New Cityscape Painting: Dreams Beneath the Turquoise Sky

This new painting is an imaginary cityscape tying together a series of abstract water tank paintings I made last year. It's based on a charcoal sketch inspired by older photos I took of New York and Chicago. The composition came quickly, but I struggled with the colors - painting over most of the buildings 5-10 times. I kept the sky turquoise for most of the time I worked on it after I added my first layer of paint. Toward the end when the buildings were mostly done, I added about 5-6 layers of colors to the sky, blending Turquoise, Naples Yellow, Buff Titanium, Light Blue, Paynes Gray, and Titanium White. This ended up really tying the painting together and creating color harmony and contrast with the colors of the buildings and windows.

I like brainstorming ideas to name a painting by writing in my sketchbook as I'm working on a piece. This time, though, I waited until I finished it to come up with options for a title. I got things to a point, but felt I wasn't quite there. So, to experiment and to get a little assistance, I gave some prompts and descriptions to ChatGPT and shared the image of the painting:

Me:
Using the attached image of a painting and the following titles, provide the best title: 
- City of blue dreams 
- Dreams beneath the turquoise sky 
- Daydreams above the city 
- Blue dream cityscape 
- Water tanks and wandering thoughts 
- Turquoise city lights

ChatGPT:
The best title for this painting, considering its urban setting, water tanks, and dreamy turquoise sky, would be **"Dreams Beneath the Turquoise Sky."** It captures both the mood of the sky and the imaginative tone.

Me:
What’s your second choice and third choice?

ChatGPT:
My second choice would be "Daydreams Above the City," as it emphasizes the reflective and dreamy quality of the urban landscape.

My third choice would be "Water Tanks and Wandering Thoughts," as it ties the distinctive water tanks to a contemplative atmosphere.

Final Decision:
I agreed and also really liked "Water Tanks and Wandering Thoughts" as my second choice, but went with "Dreams Beneath the Turquoise Sky" - my first choice as well as my assistant's.

Click the images to view larger.

IMAGE: “Dreams Beneath the Turquoise Sky”, oil on canvas, 48x36", 2024

New abstract cityscape painting: Color Burst Reflections

This abstract cityscape was started with an improvised sketch on the canvas and then I painted while flipping it over every ten minutes or so. I kept the two large windows floating in the background - one right-side up, and one upside down. Once a composition started to appear and it felt weighted in a landscape orientation, I worked on adding the layers of high-key colors. The color palette of this piece ended up being a much more saturated than my usual palette. So, that's where the name comes from.

Color Burst Reflections, oil on canvas, 36x48, 2024.jpeg

“Color Burst Reflections”, oil on canvas, 36x48, 2024

New Painting: Urbs in Horto (City in a Garden)

I’ve been wanting to incorporate more nature in my work and trying to figure out how to do that. So, I’m working on ideas of lakefront views with the city in the background. I take photos when I'm riding my bike along the Chicago lakefront trail that I can use an inspiration. This painting is based on a view from memory of Montrose Point Nature Preserve, looking south toward downtown Chicago, with the skyline peaking out from behind the tree.

Urbs in Horto (City in a Garden), oil on canvas, 30x24, 2024

New Chicago Cityscape Painting: Skyscrapers and Sand

This painting is inspired by my bike rides along the Chicago Lakefront path. One of my favorite places to sit by the lake and look at the skyline is from Montrose Harbor and Montrose Point Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary. I've been coming to this spot since I moved to the city in 1995. It has great views of the Chicago skyline from the north looking south toward downtown. In the summer, I jump off the seawall and swim from this spot (luckily there are ladders to get back up!). Walking through the nature preserve and bird sanctuary area is also a nice respite from the city where you can be fully absorbed in nature with walking paths, dunes, and native vegetation.

Skyscrapers and Sand, oil on canvas, 24x30, 2024

New Abstract Cityscape Painting - Cityscape Swirl

This is a new cityscape painting that I finished over this past weekend: Cityscape Swirl, oil on canvas, 24x30", 2024. I think it bridges both abstract and more representational cityscapes that I create, so I'm including it in my Abstract Cityscapes series.

