DECATUR -- Over the past few weeks, chalk drawings of Howard the Duck, Captain America and Spiderman appeared on the sidewalk at Crystal Lake. But no one knew who the artist was, until now.
Mike Kelly, a Gravette native, has adorned the sidewalks with his renditions of these Marvel comic book characters and cinema legends such as the Creature from the Black Lagoon.
"I come to Crystal Lake to clear my head," Kelly said. "It is also a way that I can work into the medium and develop my own personal style."
Kelly is relatively new to sidewalk art. He primarily worked with acrylics and water colors for years. However, three weeks ago he decided to enter the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce Chalk-it-up Festival. He needed a place to practice his new-found talent and Decatur's Crystal Lake Park was the perfect location.
He continues to dazzle visitors to Crystal Lake with his latest works, which he finished Oct. 8. Kelly drew another rendition of Howard the Duck. But that was not his latest piece de resistance.
In keeping with the Halloween season, Kelly drew a scene from "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" in which Linus is sitting in his pumpkin patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin. Lucy, Violet, Pigpin and Charlie Brown are laughing at Linus.
It took three sidewalk panels and about an hour to finish his work of art. Unfortunately, the rain washed it away the next day. What took an hour to complete was gone in only a few minutes but not forgotten. It is forever preserved in photographs for future generations to view with amazement.
But, not to worry, Kelly will be back at Crystal Lake creating another masterpiece for Decatur residents to enjoy, even if only until the next rain shower.
General News on 10/15/2014