Preparing for the Citrus Bowl Parade

Terry and I got up at 6:30 AM in order to get to the Police Mounted Unit Stable to help get the horses ready for the Citrus Bowl Parade. It was a very chilly 44 degrees Fahrenheit and when we arrived the horses were already out and wrapped in their blue blankets. Hoof Black was applied to all the horses hooves and green glitter was sprinkled on so they all looked like they were wearing emerald slippers. All of the horses whiskers were shaved the previous day. Terry told me they had to be muzzled in something called a twitch. It seems the horse is then so preoccupied with this twitch that it isn’t freaked out by the act of having the whiskers cleanly cut off.

Decorative orange and green bows were tied to each horses tail and then volunteers painted oranges on the hind quarters. The front legs were also wrapped with white gauze. The blankets were then removed and the horses were quickly saddled up.

When the police were mounted at 9:10 AM, the Captain made a helicopter gesture with her right index finger and they headed for the street. Rather than get the horses in a trailer, it was easier for them to walk the one mile distance to the start of the parade route on Orange and Robinson. I joined the police pick up truck that would follow them on the parade route. Having a truck in the rear keeps the horses safe from any approaching traffic. As we rolled through Parramore, men standing on the sidewalks, probably waiting for some form of work, waved and greeted us. We went past the Coalition of the Homeless building where I sketched a few weeks ago. Terry who was in the passenger seat started playing with the loudspeaker and singing Christmas Carols. I was sitting in the back on some hay bails. I was asked several times to wave traffic around us since we were traveling at the horses walking pace.

The excitement built as we went through several police blockades and approached the start of the parade route.

Artists & Writers Crawl


The Artist & Writer Crawl I hosted made for a very fun evening. I met so many new artists and writers. After all the Crawlers saw “The Singing Menorah” we headed up to the Peacock Room at 1321 North Mills Avenue. I reloaded my water brush in the men’s room an then sat at the end of the bar so I could get a good view down it’s length. Karrie Brown and Tod Caviness are shown in the sketch diligently putting images and words to paper. Tisse Mallon followed the Crawl taking photos along the way. I would estimate that there were about 20 Crawlers all together. People came and went throughout the night. After a while it became impossible to distinguish the Crawlers from the regulars. A large group of people showed up, all of them coming from Bold Hype Gallery, where they saw the work of Andrew Spear. I spoke with someone named Nelson Martin who was trying to get the bartenders attention. It turns out he is a web designer and fine artist and we discussed art while I continued to sketch.
The walls of the bar were covered with paintings of women with really large eyes by Patrick Fatica. The work was highly polished, surreal and haunting. The paintings had long titles which would make you pause and wonder like “The angels have slipped through our landslide and filled up our garden with snow.” This painting has a large eyed woman holding a towel over her bare breasts standing in front of a mist filled white landscape.
I had a beer at each bar we went to and after this sketch I focused a bit more on socializing than sketching. At the end of the evening only 5 artists remained. As we stumbled across the street from the Funkey Monkey towards Wally’s we were almost all killed when a police car came screaming down Mills in the center turn lane at 90 miles an hour. It really was a close and sobering near miss. With our crossing attempt thwarted we had to run back to the sidewalk to avoid the new line of traffic approaching.
In Wally’s I ordered my last beer for the evening from the sullen bar maid and sipped it while watching a man and woman who were rubbing noses and making out. When they left the woman tripped on a bar stool and could bairley keep her eyes open. Tod didn’t like the music playing on the jut box so he got up and remedied the situation. It was 2AM when we all decided to call it a night.

Survive to Thrive

On a sunny Saturday morning I stopped by Christ Church Unity at 771 Holden Avenue for an out door barbecue and goodwill community outreach program called Survive to Thrive. Rick Kirby informed me of this event aimed to feed the homeless and working poor of Central Florida. I only had a couple of hours to sketch and then I had to get to work. I focused my attention on the tented area where volunteers were making sure that the Walmart giveaway bags were full. The bags contained travel sized shampoo, conditioner, soap socks, small towels, tooth brushes, tooth paste, chap stick and a drink.
As I was sketching children ran and played in the open grass behind me. It was a beautiful day. Several people who were just arriving walked up to me and asked where the food was. I pointed towards the outdoor grills. When the grills were fired up I could smell the delicious hamburgers and hot dogs.
There were 143 volunteers at the event and approximately 93 homeless guests enjoyed the food that day. Volunteers and guests all shared the same picnic tables as they enjoyed each others company. The afternoon was filled with live music and games for the children. Events like this humble me and make me realize the importance and true meaning of giving in this holiday season.

