Top 10 Posts of 2010 (As picked by AADW Readers)

The Top Post is…


1. Thor Sketches the Audience With 38% of the votes.

2. 67 Books With 19% of the votes.

3. Two Hearts One Love With 16% of the votes.



4.East Orange Shooting Sports With 16% of the votes.

5. Turned Away from the Holy Land (Again) With 13% of the votes.



6. Boudoir Bombshells With 8% of the votes.

7. FRESH – The Coffee Mound With 5% of the votes.

8. The Artist is Present With 5% of the votes.



9. Triathlon With 5% of the votes.



10. Orlando Improv Festival With 2% of the votes.

11. This wouldn’t be a daily sketch blog if I didn’t include a recent sketch. This one is of the Mounted Police Unit Barn right before the Citrus Bowl Parade. This year I once again rode with the Pooper Scooper Brigade! More to come… Happy New Year.

SWAMI World Traveler

Infusion Tea (1600 Edgewater Drive, College Park) hosted a talk by Swami about his world travels. Frankie Messina acted as the MC for the Soft Exposure event. After studying his notes for the longest time he stood behind the mic and read a poem to start off the evening. He then introduced Swami who he had first met in 1996 at the Florida Film Festival. Swami began his talk with an image of a car crash. He had been working as a computer animator for years when a car crash caused him to re-evaluate what he wanted from life and he began traveling the world.

One of his stories was particularly compelling. He traveled to Hiroshima Japan and visited the A-Bomb Dome. The first day he went as a typical tourist soaking in facts and figures about this building which had been kept in its original condition after the atom bomb was dropped on the city. The next day he returned, intent on finding out what the monument meant to the people of Hiroshima. His broken Japanese made approaching people difficult but he persisted. “Sumimasen. Konnichiwa…” He finally spoke to a Japanese woman who was willing to share her views in her broken English. She saw the building as a symbol of peace. She asked him the same question in return and he had to admit he saw it as a symbol of devastation. She looked to the future while he looked to the past. He said he hoped t0 one day see the building as a symbol of peace as well. An old man overheard the conversation and he asked Swami if he was American. The old man lived as a child on the outskirts of Hiroshima. He vividly remembered seeing the yellow orange glow on the horizon that day. Swami expressed his wish for eternal peace and the old man warmly replied, “You good man.” They had their picture taken together both men with their hands raised with the peace sign and the dome in the background.

Christmas Lights

This outlandish display is located at 5651 Garden Grove Circle just off Howell Branch Road East of 436. When I arrived to sketch the sun was just beginning to set. It was a beautiful warm day. As soon as I started to sketch, the owner of the home behind me asked, “Are you a surveyor?” I laughed and explained I was an artist. I had about half an hour of daylight which I used to sketch in the rough outlines of the composition. There was a couple working adding more lights and lawn ornaments while I sketched. The woman finally had to see what I was up to. Her name was Betty and her husband’s name was Rob Peterson. They have been putting up this display for the past 18 years. “Of course it started on a much smaller scale and grew over the years.” said Betty.

When darkness settled in, Rob was busy pounding in “No Parking signs on his neighbors lawn. Then he bought out orange traffic cones. It turns out he has a traffic pattern well thought out in advance which keeps cars moving in a counter clockwise flow around the circular court which avoids any problems. The lights flickered on in large chunks until the display was blinding. Cars kept arriving and children and adults piled out to get a close up view of the display. I should have counted all the Santa’s that were on the lawn. There were at least 6 Santa’s riding on the Ferris wheel alone. Christmas music played softly in the background.

When I packed up and left I was shocked to find that many of the neighbors had played at “keeping up with the Jones’s.” One lawn was just as outlandish as the next. A garage was open and a small town was crafted inside . The next house specialized in lawn inflatables. I haven’t done anything with my house yet. I might light a single candle and put it in my front window on Christmas Eve.

Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse Rhythm Circle

I went to Tanqueray’s downtown thinking I might sketch Bad Santa and the Dirty Elves. When I got to the bar there was no Santa and no Elves. I decided to order a beer and sketch the bar so the night wasn’t a total waste. The woman across from me had on a Santa hat and she was boxing her partner with Rockum Sockum Pez dispensers. Besides myself there were only four patrons in the bar. I thought I recognized one of the women to my left but I couldn’t place her. As she got up to leave she stopped by to say hello. Turns out she is a Facebook friend named Jessica Pawli. She informed me that there was to be a full Lunar eclipse that night. Dandelion Communitea Cafe was having a Rhythm Circle to celebrate the eclipse. How is it I didn’t know about this? I downed the last sip of my beer and immediately headed over to Dandelion.

