"I moved to Orlando more than a dozen years ago to work for Walt Disney Feature Animation. For ten years that was a dream job. However after 9/11 the executives decided to close the Orlando studio fearing that people only wanted to see movies created with a computer. Prior to working for Disney I worked in NYC as a freelance illustrator. One of my favorite assignments was a weekly column I illustrated for the Daily News called "Undiscovered Manhattan". This column had me wandering the streets of Manhattan sketching odd historical locations. These last few years I have found myself returning to those journalistic roots. I help instruct traditional animation part time at Full Sail and the remaining time is spent sketching and producing an independent CGI short.My feeling when I first moved to Orlando was that the whole town must be like the parks, a series of false facades like on a movie set. I missed the culture and variety of New York city. I have been using my sketches to finally try and discover the real Orlando. Sketching is offering me a way to finally put down roots, to become part of a vibrant community that I am uncovering one sketch at a time. People for whatever reason always seem to want to tell me their life's story when I am sketching, so my work puts me in contact with a wide variety of people around town.
Although I have many sketchbooks on my shelves, I only started to share work on the web when I opened my newest sketchbook on a blog I started January 1st of 2009 entitled Analog Artist Digital World. This blog also has sketches I produce with a tablet PC. Starting the blog has been a joyous awakening as I meet artists from around the world. I believe the web has started a new renaissance in art, as artists share there work as it is produced with an audience all around the world. Sketching daily has also awakened in me a desire to further explore local news from an artist's perspective. I wake up every day wondering where my pen, watercolors and sketchpad will lead me next. Everyday is a safari, an adventure."
• Thor's blog.
• Thor's art on Flickr.
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13 comments:
great story, this is really strange how some people think that noone wants to see anything which is not up-to-date and "contemporary", although hand-drawn or puppet animation is more interesting thing to watch in so many ways....Well, mainstream which's been around for good two hundred years already is probably getting eventually mixed and dissolved during all this localisation of interests we're having now.... Great sketches! I can't wait to seeing more of those!
Glad you began your blog and joined USk. I am learning with you.
The sketches on your blog are just wonderful. Your obvious involvement in your community and your masterful drawings will be a great addition to USk - welcome!
"Everyday is a safari, an adventure." --- it's a wonderful message for all. Welcome!
WELCOME. You are a talented sketcher with a big heart.
I have been following your blog for a while and I'm happy to see you at Usk waiting for your posts and stories great when through drawing you have contact with others
Welcome, Mr. safari man. I´d love the see some samples of that "Undiscovered Manhattan" series.
Welcome!
Your story is a wonderful one and your eyes and past life unique. Looking forward to your posts.
Welcome!
Your work is wonderful :)
Thank you all for the warm welcome. Since I look at Urban Sketchers every day for inspiration,I have been learning everyday from your varied and expressive views of the world.
welcome to the party Thor!
Great work and good safari !
Welcome to the cultural abyss. !.5 million people and 2 art stores. Love your work though.
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