Rollins College

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While walking back from an event I sketched in Winter Park, I heard activity over at Rollins College and I decided to cross over Fairbanks Avenue to see what was going on. The large football field was illuminated with stadium lighting. A soccer practice was under way and I had to stop to sketch. The chapel was illuminated a bright blue with spot lights and the upper bell tower windows glowed a golden yellow. A full moon helped lighten the scene as well.

I was sketching trough the chain link fencing for the sake of convenience. One of the players saw me sitting and taking in the scene and he asked me if I was a talent scout for a professional team. Another player had a better guess of what I was up to and I showed him the sketch in progress when he asked to see.

There were a few drills and shots at the net but the huddle in the middle of the field dominated the time I spent sketching. The practice was over and the players dissipated before my sketch was complete. I didn’t linger long since this was a simple landscape scene but the lighting of the field at night would make a good plein air study should I decide to return. The Knowles Memorial Chapel at night is an amazing sight.

Spring Pops, The Race for Space

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The City of Winter Park
hosted the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra led by conductor Dean Whiteside as
they presented Spring Pops in Winter Park’s Central Park main stage. Patrons set up on the grass lawn
with blankets and lawn chairs. Some folks came really prepared with wine
candles and a full spread. Everyone was ready for a relaxing evening of music
under the stars. The sun set behind the stage as I sketched creating a warm
glow behind the performers. I squinted as I starred straight into the sunset.

The evening featured music by composer John Williams along
with other space themed music. Guest vocalists for the night were Natalie
Cordone and Shawn Kilgore. I was set up and sketching before the performer got
on stage. I was fascinated with the cello player that had a wheel on the bottom
of his instrument so he could roll it around like a wheel barrel. By the end of
the performance the stage s lit by two stage spot lights that had been set up
stage left and right.

It is so nice to enjoy an outdoor concert as the northern
states are still experiencing cold temperatures. As I write this I am at my
Sister’s home in Port Charlotte Florida.
She is looking up photos of the snow covered landscapes in the northern towns
where out other brothers and sisters live. There is nothing so rewarding as
seeing cold weather while basking in the Florida
sun.

Mon Petit Cheri

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Returning to Mon Petit Cheri (331 S Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789). I decided to push for a more complete sketch that encapsulated how I feel about the place. This Central Florida gem feels the closed to what it might be like to relax and sketch in a Paris cafe. Locals come here to have a coffee and to sit and chat.

I always ordered a chocolate filled croissant and a coffee that was a pleasure to nurse as I sketched. I only did this sketch after doing a series of thumbnail sketches (shown in the sketchbook). The wicker chairs also became the subject of a spread on the different types of furniture to be found in cafes.

New age coffee houses are cropping up all over Central Florida now that feature coffee and a wide selection of plants. The general notion of what constitutes a cafe keep evolving.

Though the book never became a reality, it was nice to explore and sketch the various cafes in town for a while. People offered plenty of suggestions of places I should suggest. That is the strength of social media. It is possible to crowd source to find the most intriguing places to sketch. We are living in an amazing time. Slow down once in a while sip a drink and take the time to soak in your surroundings.

Mon Petite Cheri in Winter Park

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I was asked by Querto Press in London to execute a series of sketches of cafe’s for a possible book about how to sketch cafes. Now Orlando isn’t Paris, but I started to search for the best cafes in the area. It is quite calming to slow down and sketch a cafe while sipping a coffee and chocolate croissant. Mon Petit Cheri (333 South Park Avenue Winter Park, FL 32789), seemed to feel like the most European cafe that I could find.

I stopped in several times doing thumbnails and final sketches for possible spreads in the book. Thumb nails are a really great way to organize your thoughts and create quick compositions without committing too much time on a finished sketch.

I also wrote copy to help in creating finalized layouts that showed ow the book might look. These spreads were shown at a London Book Fair to pitch the idea to prospective publishers. Unfortunately the book was not green lighted.

In this digital age it is nice too see that there are some places where people still sit an chat over a drink rater than hiding behind their phones to communicate with the hive. Perhaps my sketching is a similar anti social behavior that happens in slow motion, but for me sketching helps me truly feel a part of any new place I visit.

ODD 17 at Dexter’s in Winter Park

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Orlando Drink and Draw (ODD) invites artists to go to a new bar or restaurant each month to sample food and drink and sketch. I was living in Winter Park at the time so I decided to go to Dexter’s (558 W New England Ave Suite 100, Winter Park, FL 32789). My roommate went to this place religiously. There are often bands that perform but on this evening it was quiet. I usually go to ODD events a little early so that I get a good jump on my sketch before I start socializing with other artists. I ordered a beer and got to work.

