Earl’s Kitchen opened at the Millennia Mall .

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Former Disney animation artist Sam Ewing, sent me an invite to Earl’s for a preview food tasting evening at Earl’s Kitchen  (Millenia Mall, Unit 246, 4200 Conroy Road Orlando Florida.) The restaurant was offering a free evening of dining to test out the menu and service staff. Before I official opening.

Katy Bakker was there with her husband. Katy had curated all the art on the walls at Earl’s. Andrew Spear had a large mural featuring parrots on the white wall next to the kitchen. His signature cross hatched drawing could easily be seen from any table in the restaurant.

I arrived early and sketched at the bar waiting for a friend to arrive. Citrus drinks and wine flowed but they were not free, so I stuck with water. I always want to keep the cost of each sketch down to a minimum.

The wait staff was very attentive and they kept asking how things were. Kathy and Eric Backmore warned me that we would be praising the food more than chewing the food. By the end of the meal I was nodding my head like a bobble doll saying with a hint of sarcasm, “yes, yes it was veeeery gooooood.”

There was one free alcoholic drink on the menu, but I us driving so I stuck with caffeine. Service staff were all dressed in black and I spent some time trying to decide who had the most fashionable shoes. Earl’s is a sleek, upscale Canadian chain serving gourmet burgers, global comfort food, cocktails, wines and beers. It was a pleasant night out, though I don’t recall exactly what I ate. I just eat food to keep my hand twitching on the page. I would make a horrible “foodie.” I was impressed with the upscale atmosphere and would gladly return.

Drinks at the Grand Bohemian.

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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.

Shaking Santa’s hand on Christmas Eve at the Millenia Mall.

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Several months ago I got an e-mail from Greg Dobbs, a photographer who had read my post from last year as I tried to sketch Santa Claus from afar. He was one of the photographers from Theme Street Pictures, (The official photographers at The Mall at Millenia), who shoots these treasured portraits with Saint Nick.

“Dear Mr. Thorspecken, just found your letter,

the poem was brilliant, the artwork much better.

It hurt me to hear of the problem you had

when visiting Santa, and then leaving mad.

But we can’t have you artists with sketch pads in hand,

disrupting the calm over Hollyville land.

Your a rowdy, anarchists, a most dangerous bunch,

when I think of you drawing there I belch up my lunch.

It’s not that the rules here were made by a Grinch.

The malls not really like that……….. well maybe a pinch.

They get carried away every now and again,

looking out for the children, the women, the men.

But we’re not with the mall, we’re a separate group;

dear Santa, his helpers and photography troupe.

We work endless hours, for the children you see,

to make Christmas special, the way it should it be.

And then after all of our efforts we find

a person like you that was treated unkind.

It’s not the way we want you to remember,

your visit to Hollyville any given December.

So here is an invitation to you

to come spend an hour, three, four or two!

Not in the rafters, like Elf on The Shelf,

but down in the trenches, with St. Nick himself!

Please bring your sketch pad your pencils or chalk,

don’t waver, or hesitate, don’t you dare balk.

You’ll be our guest, a welcome addition

to the most crazy world of our Christmas tradition.

Join us up close you have nothing to fear,

Except maybe grandmothers, babies and tears.

Just bring this e-mail so I’ll know you on site,

You’ll recognize me, with the “bobble and light”.

Hope to meet you this season.”

  

When I got to the Millenia Mall on Christmas Eve, I found  a sign at Hollyville that announced that Santa would be leaving at 5pm. I only had one hour to sketch. Greg greeted me warmly and explained that this final hour would be a mad rush. The line of children and parents snaked all the wan around Holyville in a nautilus pattern. It was hard to believe that all these people could meet Saint Nick in one hour. The first child I drew started screaming in terror when his mom backed away. Greg’s job was to catch the child’s attention. He used a multi colored glowing orb that he lightly tapped on the baby’s tummy. Startled and amazed by the glowing orb, the child stopped crying. Greg would quickly pull back the orb towards the camera lens and the child smiled with delight as the shutter clicked.


