Rob's Blog

Tag: Florida History!

March 21st, 2012 – Orlando Remembered and sketches.

by on Mar.25, 2012, under Florida History!, Friends, Sketchbook

  

Was at our Orlando Remembered meeting on Wednesday. Here are sketches I made during the meeting. Below is a photo of some of the gang during our meeting. From right to left: Chariman Bill Milligan, Bob Buck, Betty Bandy, Hillis Bandy, Robert Serros, Claude Hunter, Claude H. Wolfe and Steve Rajtar.

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October 10th, 2011 – Step-by-Step Pioneer Days painting.

by on Oct.10, 2011, under Florida History!, Illusration, What's New?

Above is the prepped version of the illustration for watercolor. This is an illustration for the Pine Castle Pioneer Days. It’ll be used for the poster, sign and other collateral materials.

This is the watercolored version.

Here is the finished version.

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October 2nd, 2011 – Peace River Park

by on Oct.06, 2011, under Florida History!, Florida Outdoors!, What's New?

It was park day last Sunday, October 2nd. It was also the 121st birthday of Groucho Marx. A trip to Homeland Heritage Park and Mosaic Peace River Park was in store. Had a great time with Terisa Glover and Sparky as we traversed the area of Homeland, Florida. More photos of the trip will show up at Swampy’s Florida.

It was from the boardwalk at Peace River Park that I drew the sketch above. Below is video of part of the sketch.

Above is a photo of the natural wonder you can take in at Peace River Park.

Here’s a church, which is part of the Homeland Heritage Park.

I later ran over to the week old opened Marshall Hampton Reserve near Lake Hancock in Lakeland. There’s a photo of that soon to appear on the Swampy’s Florida site. My non-Swampy photos didn’t turn out well. Very wild there. Posted as open to foot and equine travelers and apparently to bikers, who nearly ran me down.

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May 2nd, 2011 – Sketchin’!

by on May.04, 2011, under Sketchbook

While attending the Marion County Historical Commission meetings, I made use of pen and paper….

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March 29th, 2011 – Swampy’s Florida 1st Coloring Book!

by on Mar.29, 2011, under Cartooning, Florida Attractions, Florida History!, Florida Outdoors!, Swampy's Florida, Various, What's New?

This Friday, April, 1st, is the debut of the new Swampy’s Florida: Lakeland coloring book at The General Store as part of Downtown Lakeland’s First Friday event.

The coloring book has lots to color and learn about Lakeland’s history and great places to visit. I was able to price the coloring book at $3. If you’re in the area come by and say HI! and get a free drawing between 6 to 9pm.

All of this happening at a store that I think every town should have, The General Store. You can’t miss the rocking chairs outside! Also, if you haven’t met Downtown Lakeland’s infamous Sparky at The General Store, now’s your chance! By the way, that’s Sparky in the middle on the cover.

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June 21st, 2010 – More Books!

by on Jun.21, 2010, under Books, Florida History!, Friends

2010-0311-book-dadeslastcom 2010-0330-book-separationof 2010-0506-book-lincolnlawye 2010-0409-book-nightofthund 2010-0400-book-briefhistever 2010-0603-book-blackwaterso 2010-0516-book-truetailsofe 2010-0514-book-nuclearjelly 2010-0607-book-crackerflori1 2010-0611-book-dreadfullemo 2010-0620-book-peltsplumesa

WOW! I got behind posting the books I’ve read! This should catch is up. To date, this year, I’ve got 25 under my belt.

Here’s this list:
Dade’s Last Command : The non-fiction story of Francis Dade and his soldiers in 1835 and the massacre that followed that started the 2nd Seminole War. Excellent!

Separation of Power: Vince Flynn’s 3rd novel of Mitch Rapp and his war on terrorism. Not the best of the series that I’ve read yet.

The Lincoln Lawyer: A fellow cartoonist recommended author Michael Connelly, so I read this. Maybe I should read another…

Night of Thunder: I continue to read a few contemporary authors and continue to be disappointed. This would have been OK, if I hadn’t figured out the ‘Big Twist’ as soon as the character was introduced.

A Brief History of the Everglades City Area: Good stories, but could have used some fleshing out. The stories are a bit too short. I’m just glad this volume got put together to help document the area in Collier County.

Blackwater Sound: Back to Florida fiction and James W. Hall does it again. I’d put off reading this for a few years and it was great riding an adventure with Thorn again.

True Tales of the Everglades: A fine collection of stories by an author who knows them.

Nuclear Jellyfish: A fun Serge Storm’s story as the serial killer continues his hilarious mayhem across our state of Florida.

Cracker Florida: Don’t know what author Washington was thinking, but most all profiled in this volume are not Crackers. All of the stories are about folks in later years in Florida and what happened from their time moving to Florida or the few with a lifetime here.

The Dreadful Lemon Sky: I bought my friend Jeremy a copy of this book when it struck me it had been 30 years since I read it. So I read it again. WOW! What a difference part of a lifetime makes. Still one of my favorite books, but my understanding and working knowledge of Florida really assisted me in appreciating the story.

Pelts, Plume and Hides – White Traders among the Seminole Indians 1870 – 1930: An excellent examination of the Semino0le and Mikasuki people and their interaction in terms of trade with the white man during the years stated. Terrific book!

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October 28, 2009 – Lykes Cows!

by on Oct.28, 2009, under Florida History!

2009-1028-lykescowsSandra and I working on a project in Glades County in South Florida. Part of that was getting with Charlie Lykes with Lykes Brothers. He gave a wonderful interview of the history of the company. The interview was conducted in one of the oldest buildings on their property. A very cool early 1940’s cabin that looks nearly contemporary. The results of our interviews will be available later next month.

Afterward I sketched a few cows on the property.

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April 15, 2009 – Orlando Remembered & Tea Party Art!

by on Apr.22, 2009, under Florida History!, What's New?

2009-0415-orrem-group

I was at the monthly Orlando Remembered meeting. Above is Duke Crittenden, Tana Porter, Charles Gray and Mayor Carl Langford. Below is a new comer, Melanie King, whose Grandfather designed the former Orange County Courthouse that the history museum is now using. Here Melanie King get’s the opening poster of the museum from museum curator, Sarah Van Arsdel.2009-0415-orrem-king

2009-0415-teapartysign

I drew a lot of signs during the Orlando Tea Party. Here is one. For more photos of crowds and such click here at Rob’s Right.

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