Held on the last night of the week long Winter Park Paint Out, the Paint Out Garden Party was held at the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens. Tickets were $100, but exhibiting artists were allowed to bring one guest for free. Guests were dressed in cabaña chic/garden cocktail attire which in Orlando means the usual informal ware. I decided immediately that I wanted to sketch the band called The Gazebros.
Pam arrived and we go a few drinks and bites and then I got to work. She explored and found the other food stations around the property. My favorite dish was a very basic Mac and Cheese. I ate one heaping plate as I sketched. As an artist, the breaks between songs felt like an eternity. The band’s covers like Simon and Garfunkel‘s “The Boxer” were recognizable and nostalgic. As the sun set, the light grew golden. Much later in the evening I saw the band playing in the dark. This scene with the iPads illuminating the singers was the scene I wish I had sketched. Hopefully I can catch this band again at a night time gig.
Inside the “Wet Gallery” none of my sketches had sold. Other artists had sold 8 to 10 pieces already. This wasn’t a competition, but I certainly need the cash. I decided to slash prices from $800 a piece to $600 per piece. Organizer Hal Stringer changed the prices with a magic marker. Pam and I stood near the work to answer any questions and to joke with prospective buyers. Pam is a natural at talking to people and telling stories about how each piece was created. Several of the artists came up to my work to point out that they were in the paintings. I think that the other artists liked what I was doing although it wasn’t Plein Air oil painting. Hal Stringer started pointing out several pieces to a friend and then he let me know that he had bought my painting of Man Carving His Own Destiny. Although only one piece sold, I can take solace in the fact that a true art expert bought my work.
When My sketch was done, we did the rounds to see what food remained. The Mac and Cheese had run out. Pam had found some amazing extra peanutty peanut butter cookies. Unfortunately those had been devoured as well. This is the disadvantage of sketching while most guests are eating. I had to satiate myself with one more sangria.