Nature at Barefoot

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“Congratulations, your artwork;  ‘Tree‘ and ‘Edge of Field‘

were accepted in the Nature Art Show at The Barefoot Spa.” wrote Parker Sketch who is organizing an exhibit at Barefoot Spa (801 Virginia Orlando FL 32803). The art drop off was on Tuesday after 5pm. I dropped off my art and then lingered to sketch the other artists dropping off their work. These shows used to have a $10 donation for the opening supplies, but that has been bumped up to a $15 required admission fee. Parker spends two days collecting the submissions and then hangs the show which can take 3 hours if all goes well. That is quite a time commitment on his part. Barefoot Spa has been and remains an amazing supporter of visual arts in Orlando. They collect no commission on any sales.

There was plenty of paperwork to fill out which mostly hold Parker and the venue not responsible should there be an act of god or vandalism that destroys art. The two pieces I submitted were rather dark, showing dead and decaying tree trunks in all their twisted agonizing forms. I figure the show would have plenty of bright and cheerful pieces showing natures wonder, so I offered decay.

Artist Jennifer Payne, arrived at the same time as me. She pulled up on her bicycle as I was lugging my rather large pieces up to the doorway and she offered to hold the door for me. She has been doing an amazing series of impressionistic pallet knife paintings of sunsets and landscapes. She tends to post her daily paintings on Instagram about the same time I post my daily sketches so I get to admire her work almost every day. Other artists were concerned abut how to price their work and one artist struggled trying to wire her painting  with no success. Parker had a long list of things he had to explain to each artist, which boiled down to the idea that the Spa would do its part to promote the show but each artist should promote the show as well and show up to the Opening which will be March 14, 2020 probably starting about 6pm. Each artist will get a drink, but otherwise it will be a cash bar. Jennifer jokes about bringing her own flask of a spiked drink and we all laughed. I’m thinking an IV bag might be my choice for medicating myself.


So stop out to Barefoot Spa on March 14, 2020 around 6pm if you want to see a couple of my darker pieces or if you want to buy me a drink. From the art that I saw arrive, this should turn out to be a fun show. Support the venues that support the arts.

Orlando Artist Critique at Barefoot Spa

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The Orlando Arts Critique run by Parker Sketch is a monthly meeting where artists and people interested in participating in the local art scene (curators, gallery owners, event coordinators, art appreciators, and anyone else interested in art) gather and talk about art.

It is free and friendly.

The format is that there is an open invitation to participate as a “showing” artist. There is enough time to talk about approximately 15 artist’s work at each session. It is encouraged that the art is very recent, or is relevant to the artist’s current work.

The artists gather as a group of peers, regardless of age, medium, experience, or art genre. There is usually space for an additional 15 participants that aren’t showing art. So there is usually about 20 to 40 people attending this event and talking about all the art.

The primary goal is to have meaningful, positive, and helpful discussions about what the artists are working on. Networking, socializing, and learning about art opportunities in Central Florida is encouraged. The goal is to elevate everyone’s productivity and exposure through helping each other.

Central Florida is exploding with a vibrant art scene. There are so many people doing amazing art that often the people in the art community aren’t aware of what is happening around town. Any artist of art appreciator is always invited come and attend one of the sessions. The Facebook event invitation is usually posted about 2 weeks before the event, and registration through the Facebook invitation is mandatory to make sure that we have enough time and space to respect all of the participants. Join the Orlando Art Critique Facebook Group to stay up to date. The last critique was August 5, 2019.

Art Critique at Barefoot Spa

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Mark your calendar, the next Artist Critique is going to be Monday, October 22, 2018 at 6 PM – 9:30 PM at the Barefoot Spa (801 Virginia Dr, Orlando, Florida 32803). This is an event for artists and art appreciators. Everyone is welcome and it is free!  Artists talk about their latest art and help each other grow as artists.
You do not have to share art
at the critique to attend and participate in the conversation.

All
kinds of art is welcome. There have been oil painters, paper makers, glass
artists, found object sculptors, video artists, composers, watercolor
painters, ceramicists, artists who draw and collage, jewelry artists,
print makers, etc. All experience levels are welcome. We have included
artists who have never shown and artists who are nationally recognized
competition winners. All artists and types of art are welcome.


Parker Sketch has been hosting this event monthly for over 8
years. This is a grass roots learning, development, and support event.
Artists and art appreciators gather and discuss art as peers. If you
like local art, you should attend.

Opulence at Barefoot Spa.

