Drinks at the Grand Bohemian.

Posted on by Thor

I went to the Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando (325 S Orange Ave, Orlando, Florida) to meet Greg Dobbs who wanted to share a children’s book he had written. I first met Greg when I sketched Santa Claus from a distance at the Millenia Mall. Security chased me off, since apparently creating a sketch at the mall is verboten.  I wrote a poem poking fun at the situation, and months later Greg wrote me a poem in response inviting me to sketch Santa up close and personal. I showed up on Christmas Eve to witness the last minute crush as parents waited in line in hopes that their children could sit in Santa’s lap before the Mall shut down. Getting the children distracted and delighted was Greg’s job. Not an easy task give the high stake stress filled situation.

Greg’s story was a delightful tale of a young boy and his grandfather who worked for a fire house. It would be a fun story to illustrate, if I could entrench myself with an old established fire house with the old fashion pole and some historic trucks. I have this idea of casting for the book much as actors are cast for a play or a movie. I would storyboard the book just like a movie and then pose the cast for each scene.  Their is no publisher set for the book yet so any work I do would be on spec. The project remains on the back burner.

Greg’s daughter Flynn Dobbs also met me for a drink that day. She is now the youngest curator to ever work at the Grand Bohemian. Both of her parents are artists, so she has grown up in a creative environment. Greg’s wife does monumental figurative sculptures and of four Greg is a photographer and writer. We discussed the possibility of my sketching events at the hotel. It is an exciting possibility. The Grand Bohemian could become my Moulin Rouge.

Tonight on March 7th at 7 pm I am hosting ODD (Orlando Drink  and Draw) at the Grand Bohemian. Orlando Drink and Draw ventures to a new bar each month to sample
beers and sketch. There is no model fee and no instruction. This is just
a chance to get out, meet fellow artists and draw. I have an infinite accordion sketchbook that artists have contributed to since the first Drink and Draw. Also I like to have artists face off for quick 5 minute portraits. Artists change chairs until every artist has met and sketched every other artist. I’ll dress up a bit for this evening among artists.

Analog Artist Digital World sketches are on display at West Elm.

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Nine original sketches from the Analog Artist Digital World archives are now on display at West Elm, 4010 Conroy Road, Orlando, FL. The store offers modern home decor and modern furniture. Here you’ll  find the bedding, furniture, room decor, and dinnerware you need to create a stylish contemporary home. The store is right near the Millenia Mall and Ikea, so if your shopping for Christmas, stop by and see some original art. Patrick Kahn from Snap Space curated the display. The work will be on display through the holidays and into the New Year.

I executed this sketch digitally since I felt it might be awkward to use watercolors in a store. I also chose to sit on my artist’s stool rather than on one of the comfy couches. Jason Moore is the store manager who hung the show. He recognizes the importance of social  media to spread the word about West Elm.  I had planned to sketch a Christmas light display on this day, but rain made me realize I needed to sketch inside. It seems any time I choose to sketch outside, the weather has other plans for me.

The store wasn’t particularly crowded on this evening right after rush hour. One couple however was diligently looking for a new piece of furniture for their home. When the sales lady asked, “So what sort of style furniture is in your home now?” “Our entire home is full of West Elm furnature.” was his response. While sketching the store I got a strong sense of the warm uniformity of every item in the store. The color of the sketches on display were bright notes that broke up that uniformity. I was happy to see one woman stand in front of the display for the longest time. It made me happy that the work could be seen in a real world, brick and mortar setting. However, I just came back from Art Basel in Miami where a Pablo Picasso plate worth $85,000 had been stolen. The plate was smell enough where it could be slipped into a hand bag. I realized the woman viewing my work was holding a shopping bag large enough to hold one of my framed originals. Luckily that thought did not cross her mind.

NFL Mixer raised funds for the Annual Max Starks Football Camp

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This NFL Themed fundraiser was held in a luxury car dealership near the Millenia Mall. Silent auction items at many fundraisers often have signed footballs or sports Jerseys, but this fundraiser sported these man cave items only. Funds were being raised for the annual the Annual Max Starks NFL Youth Football and Speed Camp held at Lake Highland Preparatory School (901 Highland Ave, Orlando, FL).

I glanced around the the auction items but my man cave is full of sketchbooks and art leaving little room for framed sports jerseys.  Since there wasn’t any musicians or other talent to focus my attention on, I quietly slipped away to get home.

How the Mall Stole Christmas

Posted on by Thor

Twas two days past Black Friday and all through the Mall

The shoppers came rushing, around Santa’s fake hall,

I began sketching children put on Santa’s knee,

giving plenty of time for my wife’s shopping spree.

My vantage point was the only one that cost no money,

others gathered here considering the scene quite funny.

The activity was earnest as all waited for a sight,

for this Santa had a real beard to parents delight.

Parents they waited, and fingered their phones,

ignoring their children who screamed and moaned.

From my vantage point I could see the grim scene,

as children were forced to sit, and then screamed.

A photographer’s assistant tried to distract them a moment,

using squeeze toys and baubles for the children’s enjoyment.

A hot flash blinded, then appeared, a red nose and white beard.

Kids screamed till their lungs burned from all that they feared.

A mom saw Saint Nick sip from his flask,

“I hope that it’s water” she told her kids with a gasp.

 The old man put up with photos galore.

Parents and children crowded in for ever more.

Then behind me I heard a mall guard and I swallowed..

Your sketch looks fine, but rules must be followed.

Sketching isn’t allowed in this Mall without asking.

Managers are all gone, so you must stop your sketching.

But people shoot pictures all day without stopping.

Only photos of faces should be captured while shopping.

 I texted my wife to let her know I’d been spotted,

I continued to sketch after the mall guard departed.

I left the sketch unfinished and my anger abated,

This season our money would go somewhere art isn’t hated.

If you shop in a mall this holiday season,

avoid Mall at Millenia where I’ll not shop, for good reason.

Hundreds of dollars of money unspent,

as my wife packed her wallet and back home we went.

Perhaps this year something local I’ll buy ,

supporting craftsmen whose talents I’ll try.