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Drawing Western Avenue in Muskegon, Michigan

I thought I'd share the process of how I draw.  For the subject, I decided on drawing Western Avenue in my hometown of Muskegon, Michigan.  It's the main street of downtown which has been bulldozed and rebuilt about every other generation.  Somehow, both of these buildings, the Russell Block to the left and the Century Club to the right, have been able to survive since the 1890s.  Anyway, this is how I draw.

 I've measured out a piece of paper to fit an 8" x 10" frame.  I've also added a border.  I like to leave an edge to the paper just in case someone decides to change the frame in the future.  It allows more flexibility for using mats and different size frames.  Next, I tape the paper down to my drawing board and prepare to sketch.

So, I sketch out my general lines in pencil.  I place various points of reference.  For example, I've used the edge of the street and rooflines to keep everything in balance. 

Once I have my reference points, I move into framing the structures.  I really like bold, straight lines that border on architectural drafting.  

This is the nitty-gritty.  From the outside of the building, you can usually see where the support beams are located.  In mid-century Modernist building they tend to be completely exposed.  But, in Victorian-era structures they are more subtle and hidden.  Most of my pencil lines are used to find the underlying structure so I can apply the facade appropriately.

The outline of the Century Club is now complete. 

The restored Western Avenue now has a median.  I had to sketch this in before moving on to the Russell Block building because it is in the foreground.  Then to the van, sidewalk, and the first floor of the structure.  From there, I worked my way up the building using the initial support beams as my guides once again.   

The outline is complete. 

 Then, I add the ink wash.  I like to add an organic wash to counter-balance the rigid drafting technique.    It takes the drawing out of the realm of a photograph and places it into a memory or dream.

The landscaping was particularly fun on this project. 

A detail of the cars. 

And, we're done.  We have a drawing celebrating the crown jewel of Muskegon's downtown.

Add it to a frame and hang it on your wall. 

Or place it on your mantle.  

Have any questions?  Let me know.

Western Avenue In Muskegon, Michigan, 2014

Pen and ink on paper

8" x 10"

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/194679066/western-avenue-in-muskegon-michigan

WELCOME TO MIKE KRAUS' ART SHOP!

WELCOME TO MIKE KRAUS' ART SHOP!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MikeKrausArt

I hope you find something you like. If you're unable to find something or saw an item on this blog you liked, please let me know and I may be able to create something special for you.  THANKS AGAIN!

Deep Red Birch Forest, 2014

acrylic and ink on canvas board

8" x 6"

© copyright Mike Kraus

$22 + shipping 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/184035672/deep-red-birch-forest-8-x-6-by-mike?ref=shop_home_active_3

White Birch, 2014

acrylic and ink on paper

6" x 6" in an 8 1/2" x 10 1/2" frame

© copyright Mike Kraus

$32 + shipping 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/184036840/white-birch-6-x-6-in-a-8-12-x-10-12?ref=shop_home_active_2

Dark Green Birch Forest, 2014

acrylic and ink on canvas board

6" x 8"

© copyright Mike Kraus

$22 + shipping

https://www.etsy.com/listing/184035042/dark-green-birch-forest-6-x-8-by-mike?ref=shop_home_active_4

Blue Birch, 2014

acrylic on canvas board

6" x 8"

© copyright Mike Kraus

$22 + shipping 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/184034274/blue-birch-tree-6-x-8-by-mike-kraus?ref=listing-shop-header-4

Night Birch, 2014

scratchboard

7" x 5" in an 11 1/2" x 9 1/2" frame

© copyright Mike Kraus

$32 + shipping 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/184045579/night-birch-7-x-5-in-a-11-12-x-9-12?ref=listing-shop-header-0

White Birch Forest, 2014

acrylic and ink on canvas board

8" x 6"

© copyright Mike Kraus

$22 + shipping

https://www.etsy.com/listing/184040365/white-birch-forest-8-x-6-by-mike-kraus?ref=related-4

THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MikeKrausArt

If you need anything or have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me:
MikeKKraus@gmail.com

Ask Me Why You Should NEVER go to Schoen Place Auto in East Rochester, New York

Surprisingly, there isn't enough room in a blog to explain how after a couple of weeks, over $1,000 the car has just as many problems as when it went in...

