United Arts is offering Artist in the Community Grants.

Posted on by Thor

I went to a workshop offered by Mary Giraulo, the United Arts of Central Florida Manager of Grants and Arts Education at the Maitland Arts Center (231 Packwood Ave, Maitland, FL). The room was pretty full and the Power Point presentation was already started. An author had read about my Life Sketch project where I went to retirement homes to sketch people and get their life stories. I had collaborated with several authors in the past. While they conducted the interview, I sketched. This worked for me because once I start a sketch, I’m lost in the moment until the final wash and lines hit the page. Any conversation is a distraction that takes me cot of my “zone”. One author I worked with took her own life and the other decided it was too much work after a few write ups.

I decided this grant would help pay for the author’s time as well as my own. She was considering a grant for another project as well. I asked at the workshop if an author could collaborate on one project and also get their own grant and it is possible. The tricky loop hole in this grant is that United Arts would only fund half the amount needed. The rest of the funding would have to come from private sources.  The maximum grant amount is $2,500. So I would need to match that amount.

Via e-mail the author let me know that she decided against collaborating on my project. I have 3 days to decide if I will apply for the grant on my own. Perhaps I don’t need an author but instead I could use a tape recorder. When I’m sketching people, they tell me stories even when my attention is mostly on the sketch. Perhaps I could ask a few questions and keep working. I have to finish a large illustration in the next few days and then maybe I’ll fill out all the paperwork. I’ve started keeping track of all the opportunities that are available as I move ahead and this is just one of many. As an artist, you have to pick your battles as you learn to survive as an artist.

All Things Rauncy and Risque Could Be Found at the Vagabond Art Party

Posted on by Thor

The Second Annual Vagabond Art Party was held in the Cameo Theater way back in May of 2010. Back then I was sketching so often that I often let sketches go unpublished as I got distracted with the newest events and sketching opportunities. It was billed as an amazing night of Art, Music and live Performances.
It was organized by Pergo who’s Art Army troops were quite busy honing their skills, developing concepts and creating unbelievable moments individually. They we come together, bringing all the inspiration, all the creative force from the Universe, for one night at The Cameo. The line-up was staggering in not only scope and talent, but in diversity of expression as well. Pergo is a colorful character who does speed paintings live at events. He has long flowing hair that at times he dips into the paint. I keep hoping I’ll catch a sketch of him someday.

Every half hour there was an amazing performance of light, sound and art set to rock your world. There was an

Interactive Art Community Mural, Body Art, Organic Light show, an Art Army Fashion show by Dechoes Vintage hosted by Jamesson,
Provocative Model, Tracy Spivey.
There was open mic, acoustic corner in the outside patio. A portion of the proceeds went to benefit the United Artists of Central Florida. The cover was $10 but I managed to smuggle myself inside at a working artist.

I focused on the art being painted live by Trevor and Nikki Divine that had a hint of the sensual with a flair of burlesque. There were pasties and corset for sale in  a Sexy expo by Blissful Lotus in case you ever want to get into that line of business. A couple worked on a large painting in black and white of a sensual dancer. The girl seated on the couch opposite me offered herself as the perfect model as she twisted to watch the artists at work.