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“Opulence” features the work of 25 Central Florida artists. The connecting theme of this show is the use of “rooms of spectacular opulence” in art. Included are paintings, sculptures, photography and multi media pieces. The collection is diverse vibrant and interesting with plenty of golden colors.

This show will be up for the months of February and March at
The Barefoot Spa
(801 Virginia, Orlando FL, 32803).
Hours are 10am to 5pm daily (closed Sundays).

The reception was on Saturday February 25th from 6 to 9 PM. Most of the artists were available at the reception. I have a painting on exhibit in this show, so I stopped by the opening reception to sketch. My painting is of the National Arts Club in NYC.  Parker Sketch has several paintings in the show. He shared old photos on his phone of his punk days with an incredibly tall Mohawk haircut.  His parents got divorced when he was a tee and he decided to live a homeless lifestyle for a summer not because he had to, but for the experience. His parents never missed him. He explained how you have to sleep in a park during the day since you would get kicked out at night. This rock bottom conversation was a nice stark contrast to the opulence on display. One of Parker’s painting had alternating stripes of gold and gold sparkle paint bands with a painting of a highball drink as the center of interest.

LK Phipps, a fine art digital photographer was curious a bow my digital sketch.  She told me about an Art and Algorithm show that sounds intriguing. With the sketch done, I relaxed and enjoyed the company of friends for a while.

My Queer Valentine.

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I went to the Jack Kerouac House 1418 (Clouser Ave, Orlando, Florida) for My Queer Valentine).  Love is love, and no matter if you’re single or taken, heartbroken or healed, it’s an honor to be able to share stories of love. Just two days after Valentine’s Day, four authors shared there own queer love stories.

Readers , included Sarah Viren, Claire Robin Thorne, Amber Norman and Ashley Inguanta (in the sketch). The evening was sponsored by Burrow Press and hosted by the Jack Kerouac House. The literary scene seems so much more vibrant than the visual arts scene in Orlando. There are literally dozens o reading events in town attended by crowds of eager listeners, yet artists seldom gather and share their work. Parker Sketch hosts a monthly Critique session which helps fill that void but otherwise artists only meet at openings.

The Television art show at Barefoot Spa.

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I submitted a piece at the Television Art Show at The Barefoot Spa (801 Virginia Dr, Orlando, Florida 32803). This show featured art of television personalities, art of televisions, and art of anything related to televisions. There were classic television shows, cartoon characters, Atari, the evening news, and more. I submitted a sketch I did of a Brian Feldman performance done at Frames Forever. Brian set up televisions in the storefront window and watched TV all night as each station switched from analog signals to digital signals. Each TV showed static after the switch. It was the night when analog officially died. If you had an old TV with rabbit ears, it became a devise to watch static across all the stations. Since Brian was bored by the viewing options, he used his cell phone to tweet and research through the night.

The TV Art Show reception was fairly well attended, but more than there quarters of those in attendance must have been artists. Linda Saracino is an artist who paints quirky dress fashions and does intricate collages. She was talking to someone who ended up being deleted from the sketch, since he or she would have been standing in the centerfold of the sketchbook. Linda’s work wasn’t in the show, but I’ve seen her at about every art opening that I’ve ever sketched. John Glassman Gardener was busy signing colorful spray can lids that acted as magnets. He would place each on the metal column as he finished signing them.

The show featured 30 pieces of art by 18 different artists.

Bethany Taylor Myers

Brian Garnett

Carrie Perman

Chrissy Hufford

Cierra Hannah

Delores Haberkorn

Donna Harrington

Eric Wise

Glaucia Mir

Jamie Meagher

Jon Glassman Gardner

M Scott Morgan

Mark Goffe

Parker Sketch

Thom Solo

Thomas Thorspeken

Vanessa Bernal

Parker Sketch curated the show, and he did a great job logging the art as it arrived and when is was picked up. My piece didn’t sell. The problem was that I exhibited the original. Lets face it people in Orlando cant afford my originals. My prints at half the price do sell on occasion. Even the owner of a sports stadium decided to buy a print rather than the original painting that they commissioned. 

SquareLando InstaShow Dropoff.

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There’s a NEW gallery in City Arts Factory, and some of Orlando’s Best and Brightest are coming together to welcome its debut.

The new “Pop Up Gallery” will host the “SquareLando InstaShow“, where all pieces must have a square aspect ratio. There will be little square artworks, and BIG square artworks, but all will be available to purchase and take home THAT NIGHT! (December 17) Prices start as low as $5.00!

