Sketchy Broads – Alice in Wonderland

The Cameo Theater hosted Sketchy Broads as they posed in an Alice in Wonderland setting. The event cost $7 to sketch and $10 to take photos. Sketchy broads is a sketch club consisting of three costumed models. Megalo Music was playing a mix of Alice themed music all night which made sketching even more fun. When I arrived I was a bit frantic because my cell phone had died in my pocket and I hadn’t mentioned to Terry that I would be out sketching at the Cameo. I asked John Ageeb if he had a cell phone and he was nice enough to go all the way back to his car to get it. It turned out he left his cell at home. I then asked Geoff Sprague if he had a cell and he let me borrow it. I suddenly realized I didn’t remember Terry’s work phone number, I always just instant dial the number. I ended up leaving a message at my home phone.
When I entered the model who played Alice was busy helping the rabbit putting on his makeup. This in itself would have been a good sketch but they were finished before I committed to the sketch. I loved the outfit of the female Mad Hatter. She work a shiny black girdle and vibrant shirt and stockings. An artist complimented her saying she was a better Mad Hatter than Johnnie Depp.
Perhaps seven or eight artists showed up to sketch at this event and there was plenty of room for more. I did my first sketch from the side lines so I could get a view of some of the artists at work. the models kept knocking down the paper mache mushrooms between poses.
There were three photographers wandering around as well. I kept getting blinded by flashes and strobes. On photographer set up a huge light right next to me which blocked the light that had been on my sketchbook. I struggled on but I was getting distracted. I am encouraged however that there are new venues being offered for artists to explore in Orlando. The models were professional and held the poses while staying in character sometimes for 20 minutes at a time. As scatter shot as this first event was, I am sure to return to see what they come up with next.