It was a cold crisp night and the full moon was bright. The hum from several Buddhist bowls resonated right down to my bones as I approached Dandelion. Christmas lights were strung up in the trees. A hot fire pit warmed the people who sat close. Some people kept their eyes closed as they rocked and swayed to the beat. I sat near a flood light which allowed me to see my sketchbook. Everyone had an instrument of some kind. There were flutes, guitars, tablas , didgeridoos, maracas, and a wide assortment of drums. I hummed along to the entrancing sound and rhythms. A drummer sat next to me and said, “Hey Thor.” I didn’t recognize him at first but then he told me I had sketched his band called “The Manteis Project.” He informed me that I had sketched him in two locations in the same sketch. We laughed. His son crawled into his lap and he enfolded him inside his coat. The boy, tough snug, lost patience and he ran off to play with friends. “Thanks for the quick visit.” he said as his son disappeared. It was obvious that he wished he could have held his son longer.

A beautiful woman stood by the fire playing a large flat moon of a drum. With her flowing robe and cloth headdress she very much looked like a romantic shaman as she celebrated the Yule festivities. I was told the last time there was a Lunar Eclipse on the Winter Solstice was 300 years ago. This was a once in a lifetime happening and I was celebrating the best way I knew how, with a sketch. The eclipse started well after midnight and the moon slowly turned a mysterious blood red. Slips of paper were available to write down thoughts and feelings that you might want to purge from your life. I filled out a slip and placed it in the fire. I watched as it withered and turned to glowing orange embers. I warmed my hands in the open flames and then started another sketch. I was shocked when my cell phone vibrated in my pocket calling me away from the festival of light. My sketchbook thankfully still smells of burnt wood and incense.

Christmas Day

As we went to bed the night before Christmas, Terry stood at the foot of our bed as I crawled under the covers and fluffed my pillow. I curled up on my side and she was still standing there staring and smiling . “What?” I asked. “Is there something on my face. I slapped my forehead 3 Stooges style and wiped. She just kept smiling like a little girl. It looked like she might burst. She couldn’t stand it any longer, she said, “Look under your pillow.” There was a small flat present there. It was after midnight so officially it was Christmas day. I sat up and unwrapped it. She had given me a “Toy Story 3” DVD. The next day we both watched the movie as our Christmas dinner cooked. I had seen the movie in the theater so I knew what I was in for. Even so, I got all choked up at the end when the story ‘s theme became clear… be there for someone, no matter what. Odd that some computer generated toys should open my heart to life’s lessons of commitment and unquestioning love. That caring selflessly about someone else’s happiness is more important than worrying about if they care about you and you are never abandoned if you have friends.

Other presents consisted of a fog free shower mirror for shaving and a warm silk sweater. I gave Terry a nice silver bracelet and a beautiful pink and purple hairpiece from a local artisan named Karie Brown. Terry wore the hairpiece and bracelet all day. Basting the turkey took all day as well. We thawed the turkey in a plastic chlorine bucket outside. Every 15 minutes the water had to be dumped out and new water added with a hose. I planned to relax and I sat outside near the bucket all morning. I simply watched the clouds roll by. There were no plans to sketch any cultural events. I could spent the whole day relaxing with Terry.

When she began preparations for our private Thanksgiving style dinner, I couldn’t resist the urge to sketch anymore. I caught her as she pealed and cut the onions causing her eyes to burn with tears. Zorro our pet cockatoo supervised her every move and he eyed me with curiosity as I sketched him. I set the dining room table with our fine china and silverware. I was watching “Christmas Story” when the turkey came out of the oven at about 7pm and I began carving it up. The stuffing tasted amazing and I kept stealing tastes as we bought out all the dishes. By the end of our meal we were both stuffed and close to comatose. “It seems to me some fine things have been laid upon your table, but you only want the things you can’t have…” Once again Desperado was ringing in my head. I believe we both felt grateful and happy to spend a whole day together. For once I wasn’t running around seeking out others who love their life and work. I had time to appreciate what I had at home.

