I was up early but not as early as I wanted to be because there was a lot to do. After getting ready to go I had to load the van with the materials I used to complete some of the portraits. Because I didn't make more mats the day before, I had to go to my studio and cut some mats before heading to Grand Rapids. I was able to cut nine 16” x20” and three more 24” x 30” mats and be on the road by 10 AM. I had wanted to be at my tent site by then but there was no deadline so I relaxed and let things happen when they would. I made good time and was at my tent by 11:15 AM and set up to operate shortly after noon. My tent had made it through the wind and rain with no apparent damage. I went inside the Griffins' offices and added the newly finished drawings to the window display. There now were a total of 13 individuals in my display, two charcoals waiting for a model release from parents, and another 4 still needing some work.
I finished the charcoal of the 9 year old girl and the pastel of the college aged woman who had left for work after about 45 minutes into the portrait. I hung these two on my display walls in the tent until I had time to get them in the windows.
A short time later, a great looking African-American man with a full white beard, who had stopped stopped by the booth the day before returned to tell me he wanted his portrait done. I was excited to do this one because of his interesting look. He decided on a charcoal and he wanted his purple African beanie hat in the portrait, but he wanted it in color. So I decided to do it. When he sat down, the pose he struck, had his hand on his chin, it added to the look so I said let's do it. The portrait went well and was soon finished except for a couple of details I added later. During the time he sat he grabbed the side of the temporary studio walls several times to try to hold it from blowing away in the wind gusts. The wind was getting to me because there we times I didn't feel safe and was worried about injury to one of my subjects while sitting for me.
But tomorrow would be the day to worry about that because the day had come to an end I was ready to rest.