Don Getz to Journal in Florida Part 3: \The Odyssey\""

Od·ys·sey
noun, ( often lowercase ) a long series of wanderings or adventures, especially when filled with notable experiences, hardships, etc.

I spoke with Don Getz recently, and as he was describing his journaling workshop experience out on the road, he mentioned the word, odyssey. When I hear the word, I always think of the movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey, which was filmed back in 1968, about space travel and alien beings. Then, I thought about how this trip, while not in outer space, is it very much an awesome adventure. Don has set out on this mega road trip that lasts a full year. This is not your normal everyday vacation. Don has already had a large share of “notable experiences, as well as, a couple of hardships during the first half of his trip. He was in the New England area when Hurricane Sandy left so much devastation behind. Don had to ultimately change directions and alter his plans. He also had an unfortunate run in with a curb one night and had to have some work done on his van. This threw him off of schedule a couple of weeks, as it turned out. But, in all, the tour has been full of adventure to say the least.

How many of us would take on such an “odyssey”? This long series of wanderings filled with notable experiences? Most of us do not have the opportunity to take off for a year to travel. We have families at home, jobs, daily responsibilities that somewhat “tie” us down to a normal life. However, Don is fulfilling a dream and working as well, conducting workshops as he goes. This allows him to travel while sharing his experience and knowledge with others along the way!

Currently, Don is still having fun in the sun and has been to the Southeastern most tip of America, The Florida Keys. As he winds down his winter haven visit, Don will be heading west and by the end of March will be moving into Louisiana. While Don is still enjoying all of the sites and plentitude of views to sketch, he will soon have to say good bye to the wonderful people of Florida. Don has traveled thoroughly throughout the state during his three month stay and he has plenty of sketches to prove it.

MEXICO BEACH, FL Mar. 11-13 (Monday – Wednesday) 850-648-5126 / Peggy
PENSACOLA, FL Mar. 20-21-22 (Wednesday – Friday) 850-471-1150 / Marsha
LAFAYETTE, LA Mar. 25-26-27 (Monday – Wednesday) 337-654-2325 / Cecilla

Florida Groups

Week of Feb 5:

The last ten days have. Gone very fast… First Key West then Key Largo… All fun in the sun !  Now in winter Haven,  then back to Palm Coast!

In this, my fifth journal of the odyssey, it covers “Alligator Alley”, to Naples, Bartow, to Winter Haven- back to Palm Coast. A return for more sketching in St. Augustine, A demo in Leesburg, then to Indian Rocks Beach, Tarpon Springs to visit Skip and Cindy Atwood- Previous owners of the Hotel Pemaquid in Maine. Then a stop to sketch at Cedar Key, Then another sketching stop at Apalachicola, A workshop at Mexico Beach and Pensacola, for my last planned session in Florida.

Key Largo Group

Key West was an exceptional experience- and an expensive on, to Boot! A sketching sit in any direction. I was informed by a couple of local artists, that it was illegal to sell sketches on the street per local law, to protect local shops from “unfair competition”. I informed them, that I do no sell my original journal sketches…. I neglected to mention that I do sell signed and numbered, Limited edition journal copies… Oh, well…. D.G.

Key West Group

Winter Haven and St. Augustine, FL

Week of Feb. 9…Started the week in Winter Haven for a three day session …weather was in the 70’s and sunny. First day at Lake Alfred, Wednesday at Bok Tower – the highlight  of my trip, so far!…absolutely stunning structure with beautiful gardens…constructed in Art Deco period by Edward Bok… What a day!  Thursday was at the downtown park, where I got a demo finished, just ahead of a shower which lasted rest of the day. The class finished up at a coffee shop…St Augustine was a single day’s visit, on a very cold windy day…50 degrees, so I did the one sketch and a number of pix… On to Palm Coast…

St. Augustine and The Palm Coast…

Week of Feb. 16: The first images are scenes done during my return to St.  Augustine, FL.  The first time there, I was short on time, it was a busy Saturday and the town jammed with people… So, I took two days, prior to my Palm Coast session to do justice to America’s oldest city.  I just scratched the surface, but also took a number of digital pix, to work from later. Palm Cost agriculture museum holds a great variety of early farm machinery and farm life… Plenty for the class to sketch and paint, even chickens and a monster hog!!

Cheap Joe’s is proud to be along for Don’s journaling odyssey as he chronicles his travels around the country. Don is capturing all of his experiences using several of our house brand products like the American Journey Artists’ Watercolors and the American Journey Voyager metal palette. Now, here is Don on his own American Journey! . The Voyager is a strong, sturdy, non staining, metal palette which holds from 12 full pans to 24 half pans making it ideal to store a complete array of pigments. It is sleek in design so it fits perfectly in your painting kit. Complete with a thumb ring to provide steady handling, the palette also has fold out panels for plenty of mixing area. You can continue to fill the pans with economy sized tubes as you use up your pigments, which ultimately saves you money in the long run!

Don also loves the Kilimanjaro Watercolor Paintbooks. These sketchbook/watercolor pads are perfect for everyday journaling, providing 70 lb. sketch paper with 140 lb. or 300 lb. professional grade Kilimanjaro watercolor paper in the same spiral bound book. Now, more than ever, the Paintbook is perfect as a travel journal! We have recently added a 300lb cover that allows you to personalize every journal with custom artwork that emphasizes the travel location or subject. Don was so excited about it, that I just had to try it out myself! Wait, I’ll be right back!

New Kilimanjaro Paintbook with Custom Cover- Art by MonaLisa

Ok, all done! I have to say, after finishing my journal cover, that I really, really love it! I decided what the book would be about, then printed the title off of my computer (hey, it’s a tool, use it!) and then transferred it to my cover with graphite paper. I outlined the letters with the black Prismacolor Premier Brush Tip Marker. I used thin lines for one side and thicker lines on the other side to simulate dimension. I painted the scene around the title to make sure the letters stood out well.  I washed a light color on the letters first and then added a darker shade to get a graduated color change. I think I will eventually spray a final topcoat of Golden Archival Satin Spray Varnish on it to protect it from the everyday wear. I have also decided to leave the original Kilimanjaro cover on the book until I have completed it, to keep it clean.

For a complete supply list for Don’s U.S. Journaling “Odyssey” Tour, read the previous update blog, “Don Getz to Journal in Florida – Part 2.” The list is updated from time to time to include the most recent supplies Don is using.

As we continue to follow Don around the U.S., I will be posting future updates with all the exciting news from his “odyssey”. Who knows! He might just end up in your backyard some day! You can see where he has been at his blog site and you can see where he is going on his website! If you feel you would like to email him some gas money, I’m sure Don would be much obliged! Or you can just email him a note of encouragement at djgetzbgolly@hotmail.com ! Keep an eye out for Don and if you see him, give him a wave and a shake!

Ok, Now, that I have my Blue Ridge Parkway journal started, I just need to find time to fill it up with all of the great views along the Parkway! Hmmmm, maybe I should plan a Blue Ridge Parkway Odyssey!

Have a Happy Odyssey Day! Get out and have a long series of wanderings or adventures!