Faith Arts Village Orlando

Posted on by Thor

On the first Friday of each month, a former motel (221 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32801) comes alive as a vibrant open studio for local Orlando Artists. The Park Lake Presbyterian Church across the street purchased the motel and has been converting it into active artists studios. Faith Arts Village or FAVO is a good place to check out what is happening locally in the visual arts.

As I was doing this sketch, a local band was performing in the parking lot. hey were singing the opening song from a Muppet movie called the rainbow connection. Almost everywhere I sketch in Orlando there is a rainbow to be seen. In this case a large rainbow heart decorated the entry to a studio that had flower headed mannequins. I had a commission on my mind that involved a small antique carousel. I ultimately called the piece “The Rainbow Connection” and put in prints of all rainbow themed decorations I had sketching since the Pulse Massacre.

The next FAVO showcase is October 5, 2018 starting at 5pm. I always find something unexpected and inspiring.

Sing Along with The Muppet Movie at the Abbey.

Posted on by Thor

I now live downtown near The Abbey. Each day, I like to watch the marquee sign being changes. I stepped out for the night to do a sketch, and couldn’t resist sketching the Abbey. Purple light glowed inside And the stark white marquee announced the Sing Along with the Muppet Movie . I sketched as the sun set and people gathered near the theater entrance. I had never seem the movie before but have seen the Muppets many times over the years on TV.

Sing Along with The Muppet Movie provided a family-friendly, interactive experience allowing the audience to renew their rainbow connection with the classic Jim Henson film. Heather Henson, Jim’s daughter, and her Sing Along crew brought elements of the film to life for the audience via puppetry and more. One of her crew recognized me and asked me to go inside to see the show. Children and adults were urged to participate in a variety of fun ways.

This relaxed performance had lights up, modified sound, a quiet room and the ability to get out of your seat to dance and play.

Butterfly kites fluttered and fish leaped above the audience as the Rainbow Connection opened the film. Kids played tab, Chasing each other around the theater. I think the adults were the only ones to see the film all the way through, but it was a fun chaotic experience.

Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

Posted on by Thor

I went to the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival and arrived shortly after noon of the first day. I found a nice spot on the merchant side of the street from which to do a sketch. Officially, I was breaking the law, that says no art can be created on that side of Park Avenue. I had my back to several magazine stands which kept any passers by from looking over my shoulder. Melissa Marie McCain had said she would be there and I do believe I saw a large feather plume in the crowd that had to be heard. I need to give her a commissioned piece called “The Rainbow Connection“. It documents the many rainbows I have sketched in the wake of the Pulse shooting. The notion of locating someone in the crude at this festival is insane. The artist whose boot I sketched did the most amazingly photo real still life’s. I jotted his name down in my cell phone, and spell check changed it to shouting. That isn’t his name at all.

My favorite art in the show was by R. Michael Wommack. They were large pastels that showed areal views of suburbs at night. Each home had a glowing green pool it the backyards and clouds were unified puffs. An occasional window would have the blue glow of a television. They were all haunting and quite amazing.

I stopped to talk to Stacy Barter, a Winter Park plain air painter. She had some amazing painting of a construction site. I asked her where the site was and she said she had gone to where the Whole Foods was being constructed on Orlando Avenue just north of Lee Road. It is the type of scene that attracts me as well. Don Santag had sold a large sunset painting of one of the canals that connect the many lakes in Winter Park. He confided that the Disney Feature Animation background painters had inspired his work. Seeping his large work made me want to start painting big.

I left for the festival with many layers because the morning temperatures were down in the 40s. By the time I left, it must have been almost 80 degrees. I was overdressed. I got a chicken gyro for lunch along with a green drink, Mountain Dew. Oh yes, I forgot to mention. The opening day of the Winter Park Art Festival fell on Saint Patrick’s day this year. There were plenty of people wearing green. My Nantucket hat was green as was my artist stool. I decided to paint the sketch only using green and Orange.I was told Orange is the color of Northern Ireland. My mothers family came from Corr Ireland in the south, so there is more green in the sketch than orange.

The Winter Park Sidewalk Festival continues today and tomorrow from 9am to 5pm. There is plenty of amazing art to see so be sure to check it out. Just don’t sketch on the merchant side of Park Avenue, you risk a $500 fine and 30ndays in jail. If you do happen to sketch, let me know and I’ll send you the Winter Park Illegal Art logo to emblazon your image.