Jon GlassMan Gardner is curating this show and he asked me to submit a square sketch. This gallery is usually blocked off with a black curtain and the only other times I saw it used was as a greenroom for the dead at Dia de los Muertos and as an open area for some installation art. This past week some of the conduits were removed from a wall to open it up to hang art and track lighting was installed allowing for the spotlights of work soon to be hung on the walls.

Once I dropped off my sketch and filled out the paperwork, I decided to linger and watch the square art arrive. A demonic Mickey Mouse by Boy Kong looked particular appealing since it depicted the corporate Mouse I had on worked for. I noticed a Parker Sketch  painting, and three square print by Plinio Pinto. The prints were mounted on those deep hardboard stretchers and if was hard to pick out that they were prints. There was a strong showing of work by Full Sail instructors.

As I sketched, Jon related the story of how he got the nickname GlassMan. At one point his life was turned upside down when his wife left him. He was blindsided, but realized he hadn’t been living the life he wanted the to live. He made a commitment to discover a new Orlando museum or arts venue every week. He soon realized that Orlando actually has a vibrant arts scene and he began creating once again. I bet Jon’s work is some of the first local art I purchased. He makes wonderful glass magnets that have an intricate paint pattern that reminds me of aerial photography. Jon has recently started his own auto glass business. That keeps a steady paycheck coming in while allowing him plenty of time to create when the shop is slow. 

Rebecca Rose dropped off a piece. I assumed it would be one of her intricate sculpted silver rings, but it turned out to be an early etching that she had done.  In all I would say about six artists dropped off work in the time it took me to get the sketch done. It is kind of fun sitting still an getting a chance to see some of Orlando’s best talent come to you. Rebecca will be exhibiting at the grand opening of the new Snap! Gallery in Downtown Orlando. I’m hoping to get a chance to sketch her at work in he silversmith studio before that opening.

Squarelando InstaShow opens Thursday December 17th from 5pm to 10pm at City Arts Factory (29 S Orange Ave, Orlando, Florida) as part of the Third Thursday gallery hop. Jon plans to put all the artwork on Instagram so if you miss the opening, you can browse the whole show on your phone. My Instagram handle is analogartist, so if to look me up, I’ll share the hashtag , link or whatever.

Monthly Artist Critique at Barefoot Spa

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Once a month, Parker Sketch hosts an informal, supportive and constructive discussion group about art at the Barefoot Spa (801 Virginia Dr, Orlando, Florida).  I try to got these sessions as often as I can, since I learn something every time I go.  This is a group of artists and art appreciators gathering to help each other grow as artists!  It is a limited space event. The work of about 12 artists is shared  and discussed. Once the capacity for participants is reached, you can be put on a standby list and you can participate without showing art.
The opportunity to show art is first-come-first served. Attendees do not have to show art to participate. You don’t have to be an artist to participate. If you are interested in art and want to meet other people who also enjoy art, you will feel right at home.

At the critique, artists share then newer art, art that is relevant to what they are doing now. If more than one piece is shared, it is usually part of a series.
All kinds of art is shown, there have been oil painters, paper makers, glass artists, found object sculptors, video artists, watercolor painters, ceramicists, artists who draw and collage, jewelry artists, print makers, etc. It also doesn’t matter how much experience you have. There have been artists who have never shown and artists who are nationally recognized competition winners. The point is to get people from many different styles, backgrounds, and experience levels together to talk about every one’s work. The discussions have included pricing, finding materials, technique, framing, exhibition opportunities, and, yes, traditional critique. Each artist’s work is shared  individually.

In May, Calvin Dunkle was showing several of his fantasy art themed paintings. His work seems inspired by the paintings of Frank Frazetta. Constructive comments about the compositions and colors seemed like they should help Calvin push the pieces to completion. I didn’t show work, but the conversations wrestle with issues I confront in my our sketches daily. I learn from other artists mistakes. Now that I am teaching digital painting to student at Elite Animation, I have started schooling myself. Everyday I execute a digital painting based on paintings of my favorite arts. This week my masters have been John Singer Sargent, Toulouse Lautrec, and Giambattista Tiepolo. After spending several hours studying the paintings, I go out to sketch on location and I hope that some of their mastery will seep back into my own work. Taking chances and growing is a long slow marathon. None of this work will ever be seen. But I learn from the best.

