A few months ago I entered 6 designs in the Public Arts program for Renton. They wanted designs for a couple of new storm drain covers. One of mine was picked as one of the finalists. Yay!

Now, finally, they are putting it to a vote, but this time it's the public that gets to vote on it.

Sooooo,... I'm asking a favor of all my friends here on Facebook to vote for my design on the Renton site.

Here's what they sent me today:

Voting has been taking place online and in-person, with the finalist designs being displayed at the watch parties at Legacy Square and Farmers Market this past weekend/earlier this week and plan for the designs to be displayed at Renton River Days this coming weekend and at the 7/28 Farmers Market.

The online voting page can be found here: https://yourvoice.rentonwa.gov/stormwater-art

Please click on the "Take Survey" box to take you to the designs.

Please feel free to share! A post promoting the art/online voting should also be going live later this week on the City’s social media pages.

Online voting closes at end of day on Friday July 31, 2026. Once results are finalized, we will announce the winners and will reach out with next steps.

Keeping my fingers crossed. There is a nice stipe end for the winner.

SUMMER READING

 Get a hold of one or two of these fun books for your summer reading!

SUMMER READING LIST

 Just in time for your Summer reading list... My photo book "Botanica"

A vivid celebration of nature’s quiet brilliance, Botanica invites readers into a world of color, texture, and fleeting beauty—captured through the lens of a high-resolution cell phone camera, chosen for its immediacy and spontaneity over traditional gear.

Photographed across the lush landscapes of the Pacific Northwest and the sun-drenched terrain of the American Southwest, this full-color photo book showcases an intimate collection of flowers encountered on the road, in gardens, and along trails. Each image reveals the intricate personality of its subject—from fiery petals and dew-kissed leaves to the quiet geometry of desert blooms.

More than a botanical catalog, Botanica is a visual journal of discovery and presence. It reflects Mike Cressy’s eye for narrative detail and his commitment to capturing authenticity in the moment. Whether you're drawn to the artistry of nature or the craft of human-made creativity, this book offers a fresh, emotionally resonant perspective on the floral wonders that surround us.

Saturday Morning Doodle

 Ambidextrous Edition!

Saturday Morning Doodle: Ambidextrous Edition. This drawing was done with equal parts, left and right hands.

Getting to use my right hand more and more every week but still painful and limited.

For all of you who live with Geese in your hood or see them often, know that they are not only beautiful but are very powerful creatures that will not tolerate humans very well and are prolific shit machines. One has to be ware of every part of the park, grass, lawn, sidewalk so that you don't get their little gifts on your shoes and bring that into your car... house...etc.

Washing my shoes happens every day.

3 months of left hand drawings

 This last Thursday was 13 weeks, aka, 3 months since the rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder. A milestone in the recovery but it is still a long road of painful movements and pushing that right arm.

During those 3 months I taught my left hand to draw. Posting here a cross section of all the drawings I did during that time.

Going forward, I will still be drawing with my left hand but occasionally will get an assist from my right hand to get it used to drawing again.

NEW Left Hand Drawings

Still working on some left handed drawings.

My surgeon said that this coming week I can start using my right hand again for creating art. It will be a slow start but it will be good to have a healthy rotator cuff again.

 

Art Exhibit

 This one of the show posters featuring my Abstract Art for the exhibit. 125 artists and their work on display via the QR code. From now till June 16th.

Come take a look.

New Left Handed Drawings

 Still working with my left hand to make drawings. Some time in the future I wil have my right arm working again.

Left Hand Drawing

My left hand gets better at doing this each time I try. And doing it is a difficult thing to do. The focus and doing my best to steady my hand while getting the feel of the subject matter onto the paper is not easy. Anyone who has tried doing this will attest.

Finding various subjects is also a consideration. I don’t want to mess up someone’s likeness and for the ones that aren’t portraits, I want to convey enough of the contours that make up the subject.

Hopefully, when my right arm is healed that I will still be working on left handed drawings. The difference then will be that I can rely on either hand to do artwork. 
That’s the plan.

Utility Boxes

 Back in January, when I was several weeks into being sick from the flu that wouldn’t leave, I saw a call for entries posting about creating art for Utility Boxes in Renton. I saw this as a challenge and decided to do something for an entry. Even though the deadline was in two days.

There were four Utility Boxes and each artist was to create one or two pieces of art for each box. I decided, since I had two days, I should finish two Illustrations.

First I came up with two concepts in pencil to illustrate how the city of Renton relates to the waterways that come through the city. Lake Washington, Cedar River, and Green River.

The first concept drawing focused on the rivers, in particular the Cedar River which includes Belmondo Reach that is indicated by the land slope on the left side of the drawing. The second drawing focused on Lake Washington, especially the view from the north end of Coulon Park looking south, with Mount Rainier in the distance.

I worked 10 to 12 hours each day and was able to finish both in time to submit in the last few hours of the deadline. I cut a lot of corners while working on the final color art and wished I could have spent more time on the over all design of the elements in the art.

When I submitted the art I was told that they would decide some time in early February.

Well, this morning when I opened my email I was in for a surprise. They loved the art I did for the Utility Boxes and have decided to go forward with the art I created and would send over a contract soon.

That really did make my day. Looking forward to seeing my art on those boxes.

New Year, New Sketchbook!

 Working in color for this sketchbook.

NEW BOOKS!

 Chase away the winter blues with my fun books!

Happy New Year 2026