The next morning was cold and windy but I had to go for my 3 mile run to get my blood pumping, feeling bloated from yesterday’s feast. I wore a sweatshirt and baggy yoga pants to stay warm. I passed a young boy learning to ride an 8 foot high unicycle which he must have gotten for Christmas. He never fell but the winds kept pushing him around precariously. The entire run out the wind was in my face stinging my lungs. How is it then that the wind was in my face on the entire run back? I passed another runner going the other way in nothing but a tee shirt and shorts. We nodded to one another. I actually saw my breath. I began to loose my will to run in the last quarter mile or so, but then I ran across pine needles which cushioned my steps. It was like a golden sienna carpet laid down for me. I imagined myself as a steam engine and in my mind I stoked the fire so it would burn brighter. For the first time I realized the street I start and stop my run at is called Windjammer Lane. I sprinted towards it knowing full well the only race I had to win was in my head.

Jingle Bell Run / Walk

The Jingle Bell Run / Walk took place early in the morning Saturday December 18th. A section of Broad Street was blocked off where all the runners gathered. I knew I was in the right place when I heard loud Christmas music. Many runners were festively dressed in red and green. The group I decided to sketch were wearing shopping bags that said, “Do not peek.” The bags had Santa’s and snowmen as decoration. Apparently parrot heads were a big sponsor of the event. One man wore an amazing parrot costume that made him look like a macaw. Some people jogged down side streets to stay warm and everyone stretched their calves and midsections. There were more than a few dogs there as well and they had costumes as well. When the starting horn sounded I was still busy sketching, as usual struggling to keep up with the fast pace of life.

Funds raised by the event went to the Arthritis Foundation.I was walking back to my truck when the first runners crossed the 5K finish line. I drove around Lake Baldwin which allowed me to watch the runners on the course. It started to rain and I found the roads to bring me home.

Christmas Eve at Unity

After a relaxing afternoon shopping on Park Avenue in Winter Park and a free concert at the Morse museum, Terry and I went to a candle light service at Unity Church (4801 Clarcona Ocoee Road.) Parked in front of the church was an interesting character on a souped up bicycle with a long chopper styled front wheel assembly straight out of “Easy Rider” and a sign that said “No Trespassing.” It took amazing restraint to not start sketching right there. The church’s warm inviting interior beckoned and we went inside. Red Poinsettias were everywhere. Reverend Bob Marshal told everyone to unwrap a paper message which had been fastened to the base of each persons candle like a fortune cookie. Terry’s fortune read, “I am aglow with the spirit of God.” This theme of an inner light was repeated several times that night.

Music celebrated the joy of the occasion. A husband and wife performed a duet and there were a number of beautiful solos. I loved the performance of “O Holy Night.” Something in the singers beautiful voice when she sang, “o night divine”, struck me and lifted me up. It was nice standing beside Terry singing Christmas Carols. It reminded me of the times she used to go caroling on the streets of NYC with a Medieval Choral group. I loved sketching those freezing cold outings.

There was a large display of candles in front of the pulpet which congregation members would light one at a time. Once a candle was lit the igniting candle would be passed to another member of the congregation and they would light the next candle in line. Each candle represented a different apostle. I was fascinated that an apostle named Bartholomeus was considered the apostle of imagination. So many of the themes expressed celebrated creativity and a glowing sense of goodwill that can be realized when that inner light is ignited and shared. The final song of the evening was “Silent Night” and Reverend Bob suggested we all keep repeating the first verse. That way we didn’t have to worry about the words, and the song would almost become a sacred chant. Everyone stood arm in arm and swayed to the gentle lyrics. From a single candle, a flame was shared and slowly the room filled with light. The reverend said,”The light that shines in each of us is the gift of Christmas.” Merry Christmas and help spread the light and joy today and always.

The Nativity Story

As I drove North on I-4 I got nervous about going to Pinocchio’s Puppet Theater since I figured the Altamonte Mall must be packed since it was the last shopping weekend before Christmas. Surprisingly it was easy to find parking and it wasn’t too crowded in the mall. When I got to Pinocchio’s I slipped in past the velvet rope. Sarah Lockhard and Heather Henson were manipulating several puppets, just finishing up a rehearsal. Along the side wall of the theater there was a trio of medieval performers with recorders, a vi0lin and mandolin. They were the Olde Noyse Trio. The recorder player glanced over at me while I sketched. He said, “Your Tom aren’t you? I played recorders with your wife Terry.”

