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

Manny the Silken Windhound Wishes Us a Happy Anniversary!

HAPPY 4TH ANNIVERSARY MEGAN!

I LOVE YOU!!!

PS-Can't believe it's already been 4 years since we were in Portugal.

Hey, you told me you didn't know how to draw...

Manny the Silken Windhound, 2014

graphite and ink on paper

5" x 7"

Collection of Vickie Patridge

© copyright Mike Kraus

For more information, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/186507940/custom-commission-original-art-by-mike?ref=shop_home_active_1

6x6x2014 OPEN NOW:

Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo)

137 East Avenue

Rochester, NY 14604

See if you can find the pieces I've submitted.  For more information, please visit:

http://www.roco6x6.org/6x6x2014_intro.php

Hoping To Reap What I Sow

Scout helping us remove the fence from the old garden and move it to its new location.

Here's the old veggie garden in the waaaay back portion of our yard.  As you can see, it's really overgrown and its next to the "deer highway" and acts as a roadside diner for them.  

Tilling the soil.  It's a bit more convenient near since it's near the house and better conditions.  Our home resides on an old strawberry farm, so I hope it's pretty fertile.

Megan's breaking up the soil and weeding.

A nice little plot of soil.

What kind of seeds is the little girl planting?  We have onions, brussels sprouts, green beans, watermelon, and carrots.  

So this is what onion seeds look like.  hmmm...

All done (almost).  Just need to straighten out the fence a little bit and then the maintenance until harvesting.  We should have onions by mid/late October, brussels sprouts mid-September, green beans in mid-August, watermelon in September, and carrots in early-September.  Should be an interesting experiment for us.

Went to Warner Castle (http://www.rcgc.org/about-warner-castle) for an event the other day.  Some of you may remember this place as the location we took our wedding photos.

 This is the Sunken Garden.  A wonderful place for wedding pictures and role playing games (RPG)...

 

The wallpaper inside Warner Castle

Flower in our garden.  Can't take credit for this.  It was all the previous owners work.

But, I've just discovered that the secret to growing great peony flowers is Mountain Dew...

Heavenly light gracing the trail through Linear/Channing Park 

Someone knows how to set up a rest stop along the trail...

6x6x2014 OPEN NOW:

Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo)

137 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14604

See if you can find the pieces I've submitted.  For more information, please visit:

http://www.roco6x6.org/6x6x2014_intro.php

Evergreen Birch Forest

Evergreen Birch Forest, 2014

Acrylic on canvas board

8" x 10"

© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/193877751/evergreen-birch-forest-original-acrylic

Birch trees have always been a meditative source for me. Growing up, there was one outside my window that I would look at while daydreaming. And, when I needed to get away from the world I went to a grove of Birch trees to find refuge. I’ve always found the unique and nearly useless white tree interesting.

This painting would look best in a small bright space that seems bare.  It would also compliment a space that is navy blue, burgundy red, or yellow.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

6x6x2014 OPEN NOW:

Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo)

137 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14604

See if you can find the pieces I've submitted.  For more information, please visit:

http://www.roco6x6.org/6x6x2014_intro.php

Skaneateles Lake

Skaneateles Lake, 2014

acrylic painting on wood

18" Diameter

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/193600478/skaneateles-lake-original-acrylic?

Classic wooden motor boats race through Skaneateles Lake on a fine summer afternoon.  After some light shopping and heavenly burgers, we decide to hike along the shoreline.  An old vineyard somehow manages to survive the invasion of mega-mansions.  There's a cool breeze coming off the lake on a hot day.  An increasing rare sacred open space along the Finger Lakes.

This painting would look best in a space that is navy blue, burgundy red, evergreen, or cadmium yellow 

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

6x6x2014 OPEN NOW:

Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo)

137 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14604

See if you can find the pieces I've submitted.  For more information, please visit:

http://www.roco6x6.org/6x6x2014_intro.php

D'OH! A DEER! A FEMALE DEER!

 The deer have been visiting more frequently again.  Still waiting to see the new fawn again.

 Saw this guy while moving the vegetable garden to a new location.  They seem to really like the natural meadow design we're implementing.

If I had a saddle, I could ride this guy.  Not afraid of us at all.

Louie and Penny hanging out with me by the pool.  

6x6x2014 OPEN NOW:

Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo)

137 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14604

See if you can find the pieces I've submitted.  For more information, please visit:

http://www.roco6x6.org/6x6x2014_intro.php