As I was finishing the sketch, I realized that I had not seen any artists enter. The door was at the right of my sketch so I was looking towards the entrance and should have noticed and welcome any artists. I decided to put extra time into the watercolor on the sketch to pass the time but decided after a while that no one was going to show up. I  paid, packed up and walked back to my car. 

On the drive back to my studio, I got a text, “Where are you?” from an artist. I explained that no one had shown up and I left. What I didn’t realize was that daylight savings time had just ended, so I was at Dexter’s well over an hour before anyone else, and I left before the start time of the event I had scheduled. I had to apologize. I hope anyone who did get out to Dexter’s got a decent sketch that night.

Tai Chi in Central Park

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I rented a place in Winter Park two summers ago. Since I lived there, I started looking for local events to sketch and when I found out that Tai Chi was offered in Central Park, I had to go out and sketch. I arrived early, sat on a bench in the shade and started sketching where I assumed they would set up in the grass.

Back in 1998 I was working for Disney Feature Animation on the film, Mulan which is set in China. During the making of that film I studied Tai Chi as a way to unwind from the stress of production. I knew the moves and could have joined in on this day, but I decided instead to focus on the zen of creating the sketch.

When the Tai Chi participants showed up they set up on the main stage which is usually reserved for musical performances. Rather than start the sketch over, I just placed them on the green grass where I felt they belonged. Of course Tai Chi could be interpreted as a form of dance and an art form.

Creating art is forbidden by city ordinance in Winter Park. According to the Ordinance, artists a lumped together with street performers…”Perform and performance means to engage in any of the following activities: acting; singing; playing musical instruments; puppetry; pantomiming, miming; performing or demonstrating magic or acts of illusion; dancing; juggling; or the public display of and composition or creation of crafts, sculpture, artistry, writings, or compositions, including the application of brush, pastel, crayon, pencil, or other similar objects applied to paper, cardboard, canvas, cloth or to other similar medium.” I still wonder if a digital sketch is exempt.

“Prohibited public area means the pedestrian accessed public areas of the Central Business and Hannibal Square Districts along Park Avenue from Fairbanks Avenue to Swoope Avenue, and along New England Avenue from Park Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue including the area within fifty (50) feet of the public right-of-way of Park A venue and New England Avenue on the public lanes, streets, thoroughfares, and ways, including the Winter Park train station and the public property at

what is  known as the Winter Park Farmer’s Market and the Winter Park Historical Association located at 200 West New England Avenue, excluding public performance zones as provided in subsection ( d)(2). ”

The city of Winter Park does allow for a “Weekend of the Arts” in February. Thankfully, no police wrestled me to the ground to take my pencil and the shops on Park Avenue hummed and generated profits despite my anarchistic decision to sketch performers at their craft.

Winter Park “Sunset Paint In”

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The public was invited to come by as Winter Park Paint Out Artists gathered on the shore of Lake Maitland, hosted by the Winter Park Racquet Club (2111 Vía Tuscany Winter Park, FL 32789.) There the artists captured a beautiful Florida sunset from the west-facing shores Lake Maitland. Guests settled in with friends and family as dusk drew near and they watched the magic unfold across  canvasses. This was the perfect opportunity for members and non-members of the club to invite guests and check out this one-of-a-kind event. Artists painted along the shoreline as well as throughout the lush and festive grounds. Guests could grab a drink and share the vista and watch as these outstanding artists created a vivid sunset memory on canvas. Artwork was available for sale the night of the event and you can also see the evenings completed artwork in the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens (633 Osceola Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789) “wet room” gallery through April 28, 2018.

I set up in the shade of a bush to sketch the artists working in the shade in front of the mansion that is next to the Racquet club. It turns out I was right next to the admissions tent which is where everyone picked up their cup and a comment card to see which wines were the best. Since I was right at the entrance, quite a few people stopped to look over my shoulder. The multiple conversations were as enlightening and fun as getting the sketch done. I met a water colorist who knew of my work from Instagram. I also ran into Cher Cloude Topps, a former student who was experiencing the paint out for the first time.  Robert Willson asked me quite a few questions about the fountain pen I was using. It turns out he hand makes fountain pens and we spoke about having me take one of his pens for a “test drive” and giving him feedback on how the pen works for creating art.