It's based on photos I took in September 2023 in Culver City - Los Angeles, CA of the (W)rapper office tower building. It's a great modern brutalist-style building in the middle of an industrial area that sits alongside Ballona Creek. It was really cool to see up close, and I took a bunch of photos at various angles that I used to come up with the composition of the painting.

Cityscape Swirl, oil on canvas, 24x30", 2024

Here’s a few of the reference photos I took of the building. At one point, a security guard came out to be sure I wasn’t doing anything I wasn’t supposed to do. He didn’t leave until after I walked away. Click to view the larger full images.

New Cityscape Painting - Elusive Bending Turn

This is a new painting I finished recently: "Elusive Bending Turn", oil on canvas as, 24x30, 2024.

I described the painting to ChatGPT and when I asked it what it thought of the painting’s title, this is what it said:

"Elusive Bending Turn" has a captivating and enigmatic quality to it. It suggests a sense of mystery and fluidity, inviting viewers to contemplate the unseen twists and turns within the urban landscape. Overall, it's a compelling title for a painting that combines elements of movement and architectural intrigue."

So, there you have it. The robot's opinion. 🤣

"Elusive Bending Turn", oil on canvas, 24x30, 2024

Art included in a scene on Justified: City Primeval

I'm excited to share that a digital reproduction of a collaboration painting between myself and Scott Simons showed up in an episode of Justified: City Primeval. We got contacted over a year ago to sign the rights to have it included in the show, but you never know if it will make the cut or not. I finally got around to watching the show recently and it appears early on in the second episode. I’m still getting through the episodes, so who knows - maybe it will be in more.

In a funny coincidence, the original hangs above my TV which you can see below.

You can read about the original project here - large abstract wall coverings that were installed on all 18 floors of the Xavier apartment building directly outside each elevator bank.

IMAGE: Sunflower Slow Drag, mixed media on panel, 24x48, 2013 (collaboration painting with Scott Simons)

Click the images to view full size.

WGN-TV featured Andersonville Wine Walk and In Fine Spirits along with my art on custom wine label

Very cool to see the below video on WGN-TV about the Andersonville Wine Walk curated by In Fine Spirits, happening this weekend in Andersonville. "Clark Street Cab" features my Andersonville Water Tank painting on the label and will be one the wines they'll be pouring along the route! You can also view the painting in-person anytime at In Fine Spirits located at 5418 N Clark St. in Chicago. Watch the video and click the photos below to view.

More details about this wine label collaboration with In Fine Spirits.

Announcing Open Studios during Ravenswood Art Walk - September 16 - 17, 2023

I'm excited to announce that I'll be participating in the Ravenswood Art Walk happening September 16-17, 11am-6pm. My studio mate, Erik Weinstein, and I will be hosting our first open studios since moving into our new space in Ravenswood back in 2022. It’s been a while since we've had open studios and we’re looking forward to sharing new work with the public in our new-ish studio space. Check out my listing on the RAW website for more details, including our location and the art walk map. Other artists in the building will be open too, including Chex Studio, and friend Emily Rapport of Eat Paint will be showing work in her studio down the street.

The Ravenswood ArtWalk (RAW) Tour of Arts and Industry is a weekend-long celebration of our local creative community. Stretching from Lawrence south to Irving Park along Ravenswood Ave, RAW features: open studios and galleries, pop-up performances and activations, and an outdoor arts market featuring 50+ local makers, live music and dance, food trucks, and a Malt Row beer garden.

New York City - New Abstract Cityscapes

I finished up these two abstract cityscapes this weekend. They’re based on photographs I took in New York — creating the compositions by combining elements from different images taken in neighborhoods like Chelsea, The Meatpacking District, Tribeca, and The West Village. 

IMAGES:
“High Line Overlook (Chelsea)”, oil on canvas, 30x40, 2023
“Tribeca Jumble”, oil on canvas, 30x40, 2023