Lake Eola sculptures light up the night.

Any time I sketch at a venue in downtown Orlando, I park near Lake Eola. At night, the fountain is lit up as we r as the sculptures that were put in last year. They were put in place by an organization called See Art Orlando. This sculpture is called, “Take Flight” by Douwe Blumberg, sponsored by Darden.

Douwe was born in Los Angeles of two amateur artists, his artistic gifts were
evident early on.  During a childhood that was almost a continual art
education, he spent some formative years in Europe being exposed to
western artistic traditions.  Later he attended the University of
Southern California’s prestigious Idyllwild School of the Arts and
Music.  This was followed up with four years of sculpture/metal working
education during which he won many national awards.  His education was
capped by an apprenticeship at a CA art foundry where he mastered the
many facets of creating bronzes.  Hence his “art education” consisted of
a unique and healthy mix of traditional schooling with hands-on
apprenticeship.  He attributes his ability to work in varied techniques
and styles to this style of learning.

Upon graduation however, he did not immediately pursue an art
career.  Instead, he became a professional horse trainer, a career he
pursued for 18 years at his ranch outside of L.A.  Gradually, however,
he started sculpting again, albeit part time, and began accepting
commissions.  As demand for his work grew, he was forced to choose
between the two careers; his lifelong passion of sculpting won out. 
Closing his barn in 2000, he relocated to centrally located Kentucky
where he has a studio and home north of Lexington.  Douwe has completed
well over 200 private and public commissions and has numerous awards,
residencies and shows to his credit.