The action never stopped. Some parents insisted on shooting their own iPhone photos but that held up the line possibly meaning some people would not get a chance to meet Santa even after standing in line. Greg offered me a drink and made it impossible for me to refuse his hospitality. I asked his assistant for my usual battery acid, Mountain Dew. She couldn’t find d Dew but came back with a custom high end soda that she suspected might be similar lemon lime flavor. She hit the nail on the head because the drink was delicious, I wish I knew what it was called. Santa and his staff got through this mad rush with chocolates, chocolate chip cookies and caffeine. I essentially became part of the staff since I often had to direct parents out of the maze after they had visited Santa.


Santa stayed for some overtime in order to be sure everyone in line could meet him. When my sketch was done I waited to thank Greg for letting me experience the Christmas Eve rush. He said that Santa wanted to meet me. His beard is real and his expression was sincere. Suddenly I felt like a shy child. He gave me a warm hand shake and told me he has seen my work and loves it. With people still waiting in line I didn’t want to take time to dig out my sketchbook. I know he will get to see the sketch, he sees everything. I was so flustered, I forgot to tell him what I wanted for Christmas this year.

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

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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.

Apple Store Line

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Terry suggested I go to the Millenia Mall to see if there was a line of people waiting for the latest iPhone release. I don’t go to the mall very often so this was an adventure. I had been to the store before and I swore it was on the second floor. I walked the full length of the mall and had to double back. It was actually on the first floor and I had walked over it in the first five minutes of my quest. I decided to stay on the second floor and look down at the long steady line of people waiting. A brick of a security guard stood by, should any riots break out.

It was less than a week since Steve Jobs died. A storefront window was turned into a shrine. There were flowers and a small box of candy at the store’s display window. Colorful stickie notes covered the glass with short notes like: “Keep thinking different.” “RIP Steve, the world loves apples.” “iCame, iSaw, iMiss you.” As I sketched, two former students stopped to say hello. I asked Phil if he was here to get an iPhone. “Are you kidding? Those things cost like $400. I have a student loan to pay off!”, he said. My old iPhone is working just fine. I will not upgrade unless the glass breaks or I drown it. The new iPhone apparently has loads of new features but I just need a phone that works, and sometimes I feel a little too connected. Most people I draw have their eyes plastered to that tiny screen. I want my eyes to keep taking in the bigger picture.

In 1984 Steve introduced the world to a new form of computer. I desperately wanted one of these early Macintosh’s. Terry had a contest going at her new job at Shearson Lehman Hutton. If she brought in enough clients through cold calls, she could win a Macintosh. She worked incredibly hard in part because she knew I lusted for that machine. She got it. I used that tiny Mac to design a whole book, which I self published. I knew this new digital age would change everything. I still have that old tiny Mac. I brought it to Full Sail in Steve Jobs honor the day after he died. I plugged it in and the machine hummed to life sounding like a 747 after 20 years of hot storage in our garage. Terry and I have worked together to bring our dreams to life. Today is our 20th wedding anniversary. It was my dreams that brought us to Central Florida. Dreams change, but my hope for an ever brighter future never dies. “Maybe all the plans we made would not work out, but I have no doubt, even though it’s hard to see. I’ve got faith in us and I believe in you and me.“

Denna Beena’s Wedding dress

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Denna Beena is engaged to Travis Fillmen. The wedding is being planned for fall of 2012. Amanda Chadwick arranged for Deena to try on wedding dresses. Now Deena isn’t someone who I would consider to have conservative tastes. Her hair is bright pink with purple and yellow highlights. I am more used to Deena wearing bright colors and black leather boots.

I got lost trying to find the Bridal shop. I thought it was in the Millenia Mall but Amanda texted me to let me know it was in a strip mall near a Super Target. Deena had already tried on a dress as I scrambled to find the place.

