Friends
On the road again & high school fun! – December 23rd, 2016
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Dec.23, 2016, under Friends, What's New?
I’m back on the road!I was off delivering cards within minutes of leaving Muffler Man of Apopka, Complete Auto Repair around 5pm. Thank you, Dray Coggin, for getting me out so fast so I could do more Christmas card deliveries!!!
One stop was to my Orlando High School Christmas Alumni gathering in College Park (Orlando). Passed along a few cards there. Here I am with Denise Lappe and Allison Campbell Thurston.
Allison and I were one of the few to be chosen at Edgewater H.S. to start a part-time job drawing caricatures (for me) and portraits (for her). We were literally pulled from the quiet life of school and thrown into the eager, hungry jaws of the tourism industry.
Jim Ivey – The gang’s all here! – December 22nd, 2016
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Dec.22, 2016, under Friends
There was a Christmas gathering today in Apopka, Florida, to spend a bit of time with friend and cartooning legend, Jim Ivey.
Jim is one of the founders of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. He was a poltical cartoonist for the Washington Star, St Petersburg Times and the Orlando Sentinel Star. He started The Cartoon Museum in St Petersburg and moved it to Orlando as he moved onto the local newspaper in 1970. The Cartoon Museum was more a comic book store, showcase of cartoon art spanning the past century and a hangout for Jim and pals to play cards and smoke cigars. If that sheet music has a hint of cigar, that’s why. Shortly after the move to Orlando, he started the Orlando Con, which was eventually sold and later became the massive MegaCon today.
Jim was and is still famous for giving away as much as he sold comics and cartoon books, toys and original artwork. I bought tons from Jim during the time of his store and was given almost as much. Jim is 91.
Dinner with a lot of Friends! – November 14th, 2016
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Nov.14, 2016, under Friends
Former classmates and drawings at a Victory Party! – November 8th, 2016
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Nov.09, 2016, under Caricatures, Cartooning, Friends
It was great to see Lynette & Suzette Duncan Weddington at a party Tuesday night. I think the last time the three of us were together was during a play we did at Edgewater High School, ‘Dirty Work at the Crossroads’. Unlike myself, Lynette and Suzette have not changed a bit. Stephen Orth, who played the dastardly bad guy, likely remembers that triumph of us thespians! 
😀
Otherwise, I volunteered my bit of humorous illustrative life coaching.
With some pals – October 25th, 2016
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Oct.25, 2016, under Friends
With Marion County Commissioner David Moore, party leader Paul Skinner and Commissioner Stan McClain this evening. Great guys all!
I attended the Florida Springs Restoration Summit & here are photos!
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Oct.02, 2016, under Florida Outdoors!, Friends
It’s fellow artist Johnny Dame, graphic artist & fellow Florida history nut Rick Kilby and me.
Spent most of Saturday helping out at the Florida Springs Restoration Summit in Ocala, Florida. Got to help out with an event involving such an important subject as protecting our water for us now and future generations. The success of keeping our Florida water clean will save taxpayers tons of money. American taxpayers are already spending ridiculous sums of money trying to fix our water problems. Goal should be not to put us in this position in the first place. As our water goes bad, business stops being created and people stop moving to Florida. Desalinization is not an option. Neither practical or cost effective, as we’ve learned the hard way. Being excellent stewards of our natural resources will save us all.
I also got to spend time with friends and make some great connections.
Here are photos from the event!
David Simmons has done a lot to help our water troubles. If only more would follow him.
A view across the room of the conference.
John Dunn, Silver Springs Alliance board member (in yellow), asks the panel a question.
Another view of the room. that’s David Bottomley (in black) in the foreground, who filmed most of the summit.
A panoramic view of the room during the action!
September 10th, 2015 – Evening Political Pow-Wow!
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Sep.10, 2015, under Friends
Been meeting writing gags and talk in’ politics at a Steak ‘n Shake in Winter Park, Florida, with Robert Bauerle and Ken Culotta. Ken’s son Chris came along with Ken. Old pal Richard Bazzo and his wife happened to be at the restaurant. Great to see and talk to Richard for awhile.
April 7th, 2015 – My Stan Freberg Remembrance and Tribute!
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Apr.07, 2015, under Friends
December 23rd, 2014 – Christmas Dinner Artwork!
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Dec.23, 2014, under Buddies, Cartooning, Friends
Had dinner last night with fellow cartoonist George Pieper and his wife Noreen at Sammy’s Italian Restaurant in Ocala, Florida. George nabbed a photo of me whipping up a painted ornament for them. Did you know the perfect paint for Santa’s suit is spaghetti sauce?
December 23rd, 2014 – Christmas stop in Ocala!
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Dec.23, 2014, under Cartooning, Friends
Dropped this off to my pal Robin in Ocala. She being a science fiction fan gave me the rare opportunity to draw a Yuletide intergalactic scene!
The drawing was to also answer the age old question: Does Santa wear his space helmet with his beard in or out? Space air does wonders for Santa’s beard!
On the #drawing board: Caricatures Saturday night along Lake Weir!
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Sep.14, 2014, under Caricatures, Friends
Drew for a number of hours for my friend Lisa Saupp’s family event along Lake Weir in Ocklawaha, Florida. An unusual event for me to do these days since I pretty much don’t draw at events with young people. I made an exception in that Lisa is a great friend and a HUGE help recently for my Swampy’s Florida and helping me do more in protecting Florida’s natural areas and saving taxpayer money.
(Gonna try to get back to more regular postings of art, if I can not have weeks like the past one! 🙂 )