On Saturday November 14th,  from 3pm to 8pm,  Parker Sketch is having a holiday art sale party and open studio at 1029 Delnova Lane Orlando FL. There will be appetizers, drinks, and art. He only runs this
clearance sale once a year. After this sale, all pricing returns to his normal retail.
Art from 2015 20% Off
Art from 2014 40% Off
Art from 2013 60% Off
Art from 2012 and earlier 80% off
All prints are available for 50% off

This week my work was venomously attacked by an art troll on Facebook and I’ve come l realize that some local artists resent what I do when I report on the Orlando arts scene. Although my work is undervalued, often stolen by local businesses and arts organizations, and unappreciated by some, I will keep doing what I do, ignoring the haters and celebrating creative artists who change Orlando daily by supporting and encouraging each other. That is what the monthly artist critiques offer and I’m thankful that Parker takes on the task of pulling it all together. Mark your Calendar. The next artist critique will like be on December 3, 2015 at the Barefoot Spa starting at 6pm.

A Digital Artist in a Digital World?

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On October 22, I  went to Parker Sketch‘s monthly Artist Critique at the Barefoot Spa, 801 Virginia Dr, Orlando, Florida. This group of artists and art appreciators gathering to help each other grow as artists. You don’t have to be an artist, or show art to participate in the discussion, and meet the artists! It is a supportive and constructive discussion group about art. We look at the work of about 12 artists in the evening and talk about it. The opportunity to show art is first-come-first served. If you are interested in art and want to meet other people who also enjoy art, this is the event for you. The art can range from the purely abstract to representational. I always learn something new each time I go.

The reason I wanted to show art this night was to see what other artists felt about m using a tablet to start creating my sketches done on location. I’m excited a bow the possibilities in the digital medium but Terry says she cringes every time she sees a digital sketch on this site. I decided to show one of my sketchbooks and the sketch [ did on the tablet of the critique. sketching digitally is still difficult because [ waste so much time looking for tools and menus. Recently I’ve bee streamlining my work flow by learning how to use my tablets keys to select the most common tools. I asked everyone if it made sense to try and recreate my watercolor sketches in the digital medium. Most artists felt that the traditions sketch had more spontaneity and they could clearly see that a digital sketch has z different look. Parker suggested that I take an entire different approach to the digital work, accepting the difference. He even suggest using the tablets camera as the starting point and built the sketch over that. When I confided that the tablet seems too small, Bethany Taylor Meyers suggested I do a traditional sketch on paper, then shoot that with the camera and start painting digitally. I love that idea since I can us a bigger sketch pad and maintain the traditional feel of pencil on paper.

Other artists critiques also inspired me to push in new directions. One artist is trying to pull away from dark line work. Although I love line, the digital medium seems to favor blocking in colors as if building up an oil painting. I’m convinced that the digital work will inspire change in the traditional sketches and vise a versa. Someone suggested that I start using gouache on my traditional sketches and ironically the is something I’ve been considering for  some time.

There was so much amazing art shown that night, and having feedback from fellow artists is indispensable. Parker showed a large “Falling Man” painting. I’ve seen other paintings from the series and they are usually monochromatic. This falling man was fractured into vertical strips and had intense bright colors like cadmium yellow and bright pink. The image is a haunting reminder of 9-11 for me and the bright Peter Max inspired colors seemed a stark contrast. Parker did the painting live at Artlando with constant interruptions as people asked questions.  He said the colors were happy accidents because they just happened to be the colors he packed that day.

If you click the subscribe button over in the right column, I will keep you informed next time there is  an artist Critique.  The subscription is for a weekly AADW e-mail newsletter.

Bart celebrated it’s two year anniversary in style.

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Bart (1205 N Mills Ave, Orlando, Florida) is a small pub on Mills. It features local art, play some classic arcade games and of course craft beer. The two year anniversary party was held on August 29th of 2014 at the

Orange Studio next door which was rented to make room for more arcade cabinets and pinball machines. Many of the local artists who have shown their amazing art on Bart’s walls donated pieces for a silent auction to benefit A Gift For Teaching. Also, a collaborative art piece was painted during the event by Parker Sketch and then auctioned off live.

Soul Brother Kevin and Angel from SBK Live filled the air with music throughout the evening. This event was free. There was a supply drive set up for A Gift For Teaching as well as the auction. If you brought in school supplies we will reward you with a wristband good for happy hour all night!

I sketched the long line of arcade games and pin ball machines that had been brought in for the event.  Game play was free. When my sketch was done, I tried my hand at a game of Space Invaders. I should have pretty good eye hand coordination, but within minutes I had been blasted to pieces. I dusted myself off and tried again only to meet the same sure weightless death. That was enough for me. I stopped over to see the huge painting that Parker was working on. He slaps down paint as fast as I sketch and he was pretty far along in completing the five foot high canvas.