The Bridal shop was a flurry of activity. Tony Bennet crooned. I walked past row after row of white dresses toward the back of the store, then Amanda flagged me down. Deena was inside the dressing room. When she came out she was wearing this simple elegant dress with a brown sash around the waist. She liked it but wasn’t sure it was “the one.” The shop only allowed the future brides four dresses to try on. The dressing rooms had to be booked in advance. After four tries Deena had not found the perfect dress. This was a major step forward towards making the dream wedding a reality. Amanda offered some advice but was mostly there for moral support.

At lunch afterwards we had a long discussion about whether I should post this sketch. After all Travis shouldn’t see his blushing bride in the dress until the wedding day. It was decided that since this wasn’t “the” dress, it would be alright to post it.

Flash 2

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A second Flash Mob was planned to promote Orlando, The City Beautiful. Secret rehearsals were held at the Orlando Convention Center. I was happy there was Free parking available behind the West building. I don’t sketch many Convention events because of the price of parking. There was a long walk from the back entrance first up and then down frozen escalators. I followed a man who looked to be in his 80s and when I passed him, I followed two high school girls that looked like they knew where they were going. When I entered the convention room I was stunned by the vast empty space. The rehearsal took up less than a quarter of the space. When I entered, Randy Ross was speaking with all the volunteer dancers letting them know that they had to mingle and act natural prior to this flash mob performance. The last Flash Mob at the Millenia Mall, people stood around in a circle leaving the staging area wide open. It was painfully obvious that a staged performance was about to begin. This time they planned to do it right. Linda Elchak of NAO Dance then took over the rehearsal getting two large groups formed. This was the second rehearsal so most people quickly took their places. New arrivals were instructed where to line up.

I love the music they choose for these flash mobs, it is fun to sketch to. My favorite moment in rehearsal came when a group of about 20 retirees took center stage and shook their booties to Whoop There It Is! All the younger performers cheered and whooped. The youngest performer was the nephew of Linda Stewart and he held his own keeping up with the best dancers. Enthusiasm and a lust for life has no age limit. I decided not to publish the sketch prior to the Flash to keep the performance top secret. At one point Linda said, “Don’t go past the grid, you will fall into the water.” At that point I assumed they would perform at Lake Eola. I had to work during the time the Flash Mob happened. In hind sight it would have been an impossible sketching situation. If you went to Spring Fiesta at Lake Eola at the right time then you got to experience a high energy treat!

Mob at the Mall

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Call time for Flash Mob participants was at 12 noon on Saturday January 29th. The Flash Mob itself was scheduled to start at 2 pm.Terry and I arrived at the mall at noon and entered through Bloomingdale’s. The first thing I saw was a bright pink short on a mannequin that said,”Mall Princess”. Before we got to the central Grand Court, Terry insisted I meet the sales women at Cole Haan. Terry is on a first name basis with the sales staff and they started talking about hair styling. I was in agony wanting to start my sketch. After leaving the store Terry met a Facebook friend and she joked about how difficult it is to get me to the mall. The woman pointed out that her boyfriend loved shopping for her at the mall. Groan…

Finally I got to the spot where I wanted to set up and sketch. It was now roped off for the video camera crews. A mall security guard named Tom was watching the roped off area and I explained that I planned to sketch. He was fine with that, and he let me duck under. Having already sketched the Flash Mob rehearsal from this angle, I decided to do a sketch on the digital tablet. I am still adjusting to sketching on glass, but one feature I like is the ability to keep enlarging the canvas. I kept enlarging the canvas to take in more of the mall architecture.

About 5 times people approached me and asked if I was Thor. I had shared my last sketch on the Flash Mob event page and the volunteer dancers really seemed to appreciate what I was doing. The entire hour leading up to the performance, people gathered around the circular staging area waiting for something to happen. In this age of social networking, word had spread fast. In videos I had seen of Flash mobs in other cities, it seemed like people were caught off guard, the flash mob seeming to happen spontaneously. Here in Orlando that element of surprise was lost. I had only moments to sketch the actual performance. When the performers melted back into the crowd, I kept working trying to capture the energy unleashed.