Paint the Town, Orlando Magazine

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"Red Sunset" is a painting I really enjoyed painting. Working from photos of a couple different sunsets with red skies and ocean, the subdivisions of the canvas allowed me to include parts of each photo, increasing the dynamic tension of the finished work. I originally painted it for a themed show in Sanford called 'Everything Red'. But I continue to add to this series I like to call 'Horizons'. Watch for other pieces in this series.
This piece has been accepted into the 11th annual "Paint The Town Art Show" Orlando magazine is partnering with Gallery at Avalon Island to host an exhibition March 21 – April 12, 2013. It will showcase art that best represents Orlando and its environs — the artist's vision of Central Florida in their mind’s eye, whether it be through sculpture, painting (from cityscapes to abstract), drawing, photography, mixed media, folk art, or work that incorporates found objects. The Opening Reception will be in conjunction with the Downtown Third Thursday Art Gallery Crawl, March 21, 2013, 6-9 p.m.

Nemours Hospital, Orlando

A few weeks ago I was fortunate to attend a tour of the new Nemours Children's Hospital that recently opened in Orlando. It is an amazing building. The treatment and clinic specialties are located on the same floor, as the inpatients with the same needs, which is a great idea. Even when the kids are discharged they can still return to the same floor for follow up treatments, check-ups and services. 
Each floor is themed and familiar to those kids. The photo above is the directory map, which pops up to be more engaging to the children. It is a cool idea.
Here is a link to the hospital website which has more images and information, and a video tour of the facility: http://www.nemours.org/content/nemours/wwwv2/locations/florida/nch.html

Learning Judo Helped Me Fall Safely

I have lived with a mild physical challenge all my life, now and then I may share my experiences and  hope to connect with others who have physical challenges like mine in their lives. My particular prognosis is Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSH or FSHD) leaving some of my muscles very weak, which translates into some balance issues as I get older. Here is the link to Muscular Dystrophy Association of America.
Living with a physical challenge means I have always been terrible at sports, but I needed one Phys Ed credit to graduate college. So when a dorm buddy asked me to enroll in Judo 101 with him, I said sure. (I can get a D just as easily in one sport as another, so what the heck!)
The first semester of Judo meant we spent 2 hours 2 nights a week for 16 weeks practicing falling. (Who Knew?) So we practiced to relax, look around as you kicked your leg out from under you with your other leg, tuck and roll.  Landing safely on that mat became second nature. I never took a second semester where we would have started to learn how to throw people, but got the credit I needed.
Over the years my balance got a bit worse, but until a few years ago, I never broke anything.
I even fell head first down a flight of stairs at home twice in 20 years, stood up and walked away, and only got a few bruises. It was some of the best training I could have received, to prepare me to fall, on occasion, for the rest of my life.

Italian Landscape Paintings

I love mixing colors, and these two paintings show my typical style. Dividing the image gives me the opportunity to show the changing light in a single canvas. It provides more animation and keeps your mind from resting on one single point in the painting. These two Italian landscapes of mine are in the "Hearts and Flowers Art Show" in the event room at TASTE Restaurant.
There is a lot of great art you can purchase. The Show runs through April 1st.  TASTE Restaurant 717 W. Smith Street, College Park, Fl 32803, Their weebsite link is Taste Caribbean Restaurant

The Peabody Ducks

The Peabody Orlando Hotel is an elegant building, as many high end hotels in Orlando, but it is the ducks in the lobby fountain that make it special for me. The story on the cocktail napkin from the bar, occurred originally at the first hotel they opened in Memphis. At 5pm when they roll out a red carpet from the fountain to the elevators, the ducks immediately step up on the fountain rim. They start drying off, and preening themselves for the march back to the roof palace in which they spend their evenings. Always fun to watch, but get there an hour early or sooner if you want to get a seat!

Oceola ArtsAlive HS Showcase

I was honored last night to be a part of the judging of the talented Osceola high school students. We had over 35 students submitting typically 5 paintings, drawings or mixed media. There is a growing  number of digital works, which was new to me. We spent about 5 minutes with each student, and then another 5 filling out the evaluation sheets. Once we finished we had to look at the whole collection and select about 40 pieces for the Exhibit. The selected pieces are well beyond the high school level I remembered from my youth, these are very professional works, so come and prepare to be impressed.

The Arts Alive Fine & Performing Arts Showcase will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, in the evening, so be sure to mark that date on your calendars! Arts Alive will be held in the auditorium at St. Cloud High School. It is an absolutely gorgeous facility and I’m looking forward to the showcase of exemplary student talent there.

Performing Arts will be showcased in the auditorium, and the Visual Arts Exhibit will be displayed in the Lobby.The showcase is a program of the Osceola Arts for a Complete Education Coalition and is in its 19th year. http://Facebook.com/OsceolaACE

Dr Phillips PAC Webcam

Don't forget to watch the progress of our new Dr. Phillips Performing Art Center Online Webcam. You can view the history of the construction and learn fun facts, and see other cool photos. Here is the link:

http://www.drphillipscenter.org/progress/webcam

I can't wait to buy season tickets. And see my first show there!