Drawing on local history - Grand Haven Tribune

But Collier wasn't the focus of the day. Winsor McCay, the famed local artist who inspired Walt Disney, took that honor during the Spring Lake Heritage Festival's Winsor McCay Day workshop.

McCay was born about 1867 in Canada and raised in Spring Lake. He is known as the “father of animation.”

McCay attended Union School, which once stood in the vacant lot immediately west of the library. While a student there, he created a drawing of the sinking of the Alpena on the chalkboard. It was that drawing that put a spotlight on his talent as copies of it were photographed and sold.

Collier, who has illustrated more than 150 children's books, taught the children attending Thursday's workshop how to draw whales, snakes, hats, houses and more.

“Remember that you're not limited by the size of the paper,” he said. “You're only limited by your imagination.”

Community Services Librarian Lisa Donner said Collier recently donated a large, framed reproduction of McCay's 1880 “sinking of the Alpena” drawing.

“Kevin does this program every year,” she said. “He's so generous with his time and expertise about Winsor McCay.”

Donner, who had to keep bringing in more chairs, tables, papers and pencils for the crowd, said she was impressed by the turnout.

“I think it's catching on,” she said. “It's a great time to remember Winsor McCay grew up here and went to school right next door. This kind of event helps spread the word about his contributions to the world. I don't know if it's something in the water, but there seems to be a big pool of artistic talent in this area.”

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