Lake Eola Fountain Nocturne

Posted on by Thor

My downtown studio was just a blocks walk from Lake Eola. On some nights I would walk to the lake to paint. Being so dark, it was liberating to just make a mess of the page, spearing paint and ignoring the tight rope of line.

A man clearly had too many bears at World of Beers. At first he seemed to want to discourage my sitting in public creating in the dark, but his mood shifted and I believe he began to respect my commitment to the mess on the page.

The entire walk around the lake is spotted with speakers that play music giving the impression of a mall of theme park. Orlando’s fountain icon is carefully controlled and choreographed. My painting was quite the opposite.

Harriet Lake’s Kidstown Theatre

Posted on by Thor

Harriet Lake is one of Orlando’s greatest patrons of the arts. Harriet’s Kidstown Theatre is located just past Drip Drop Splash in the Orlando science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803). A quaint little stage is littered with props like a hard hat, and tutus. The backdrop kept changing, I opted to sketch a playful view of the Lake Eola Fountain. It doesn’t take much to fire the imagination in a young mind. Kids are already gifted actors. A dad sat in the audience sporting his foam statue of liberty crown. The bean bag chairs helped keep the audience active.

I am assembling 30 paintings for an exhibition I am mounting at the Orlando Science Center opening August 16th, 2018. I like to include links in the labels that link back to the articles that appeared on Analog Artist Digital World. This quaint little sketch somehow slipped through the cracks, so I am publishing it now.

In some ways, the kids were just playing on the stage with no well defined story line. However some of the best theater happens when the actors relax and are playful on stage. Lets put on a show! After writing this post, I learned that Harriet Lake died July 10, 2018 at the age of 96. She will be deeply missed by the Central Florida arts community.

Sketch Tour Workshops offered in Orlando.

Posted on by Thor

Orlando Sketch Tours offers visitors a chance to slow down, see and sketch the true Orlando outside of theme parks. Thor from Analog Artist Digital World and Kelly Medford from Sketching Rome Tours will be your guides for this 2-day sketching tour around Orlando.

Each workshop day is $125, or $200 for both days.

Saturday February 28, 2015 Workshop 10am to 2pm.

Sunday March 1, 2015 Workshop 10am to 2pm.

For all levels, NO experience is required.
All materials provided, just bring yourself.

Your sketch kit includes:

pencil and sharpener

waterproof drawing pen

waterbrush

travel sized watercolor kit

5×7 inch watercolor artist journal

and a zippered supply bag to hold everything

Artists will meet at 10am the red pagoda at the east end of Lake Eola. The Saturday workshop will start off by introducing simple and straightforward techniques in pen, pencil and watercolor for all levels, from beginners to more practiced artists or sketchers. Both Thor and Kelly will offer several hours of tips and tricks to get you comfortable working with your materials. Kelly will offer insights into the use of watercolor and Thor will give tips on how to compose your urban sketch.

We can break for lunch at Pannera and then continue sketching together afterwards. We will finish off the day at the Red Pagoda at 2pm to share sketches and chat about the experience.

The Sunday workshop will be much like the Saturday workshop with more time for those who attended Saturday’s workshop to sketch and for newcomers to work directly in getting to know your materials and various techniques.

Register here on Eventbrite.

Registration ends February 21st.

Fountain Facelift

Posted on by Thor

I did this sketch in 2011 when the Lake Eola Fountain was being repaired. Lightning had struck the fountain, melting glass and killing the motor that pumped the water. As the fountain was being repaired, yellow floats surrounded it and docking bumpers were in place for the boat that went out to do the repairs. The overhaul cost $1.6 million dollars. It’s the most expensive update in the fountain’s
history. After the lightning strike, the city received about $300,000
from a private insurer, but the company refused to pay the full cost of
repairs because the fountain was in such poor shape before the storm.

Mayor Buddy Dyer insisted on the repairs since he considers the fountain an Orlando Icon. Most of the money for the renovation , about $1.2 million came from the city’s own self-insurance fund. A downtown taxing district provided about $54,000, and private donations added the remaining $32,716. Public Works Director Alan Oyler said the fountain’s electric bill will show big savings from new energy-efficient pumps and LED lights instead of incandescent bulbs.

Music is piped into the park at night thanks to speakers added to light poles. The music is synchronized  to the fountain’s water display giving a Las Vegas style water show. Some of the sculptures added to the park add to the Vegas and Disney flavored camp that marks Orlando as a tourist destination rather than a cultural hub. I walk around the lake every time I do a sketch downtown and though I’m jaded, I still might hum a tune if the mood strikes me.