And the Rains Came Down

Just a very rainy day here. The rain started last night and has continued nonstop all morning into this afternoon. It's remarkable how you lose all sense of real time during this Quarantine. Even though I get up at the usual before I know it is afternoon.

Will be going out to film our creek bed aka abandoned drainage ditch to film the water flow. It was dry on Sunday but today brings a different story.

 The video work is poor but it gives you an idea of the water that has fallen in the past hours. Remember there was no water in this stream bed on Sunday.

So as you can see and hear the creek runs fast and furious.

Also finished the inking of the central Methodist Church side entrance will begin the color work on Thursday,

Central Methodist Church side entrance

Union Station - still safe at home

Still spending my time at home safe and secure.

Will be venturing for food pickup this weekend. No contact curbside pickup from various sources.

Sam'sClub and Sweetwater Farm Market are a little bit of work to set up, but once you get a time it's easy. Meijer.com shopping app is worth the struggle to avoid contact. And paying the price for delivery is worth every penny. Especially since we aren't driving. Even getting a pay back from the auto insurance company.

Anxious to get out and clean gardens but still a bit to cold to uncover perennials. And of course, Snow seems to be lingering on. Light but snow just the same. The poor daffodils want to open but are still holding back. It's the cold wind off of the big lake that is slowing things down. Very sunny but bitter cold winds.

I fill the bird feeders every other day or two. Poor little birds are fighting the hoards of blackbirds that have returned. Feed them all anyway.


Finished another drawing in the downtown series. The Union Train Station.

Union Train Station

Still Hunkered Down and Waiting for Warmer Weather

We are still staying safe at home . Anxiously waiting for warmer days. Gardens need cleaning and the pond needs to be opened. Still a bit early though. We had snow dusting the rhododendrons yesterday morning and a frost warning last night. Looking ahead at the weather forcasts shows at least another week of cool temperatures.




Continuing my work on colored pencil renderings of downtown Muskegon architecture. Here is the latest completed work.

My rendering of the Webster Avenue entrance to the Muskegon Museum of Art

Hunkered Down but not out

I have been using this stay safe time to work on this series of Muskegon architectural buildings I find interesting.

Here is the latest ink drawing of the Muskegon Museum of Art entrance off Webster Avenue.

Feel free to copy and print as a coloring page to shade with graphite pencil or colored pencil.

It should be interesting to imagine the Museum as a pink, plaid or polka dotted building. Or anything that strikes your fancy; perhaps a "watch us go" design.




Copy and have fun!

Pencil rendering of the Muskegon Museum of Art Webster Avenue entrance

Finished the Second in A Series of Muskegon Architecture

I have been staying safe and sheltered working on a series of drawings of Muskegon Architecture.

Here is the starting point -

Pencil Drawing with Ink work started

I start with a pencil drawing. Once the drawing has been completed I move on to the inking. When the ink work has been completed I begin the process of painting in color. My medium of choice is Prismacolor pencils. I use these to paint in the ink work because they are a smooth flowing pencil, that allows for layering color upon color to create depth and richness. I use the colored pencils much the same as I would layer color in a watercolor painting

This drawing is the old savings bank that serves as the 18th Amendment Spirits Co. today.

Completed drawing of the Savings Bank

Be safe and stay creative

We are safe here within the comforts of our home. Washing our hands, disinfecting things that need it, Skyping with family and friends. and simply enjoying our time together.

While my wife spends her time reading, cooking, and trying to tolerate my annoyances I'm working on drawings.

I'm including below the progress so far.

Here's hoping everyone visiting my block is safe, healthy and following protocol as best possible.

BE SAFE out there.

                           Completed drawing of the Century Club downtown Muskegon.

 

 

 

Pen and ink with colored pencil. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pencil drawing ready for inking of the !8th Amendment, an old bank now converted to a cocktail and spirits lounge.

 

 

This one is also located downtown but sadly is currently closed due to the Pandemic.

The next stage is the inking.

I have started to add the pen and ink. After the inking is completed the drawing will be cleaned and ready for the colored pencil painting,

Summer Evening IMG 3124 1 quicktime

Entering Port of Muskegon

Entering Muskegon Lake -Port of Muskegon

We just went down to check the wave action at the beach after returning from Northport, Michigan and saw the Pearl Mist out on Lake Michigan heading in to Port.

We hurried to the channel and managed to catch these photos and the movie clip. Summer has been so busy with so much to do. Watching this lovely lady as she entered Muskegon Lake through the channel was an relaxing respite from some of our traveling.

It has been an exciting and wonderful summer.