ICE at the Gaylord Palms


At a fundraiser several months ago for Hospice of the Comforter, Keith Salwoski, of the Gaylord Palms introduced himself to me and asked if I would like to sketch an event his hotel puts on called ICE. I of course followed up and he invited me to come down. I arrived in the early evening an was surprised that just to park would cost $12. I walked into the waiting area of the exhibit and discovered tickets cost $21. I called Keith and unfortunately he didn’t pick up his phone. Rather that pay I decided to wander around the entry area exhibits. There was a Santa Claus seated in an area where photos could be taken. I sat down and started to sketch but immediately Santa got up and went on a break. A sign said he would be back in an hour. This just wasn’t my night. I then wandered over to look at a model railroad display with a small village. I started sketching this and just as I was about to commit to inking things in, Keith introduced himself to me. He apologized and said his cell phone had been acting up.
We walked into the exhibit through the gift shop and he got me fitted in a blue winter parka. He also gave me a pair of gloves and some hand warmer packets. He gave me a full tour of the exhibit answering my questions as we walked. ICE has huge themed rooms filled with ice sculptures. The space is insulated with Styrofoam much like a beer cooler. It is kept at a frigid 9 degrees Fahrenheit using two huge air conditioners, each of which could cool the whole hotel complex. Should one unit fail the exhibit could still run using the back up. The sculptures have to be reworked every day due to damage from being touched. He pointed out that huge blocks of colored ice were always on hand behind curtains.
After seeing all the colorful rooms I decided to return to this ice slide room with huge reindeer sculptures. There was always a crowd of people at the base of the slide and a long line of children climbing the steps to get back to the top of the slide. There was constant screaming and laughter.
Working on the sketch was a challenge. My hands immediately got cold and it became hard to bend my fingers. I decided to place the heat packs in my palms and put the gloves over them. This helped. Then when I started applying watercolors, the water began to freeze on the page. The whole sketch shimmered like an ice rink. If I re-applied color over an area the ice would flake and fall from the page. One of the workers, probably an ice sculptor, told me I should have used Vodka to do the watercolors since it does not freeze. I wanted to ask him if he happened to have some on hand but he was gone before I could gather my frozen thoughts. Keith returned and offered me a hot coco and boy did that help.
With so many amazing and colorful sculptures I really wanted to do more sketches but I could only stand the cold for this one sketch. When I exited I placed my sketch flat on a bench and let the ice melt and the colors settled onto the page. I could no longer feel my feet or hands. I stomped my feet until they started to tingle again. Ice really is an amazing experience. If you are going to sketch however, remember to bring the vodka. Ice continues to run through January 3rd.

Hand Made Holiday

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Lorri Ethridge is an artist who came to my Sketch Crawl around Lake Eola back in July. At 7 AM that morning as I sketched the sun rising near the Japanese pavilion, I could see her sitting on the dock in front of the Pavilion looking out over the lake and sketching the skyline. We talked briefly at the second stop on the Crawl which was at Panera Bread.
Several months later she sent me a message asking me if I knew Karie Brown who makes hand crafted handbags. I was thrilled to be able to bring them together. Lorri organized an event in Winter Springs called Handmade Holiday. She asked if I could stop out and document the occasion. Tables were set up in Huey Magoo’s in Winter Springs Town Center. Huey Magoo’s gave a portion of all food sales to Christmas Dreams for Children, a foundation in Christmas Florida.
The event was held inside since it was one of the first cold nights in Orlando this year. I stood and leaned back to one of the restaurant booths. The table right in front of me offered hand made teddy bears, woman’s purses and small wooden Japanese dolls. A UCF sports jersey was framed on the wall as “Art”. People who came to the event lingered perhaps not wanting to go back out in the cold or just happy to spend some time to talk to neighbors.

Get Your Paint On

On Sunday November 15th The Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Community Center on Mills Avenue and some local businesses were vandalized with anti gay messages, slurs and swastikas. Signs of this mindless hate crime were quickly removed but the damage to the community lingered. An inspired proactive event was planned to paint a rainbow mural on the side of the Center. People who showed up to this fund raising event could paint a section of the mural with a $5 donation. Funds raised went to the Centers “Secure, Restore and Continue Challenge”. The plan was to eclipse the hate with a message of understanding, acceptance and diversity. “We are not letting the vandals win by living in fear,” said Micheal Vance, Executive Director of The Center. “Instead people are becoming active in our community, in our fight for rights, and in our local organizations to ensure that the public continues to be educated that hate and discrimination hurts everyone.
When I arrived Dewey Chaffee and Douglas McGeouch were shooting video. We said our hellos and I got a warm hug. Also on hand were the Orlando Sisters who helped by holding signs out by the roadway and organizing the event in general. A family with their children arrived as I was sketching to work on the mural. The youngest boy maybe 10 years old, asked if the people doing the mural were Christians. The mother explained that they came from all walks of life. She then told him that some nasty people had painted bad things on the wall and that everyone was coming together to make a positive difference. The little boy had to stand on his tip toes to paint his section of the mural. Much later a young woman standing on a ladder said “We should also donate to the Adult Literacy League should this happen again.” She was referring to the fact that some of the damaging messages looked to have been written by a grade school drop out. It is hoped that the Orlando community will remember the good work done on this vibrant and fun day rather than the hateful crime of last month.