The artist in the red shirt was Don Sontag from Winter Park. He was working on a painting of the admissions tents with the sunset behind them. The other artist I believe was Scott Heistand from Ormond Beach. Unfortunately he left before I got a chance to see his finished painting. By the time this sketch was done, the sun was about to set. I was given a sandwich and some chips, so I stood closer to the water to watch the final moments as the sun hit the horizon. The temperature immediately dropped, so I decided it was time to turn in my wine voucher. The red wine warmed me up a bit as I joked with a few of the artists before I left.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for March 17th and 18th 2018.

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Saturday March 17, 2018

10 AM to 1 PM – Free. Sketchbook Project at the Park. Winter Park Station, Amtrak/Sun Rail Station, 148 W Morse Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32789. With #Connection being the theme of the Orlando Urban Sketchers #SketchbookProject, they will take it to the Winter Park 59th Sidewalk Art festival – http://www.wpsaf.org/ where they’ll document in sketches the connection between people, art, and the festival spirit on location, from observation! If you wish to be part of this project or just wish to sketch on location please join them at 10:00am. Sketching into the project sketchbook pages is not mandatory.

Will meet at the Sunrail train station at 10:00 am. After the
traditional meet and greet, they’ll disperse to points of interest
around the park as a group or as individuals to begin sketching. Will meet back near the Sunrail station at 1:00 pm for the Sketchbooks Throw down ceremony. To those who wish to participate in the project on location:

How this will work: The sketchbook we’ve received from the project
organizers will be disassembled and reassembled. Each participating
sketcher will receive one page- 7 x 10inch- with potential of 4
sketching pages (front and back folded in half).

You can pick up a
page from Margaret Gibson on location at the event or use your own
paper, keep within the dimensions of 7 x 10 inch and keep in mind the
paper will be folded in half.

If you cannot attend our sketch
outing on Mar. 17th and still are interested in contributing your sketch
to the project please contact Margaret Gibson for additional details,
and as indicated here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/USkOrlando/permalink/755567521299156/

Submitting our collaborated sketching work to the worldwide collection at the #BrooklynArtLibrary
will greatly define us urban sketchers artists and the global art
movement we represent and are part of! We are proud to take part in
this project!

www.sketchbookproject.com

What to bring:

Your own sketching/drawing/painting supply

Your sketchbook or painting paper to sketch more

Sitting stool

Hat and drinking water

A friend or family member and anyone who likes to sketch

All skills are welcome!

11 AM to 11 PM –  Free. 3rd Annual Crooked Can Celtic Festival. Crooked Can Brewing Company 426 W Plant St, Winter Garden, Florida 34787. The biggest party of the year is coming back to the Crooked Can Brewing Company for its THIRD YEAR! Join them for Three Days of Live Celtic Music, Irish Dancers, Local Vendors, Delicious Eats and so much more. Oh, let’s not forget about the Crooked Can Brews!!

4 PM to 8 PM -Free. Cruisin’ Downtown DeLand Car Show! East Indiana Ave Downtown DeLand, Deland FL.  Classic cars and rods. Live DJ, giveaways, shopping and dining. Fun for the family! Every 3rd Saturday night!

Sunday March 18, 2018

 9 AM to 5 PM – Free. Friday Saturday and Sunday The 59th Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. Central Park in Winter Park. The
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is one of the nation’s oldest,
largest and most prestigious outdoor art festivals. Over 1,100 artists from around the
world applied for this year’s Festival. An independent panel of three
judges selected the 225 artists exhibiting their works. The Festival
consistently ranks as one of the top juried fine-art festivals in the
country. Recent accolades include the #4 ranking in Art Fair Calendar’s
“2016 Best Art Fairs” and Art Fair Source Book’s listing in their “Top
10 Fine Art Shows, 2016”. The Festival is also listed in Sunshine Artist
Magazine’s “Top 100”. 

The Festival features a wide variety of fine arts and crafts
in the following categories: clay, digital art, drawings and pastels,
fiber, glass, graphics & printmaking, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed
media 2D, mixed media 3D, painting, photography, sculpture, watercolor
and wood as well as our Emerging Artists. Artists complete for 63 awards totaling $72,500. 

Girls and boys can create their own artwork at the Children’s
Workshop Village. Easel painting is very popular, and local art centers
and museums feature a variety of fun, hands-on art activities for
children. Admission is free and participants may take home their
artistic creations. The Children’s Workshop Village hours are 10 a.m. – 4
p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Easel painting is from 10 a.m. – 3
p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

1PM to 8 PM – Free. Will’s A Faire Spring Market. Will’s Pub 1042 N Mills Ave, Orlando, Florida 32803. Will’s A Faire, the one day retro, vintage, local and handmade market is back at Will’s Pub on March 18th for Spring 2018. Will’s A Faire is the Biggest Outdoor/Indoor vendor market in Orlando, with 50 to 75 Vendors, Live Music a la Southern Fried Sunday, Craft Cocktails, Craft Sodas and Craft Brews from Will’s Pub and lil indies, Food Trucks andFree Fun for the Entire Family! Bands, Food Trucks and Specific Vendors: TBA! The Market runs from 1pm until 8:30pm.

