Clyde Moore – Analog Artist Digital World

Lisa Coney invited me to the New Bistro on Park Avenue In The Hidden Garden Courtyard (348 North Park Avenue, Winter Park, Fl). On November 13th I went to find out more about fabulous flocktails and fun. Clyde Moore of I Luv Winter Park was there and he gave me a warm welcome. His pink collared shirt fit in perfectly with the decor. A dozen or so pink flamingos stood on tables, shelves and the bar. Each had been decorated by a local artist. Each was a unique work of art.

Robin Maynard, the founder of Libby’s Legacy, a breast cancer foundation, introduced herself. She knew of me because she saw me sketching at Scooters for Hooters, another charitable organization she started in 2007 shortly after her mothers death. $1 from every Pink Flocktail went to Libby’s Legacy. The Flocktails were bright pink drinks served in martini glassed.

The Mission of Libby’s Legacy is to provide
comprehensive breast health care to the under served Central Florida
community through education, mammograms, follow up diagnostics and Hope
Coaches on the journey from diagnosis to treatment. Libby’s Legacy also helps stage IV breast cancer
patients battling this disease by granting wishes in order to create
cherished memories with loved ones through the LIVE BIG program. Not just Surviving…but LIVING!

All the art sales benefit Libby’s Legacy and the local artists. The Flocktail Party was a way to thank the Artists and 1350 West Art Gallery where the flock was being auctioned off. The room grew crowded with artists and patrons and conversations roared. Inspired by the life of Libby Maynard, Libby Legacy foundation strives to be secure enough to be
vulnerable, strong enough to be gentle, wise enough to be humble, and
powerful enough to serve others!

As of May 2013 Nearly 4000 Breast Health services have been
provided, 55 breast cancers have been diagnosed through these life
saving diagnostics and 6 LIVE BIG cruises have been granted! That’s what
you’ve done Central Florida! My own mother, Elvira, died from breast cancer when I was 10 years old. I feel a strong desire to help the cause. If anyone buys a print or the original of this sketch, I will donate 50% of the sale to Libby’s Legacy. Leave a comment if you would like to help.

Clyde Moore, AKA I Luv Winter Park, invited me to sketch the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival from the second floor French windows of, Downeast (130 North Park Avenue). The second floor of the store, owned by Don and Lettie Sexton, has been dubbed “The Attic.” The attic features art from local Orlando artists as well as a wall devoted to Winter Park themed art. The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is a huge three day event that features art from talented artists from around the country.

I had never been to “Downeast” before so I watched building numbers closely. When I saw 130, I walked upstairs, but the place didn’t have a retail vibe. I felt like I was entering a home. The kitchen had dishes stacked in the drainer. I walked down a hall towards an office. It was a lawyer’s office and the elder statesman informed me that his firm was at 130 South Park Avenue. He said North Park Avenue started one block further north.

Downeast had racks of women’s clothes out on the sidewalk. I walked inside and quickly found the staircase to the attic. Clyde greeted me upstairs. He pointed out what he felt might be the best sketching angles. I chose to sit in the center French window which had an unobstructed view over the vast field of artist’s tents. It was a beautiful day. Foot traffic was light as I started, but by the time I finished the sketch, there was a steady stream of pedestrians. Some women crossed the street to flip through the racks of clothes simply because the building cast a nice pool of cool shade. A piano player was tickling the ivories the whole time I worked, adding to the festive feeling of the day.

A huge stuffed Teddy bear named Parker stood in the window next to me. Occasionally children would notice Parker and they would shout and point. A couple of people noticed me sketching and they stopped and waved. I don’t have the anonymity I once had. I could hear Clyde taking an endless series of photos as I worked. He must have enough photos to create a stop motion time lapse of this sketches creation.

I had to get to work at Full Sail as soon as my sketch was done, so I only was really tempted to linger for a moment to inspect the quirky and fun found object sculptures of John Whipple. Anna McCambridge Thomas was there and she introduced me to her mother in law who actually has one of my calendars. That made my day. The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival continues today Saturday, March 17th, from 9 AM to 6 PM and then on Sunday, March 18th, from 9 AM to 5 PM. Be sure to stop into Downeast and say hi to Clyde or Lettie who were so gracious to share their “Room with a View.”.