The puppet show began with the annunciation as an angel appeared before Mary telling her she would immaculately conceive a child. The Mary puppet was manipulated by Sarah Lockhard who panted in surprise upon seeing the angel. Mary was no more than a foot high. Joseph who was much older than Mary had a difficult time believing Mary was with child. The truth was reveled in a dream. Some children squirmed, not understanding all aspects of the story.

When the Nativity Story was complete, Sean Keohane stood at the set alter an announced that they would set up the manger scene again so children could get a closer look, and parents could take pictures. A little boy shouted out, “I want to see the baby!” When I inspected the puppets up close, a pupeteer took one of the three Magi’s and she started lifting his skirt. “This is my favorite part.” she said. Neatly sewn on the Magi’s butt was a cloth label that read, Jim Henson’s Workshop.

Wheels 4 Kids Distribution

The bicycle distribution took place in front of Howard Middle School which is on Robinson just East of North Summerlin Avenue. Coming from another appointment, I arrived late. I wasn’t in the best of moods. I was honestly annoyed and impatient. I didn’t waste a moment. I just leaned against a tree with the full sun warming me as I worked. The wind kept blowing the sketchbook closed till I finally clipped one of my pens on the flapping page to keep it in place. I couldn’t see the Mounted Police horses though I knew they must be around. Children’s names were being called over a megaphone and I heard Santa chuckling in good will. A policeman kept signaling passing cars to slow down. He had to shout at times in annoyance at SUV drivers who were in a mad rush.

Patricia Charpentier walked up to me and said, “I knew I would find you on the periphery here.” I showed her my sketch which only had a light blue sky washed in. She picked up several prints I had done for the LifeSketch project. This particular LifeSketch was going to be about how her parents met. Two young boys were yelling with joy behind me as they tested their new bikes on the school’s running track. Patricia pointed out a little girl who was riding her tiny pink bike with training wheels and a mini child seat for a doll. She was adorable as she tried to keep up with her mothers long strides. My foul mood melted. How could I remain angry when faced with so much goodwill? Firemen posed for a group photo in front of the “Wheels 4 Kids” banner. They shouted out “Merry Christmas!” and the photographer pressed the shutter button. The Mounted Police Horses clomped in front of me. Kelly one of the volunteers riding tapped her butt and asked me if I had sketched her. I was being jokingly reminded that I had let those proportions get a bit wide in a previous sketch. Last year 94 bikes were given away and this year around 64 bikes were distributed. Perhaps people can give less but they still give. I was still sketching as the truck pulled away and people scattered.

Wheels for Kids

As I approached Fire Station 1 on foot, I saw that all the trucks were parked out front leaving the cavernous new garage as a Christmas workspace. The firemen were working like greased lightning busily constructing some 68 bikes for children in need this holiday season. These guys know how to use a wrench and I had to struggle to catch the fleeting gestures as the bikes were built. I set my stool up at the base of the fireman’s pole and immediately got to work. One fireman spoke to me for a few minutes. He said they love getting the chance to build these bikes each year. This is the ninth year in a row that bikes have been given away. The program began in 2002 when school bus routes were canceled from Reeves Terrace to several downtown schools due to budget cuts. Commissioner Patty Sheehan wanted to find a way to ensure children had bikes to travel safely to school.

The fireman pointed out that they have to decide each year who gets to build the bikes and who gets to give them away. Jokingly he confided that perhaps it is the “pretty boys” who give the bikes away. He took great pride in how quickly he could build a bike however. In about a week the bikes will be given away to children in Reeves Terrace community. Each bike is custom built with a specific needy child’s name on it. I sketched this outpouring of goodwill last year and I can’t wait to sketch it again this year. The Orlando Mounted Police escort a firetruck which acts as Santa’s sleigh. The huge police horses act as reindeer. Watching a little girl wobbling on her new bike then gaining balance with the help of a fireman is a heart warming image that still lingers with me.

“We take a lot of pride in the holiday spirit this event brings to kids and families who need it most. Nearly 700 bikes have been distributed through our Wheels for Kids program thanks to dedicated sponsors, civic leadership and community commitment.” said Commissioner Sheehan.