3 PM to 5 PM – Free. Lutheran Cantata Choir and Chamber Ensemble. Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church (2021 West SR 426 Oviedo FL. Lutheran Cantata Choir and Chamber Ensemble. A Voice from Heaven – Claire Hodge, Director. Reception for the audience after the concert.

Cypress Tree.

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On rare occasions, I take time off from sketching events to seek out natural forms that are pleasing to my eye. This Cypress tree sweeps upward from the shore of Lake Virginia in Winter Park. Some of the branches are not round but instead shaped like streamlines surf boards. One of my Sketch Tours students, Louis Degni, recognized me and stopped to say hello.He had a painters easel under his arm and was off to sketch some scene lakeside as well.

The challenge in this sketch was to capture all the subtle warm greys and cool grays in the bark of the tree. Other than light pencil, I let go of any line work.

Out on the dock just beyond the tree I was painting was a musician just performing with no need for an audience. With my sketch done, I waded out into the water and enjoyed the unexpected concert. As often happens, I couldn’t stop from swaying to the beat. it was cloudy while I was painting the tree, but as the sun set to my right, the lake captured the orange golden glow and fractured it. Blue grey Spanish moss swayed in the breeze. Some bald cypress trees can grow to be up to one thousand years old. That makes my hot flash of a life seem rather short in comparison. That means I need to kick off my shoes more often and slow down to enjoy the natural beauty that is often ignored. I understand the attraction to working plein air, just finding natural beauty with no concern for mad rush of humanity, but I still find myself always drawn to crowds.

History in a glass.

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The first History in a Glass took place on June 22 at the Orange County Regional History Center, 65 E Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801. History in a Glass pairs fun and fascinating historical collection
artifacts with delicious hand-crafted cocktails. Three bar districts –
Downtown, Mills/50 District, and Winter Park – battle for the championship to see
who can win people’s choice in designing the
best custom cocktail based on a story from the history of Central
Florida. Three ace mixologists from each district will go head to head
with their colleagues, the winner advancing to the series finale in
December.

In the first competition mixologists from three popular downtown Orlando establishments – Hanson’s Shoe Repair, The Woods, and The Courtesy Bar – received a brief biography of Billy Bluebeard, Orlando’s first swan to create their drink from. Billy was brought to Orlando in 1910 by Charles Lord and placed at Lake Lucerne with his mate Sally. They were a rather romantic pair and Billy took quite an interest in their domestic affairs. Sally would sit on their eggs, but each day Billy would come by to relieve her so that she might swim about the Lake and stretch her legs.  One day, Billy was running a bit behind and Sally decided to take off before his arrival.  Their eggs grew cold, Lord knowing they would be dead, removed them from the nest. Upon finding an empty nest, Billy was furious. He swam out to Sally in the middle of the lake, grabbed her by the throat, and held her head under until she died.

Billy was given a new mate, Mary, who was quite a bit younger than he. Billy grew ill and was taken to a veterinarian. Once he was better, he returned home to find Mary with another swan! Unfortunately Billy wasn’t quite the fighting swan he once was, and the new, younger Charlie wasn’t having any of Billy’s attitude. Lord made the decision to remove Billy to another lake where he eventually passed away.  Some say it was old age, others say Billy died of a homesick broken heart.

In 1933, the proprietor of W.H. Swan Company had Billy stuffed and placed in the foyer of his department store where he stood until becoming one of the very first donations to the History Center.

Mark your calendar! The next History in a Glass, “Hog Wild” Edition is Thursday, August 24 at 6 PM – 9 PM. Not far from the present-day History Center’s
door, razorbacks once rubbed their backs on the steps of Orange County’s
wooden courthouse in the 1870s,
when Florida was a wild frontier. Florida still has an estimated one
million feral pigs on the loose. Just recently in the news, wild hogs
are still running amok in Brevard County! Come cheer on your favorite bartender from the Mills 50 District in a competition to create the best history-inspired beverage. The winner will advance to the series finale in December.

Admission tickets include great music with a DJ, three hand-crafted cocktails, and tasty cuisine
from a local restaurant. Member tickets are $20, general admission $25. This event is for guests 21 and older. For details, call 407-836-7035. Doors open at 6 p.m., cocktail competition and drink service start at 6:30.