Help Portrait

On December 12th, over 7000 photographers in 608 locations in 58 countries collaborated with a common cause. They used their time, talent and equipment to give back to the community by giving free portraits to those in need. The organization that made this all possible is called Help Portrait. Help Portrait was founded several months ago by Jeremy Coward and the idea spread like wildfire thanks to youtube.
In Orlando about 40 photographers went to the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida to help out. The Coalition for the Homeless is more than a shelter; it is a comprehensive program designed to empower homeless men, women and children to become self-sufficient. In addition to food and shelter, the Coalition provides programs and services including education, job skills training, case management, licensed day care, child development programs and housing placement.
When I arrived at the Coalition with Tisse Mallon, we were given a quick tour of the facility by Michael Hajek and shown all the rooms that had been set up with lighting and backdrops. The rooms were small and filled with photography equipment making things cramped. Tisse set up a spot to shoot portraits outside using a large bush as a backdrop and started to work with two other photographers. My original plan was to shadow Tisse throughout the day but the thought of sketching thousands of leaves outside was to daunting. I decided to sit in this tight little room and started to sketch one of the two makeup artists. I didn’t sketch the photo shoots themselves since each shoot was over after just 15 shots and that is to a hectic pace for a sketch.
There were several news crews shooting video right from the start. They interviewed one mother who was having a family portrait taken for the first time ever. She cried as she thanked the Coalition, God and all the people who had come out to make this photo shoot possible.
In one day the Orlando photographers shot over 350 portraits. For me it was rewarding to watch the woman’s reactions when the makeup artists showed them how they looked. Amy Tacner who is the makeup artist in the first sketch, said that the makeup for a fashion photo shoot could take up to two hours. Here she listened to what each person needed and worked with them, sometimes just removing some of the shine from their skin and always spending the time to make the person feel and look special. She had an amazing rapport with each person she worked with. Everyone is unique, and beautiful, and on this day everyone was reminded of that. As photos were taken the room was filled with laughter as the photographers and their subjects worked together, joking, connecting and sharing. With so many photographers on hand they started to take pictures of each other as the flood of clients slowed. I believe the gifts given this day go far beyond the images captured. What was freely given was respect, human dignity and love. Some gifts as simple as they are to give, are priceless. On this day men and women helped change the world one portrait at a time.

Wheels for Kids

Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan organized this Holiday giveaway called Wheels for Kids. I found out about the event because Terry is a volunteer for the police Department’s mounted unit and she was asked to help out by being a pooper scooper for the police horses. Terry and I walked the distance from the horses stables to the address on Robinson street, following the horses the whole way. The horses were on hand to look like reindeer in front of the fire engine as it pulled up. The mounted officers all wore Santa hats. As the ladder truck pulled up a black Santa waved to the crowd from the ladders bucket.
An excited group of children stood in front of the middle school where the event happened. Two trucks pulled up and quickly about 95 bikes were taken out and lined up curb side. TV reporters were on hand interviewing the children. All the bikes were for children of the Orlando Housing Authorities Reeves Terrace. Each child was also fitted for a free helmet. Kids looked serious and somber as they were fitted. A police officer helped a young girl balance as she tried her bike for the first time. This is what the holidays are all about.

Christmas Tree Tent

While driving across town I stopped at Barney’s Christmas trees sales tent at the Central Florida Fairgrounds on Colonial Avenue. Trees start at $35. It was rather cold so I sat in the sun. I like the way the natural conifers blend it with the cut trees on display around and in the tent. I was almost tempted to get one but putting up a tree and then taking it right down again the next week seems like such a waste. I only saw one family buying a tree and there were plenty of trees inside so it looked tome like sales might be down. There was a large dumpster behind this tent piled high with tree branches, maybe I could do something with those? Pine needles to make a fairly good mulch. For all the Christmas themed events I have been sketching, I just haven’t been feeling in the holiday spirit. Running around town every day to do a sketch is starting to feel like work. I find the commercialization of the Holiday uninspiring.
I have heard of random acts of kindness that have bought people together. For instance some of the cast of The Singing Christmas Trees will be Caroling for Margaret, a friends mother, who is at home in Hospice care. Margaret and her daughter, Mary, used to go to The Singing Christmas Trees every year. Of course this year they were unable to go. Simple acts like this are what Christmas is all about.

Aloha Holidays


The Maitland Art Center hosted an event called Aloha Holidays. The street in front of the arts center was blocked off making way for an assortment of crafts tents and food vendors. I wandered the tents looking at all the tropical delights. My attention was immediately drawn to the music act and a fellow who had to be the real Santa Claus. His beard was real and his Hawaiian print shirt and shorts fit in nicely with the tropical theme. Periodically children of young families would pose with him.
Aloha Productions was the name of the music group and they played non stop. At one point two chairs were placed in front of the musicians and two Polynesians demonstrated how to weave a basket from palm fronds. There was a lively Hula dance demonstration as well. A Polynesian rendition of Over the Rainbow was one of the more memorable numbers. The song is very relaxing and for a moment the rush of the holidays no longer mattered. The producer of the group saw me working and he gave me his cards saying I should sketch at weddings. He said that with the economy going south, that more couples are getting married. I would have thought the opposite would be true but he should know.