It’s Against the Law Not To Have Fingerprints

REMINDER!
Southside St. Patrick's Day Parade in Beverly is THIS weekend, Sunday March 9th. See you there!


A view from the patio...


Skiing, sledding, ice skating, making snowmen...


Amanda's party! She's very intense about parties...


Over-photoshop-ed, but oh well. Tyler, Nate, Matt, and Megan in the livingroom


Tyler lounging around


The new face of PBR


Tyler playing NeoGeo


Megan and I went to Udepi Palace at 2543 W. Devon Ave. for some Indian food. It was awesome. These are lintel donuts in some kind of sauce. They were great. Also, Devon Ave. was so active. It was like being at a frozen Delhi.


This is what I ordered. It's crape stuffed with potatoes and onions with spicy sauces.


Megan had this thing. It's a pancake thing with peas and other vegetables. Definately heading back up there when they have a lunch buffet.


Canal Street Market of a warm, sunny March morning. The market is now pushed ONLY south of Roosevelt road. These big box developers are really getting on my nerves


Going to the market this early in the year means getting new glasses.


I think this puffin was "stood up" on a date or something at Whole Foods Cafe


Kimball Station Brown Line

Chicago Is the Best Friggin' Place On Earth In the Summer!

Well, the title about sums it up...

Let's start off by paying tribute to the American Empire with an eight story flag.


Constrution of Block 37


Another view of Block 37


Nick and Karli enjoying a banana split from the "Ice Cocaine Truck." Little background for those who don't know. We have a ice cream truck that drives around our neighborhood at 10pm or later almost every night. Just seem a bit suspicious since most kids should be in bed. But, it keeps us adult kids all sugered up, I guess...


Went to Kuma's Corner for "Heavy Metal Burgers." This was the "Melvins!"


Karli got the "Judas Priest."


Nick had the "Iron Maiden."


And Mike is polishing off the "Metallica" burger. They were the best burgers I've every had. Especially since I was hungry at 6pm and didn't get it until 9:30pm. It was gone is seconds.


"A Private Bathroom" in Humboldt Park.


RIBFEST! Frances, Karli, and Mike waiting in line for Ribs from Hecky's, which served ribs from a school bus. The ribs were great and the baked beans were awesome. MESSAGE TO KATE DIAL - I OWE YOU RIBS AND THIS IS WHERE WE'LL GO! THEY ARE WAY BETTER THAN APPLEBEES!


Andrew and Matt relaxing at Ribfest.


Frances and I at Goldie's after Ribfest where we met up with Julianne and Damanda Talmadge.


Francy Pants.


Frances taking a nice picture with Mike at Goldies!


This about sums it up.


Mike, Nick, Frances, and I headed down to Maxwell (Canal) Street Market. Nick got Wheel of Fotune and Double Dare for Nintendo. Frances got giant pink sunglasses. All of us got really good tacos.


Frances scoping out the goods.


Looking for a good pair of sunglasses.


While waiting for Damanda to get out of work, Frances and I headed down to the book fair.


We met up with Damanda at the Andersonville Midsommer Fest. It was by far the gayest festival ever. I don't mean that as an insult. I mean there were more gay people here than at the Gay Pride Parade. Here, we see a scene where a cover band was playing all the hits from Journey, Rick Springfield, R. Kelly, Will Smith, and more!


I can't even discribe what this is. Basically, super-muscle gay men dancing with each other topless and either drunk or drugged up. It's not often that dancers in the back of the crowd get more attention than the band on stage.


This was another stage that featured a Motley Crue cover band with hair and all! We didn't even know this was going on until we went on the hunt for food and ended up at T's. Get the burger if you ever go yourself.

That about sums it up. Frances has another day in Chicago and we've just been going to all the great stuff around here.

Either tomorrow or Wednesday (depending on the source) is that start of the Puerto Rican Festival in my neighborhood (Humboldt Park). I'm really excited about it since it looks like chaos will reign. The neighbor kid has come over to do chores for us to earn money so he can go to the carnival. I may have to take some time off of work for this...

xoxo,
Mike