out into the street toward the park in front of the History Center. When in the park they all hid behind trees. A man ran around dropping packages on the ground and all the while people tried to keep him from seeing them behind the trees. People then opened the packages and handed the items to each other. They began blowing up balloons. On one side of the park they all had red balloons and on the other side blue balloons. Then as in opening scenes of 2001 a Space Odyssey they began violently waving the balloons around and making threatening growls at each other. Suddenly the groups charged at one another and a game of tag began. Those who were tagged fell to the grass. At one point they wandered the field in slow motion acting like zombies or monsters. At the end they all shook hands laughing and exhausted. To tell you the truth I have no idea what it all meant since I still haven’t listened to the MP3. The homeless that usually sleep in the park must have been equally baffled.

Fringe Volunteer Party at Pulse

All Fringe volunteers were invited to an appreciation party at Pulse. Pulse is a gay bar on Orange avenue south of Downtown. The tiny parking lot was packed and the side street parking was full for a solid block. I walked in and was given an armband. When I entered the bar area through an beaded curtain I could not see a thing since the room was so dark. I greeted some friends and then after staking out the room decided my best bet was to muscle up to the bar and sketch from there. I ordered a Fringe Tini and it was tasty. The bartender was of course in constant motion trying to keep up with all the orders. Another challenge was that the room would change color from red to blue to green to pink every few minutes. I chose to paint a lavender room.

When I was perhaps halfway done with the sketch, most folks went into the front room for an awards and a raffle. I stayed at the bar since the awards didn’t concern me. Brian Feldman and Jessica Earley also stayed at the bar. As I was slapping down watercolor, I heard Brian calling me and he said that the announcer was calling my nickname, Thor. I pushed my way to the stage thinking well maybe they made up an award for the most sketches done at the Fringe. I stood in front of the stage and shouted out, “did you say Thor?” The confused announcer said no George. What would I do with a pink flamingo anyway? Right? I still don’t know if Brian was pulling a prank or if he misheard the name. I shook his hand when I got back to the bar anyway to let him know no harm was done.