On Sunday Winter Park held a Pet Costume Contest. The festivities started at 10 AM and I arrived early. This small section of Garfield Avenue was blocked off and tents lined both sides offering pet photo booths caricatures and many pet related items. At 11 Am the large and mid sized dogs started competing for the grand prize. I found a spot in the shade and leaned back against a dumpster. As I worked flies kept buzzing around and landing on my bare legs and arms. They became quite distracting at times. When the judging started, the dogs that were to go on the stage all lined up in front of me. I think the flies became more infatuated with the dogs and I was allowed to work in peace.
The winner of the prize for pet and owner costumes went to the lady who dressed up as the boy from “Where the Wild Things Are” and she dressed her dog up as a wild thing. You can see them in the center of the sketch she is in the bright yellow crown. Other dogs were dressed up as bumble bees, pirates, butterflies, Frogs, the imaginative list is endless.
Two large dogs dressed as aliens, kept wiggling out of their costumes. They had duck tape holding aluminum around their midsections but the take came loose and soon the dogs had tape on their paws and the aluminum “Suite” was riding half way off their butts. Sketching was a challenge since dogs were hyper to say the least. They were barking lunging and sniffing each others privates. I don’t think the dogs particularly cared about the competition, they were just glad to be around so many other dogs. The folks of Winter Park sure love their pets.
Dog Fest 2009
Downtown near the History Center several bars and stores got together to host Dog Fest. The festival allowed dog owners to have a beer with their best friend. There was a $10 donation, and proceeds went to benefit The Cian Griffen Cystic Fibrosis Fund. At the event there were dog contests, vendors live music, food and drink and a raffle & silent auction. I got to the event late in the day and as I was sketching vendors started to get ready to leave. There must have been a dogie costume contest because I saw many dogs on the streets of downtown that day dresses in tee shirts and or Tu Tus.
A few people looked over my shoulder that day but one stands out. His name is Phil and he is homeless. He was completely taken with the sketch. He told me “Man I have to get off these streets there is so much talent out there. If I had a video camera, I would be shooting amazing footage everyday. You have no idea what I see on these streets.” He suggested I sketch at a spot where Interstate 4 passes over Parrimore Street. Apparently a large group of people call that spot home for the night. Someday I hope to bump into Phil again, I suspect he rests in the History Center Park. Who knows someday I might take him up on that suggestion.