CAB Show Preview - Abstract Aerial Landscapes

Here is a preview of the aerial landscape paintings I have hanging in the hallway for the Open Studios on Friday night. I'll be posting preview images throughout the week of the different work I'll be showing.

CORNELIA ARTS BUILDING - FRIDAY NIGHT OPEN STUDIOS
March 23, 6-10pm
1800 W. Cornelia, Studio #201
Chicago, IL 60657

water tank - charcoal on canvas - work in progress

I started this new piece today. It's large-scale -- 36x48 canvas. A color wash was applied first, then the sketch done in charcoal. It's how I've been starting cityscape paintings lately, but this one is really looking like a finished piece. However, eventually I'll add the layers of paint.

This image is based on a photo I took on Spring St. near SoHo in New York City. It will be hanging in my studio along side finished paintings next week at the Cornelia Arts Building Open House.

 
water tank - charcoal on canvas - work in progress

A new painting in progress: NoLita (NYC) - water tank

I started this painting today - it's large: 36x48. Based on a photograph I took this past December in NoLita (North of Little Italy) in New York City, I shot it while walking around the neighborhood after great slice of New York thin crust pizza from Pomodoro Pizza at Spring and Mulberry. I tend to hit this place each time I'm in NYC. It has big windows and is a great place to re-fuel and people watch.

I used a sketch of the photo as reference to start this piece. I began by laying an initial wash of paint on the canvas and then sketched the composition with charcoal. It's nice to work big this way and I'm hoping to keep this one loose and expressive with some really bold color.

NoLita (NYC), work in progress

Abstract paintings - off to a new home!

Special thanks to Amy, the owner of The Writers WorkSpace in Chicago and her husband Lee. They made my day today by buying two abstract paintings (shown below) that have been on display at WWS.

I'm excited that they will be owned by someone who truly supports the arts. For over 5 years, WWS has been a place for local writers to work and for local artists to exhibit their work. I'm happy to be a part of it and hope that the writers get some inspiration from my art or, at the very least, just enjoy looking at it.

Fire on the Mountain, acrylic and sheet music on canvas, 24x24, 2006

Green Beach Ball, acrylic on canvas, 24x24, 2001



Commission Painting (detail)

The commission painting is essentially done. I'll be meeting the collectors later this week for final review and approval. All that will be left is to varnish it. Below is a detailed view of the middle section of the painting.

West Loop Cityscape (detail), acrylic on canvas, 2012


New Show of Screen Prints - Scot's Bar

I started working with an art rep recently to have my work placed in different venues. The first show is now up at Scot's Bar in Ravenswood, just off of the Montrose Brown Line stop.

I'm showing a mix of my screen prints featuring rooftop water tanks. There are several pieces from each series included in the show:



Rooftop water tanks are a unique architectural feature in cities - especially Chicago and New York. They are a link to our industrial past and a disappearing element of the cityscape. Due to the decline of these structures, I've been making it a point to photograph them when I see them. These photos are then used for reference in my cityscape paintings or as the main focal point of my screen prints. 



My screen prints are created using multiple layers of ink and paint. I like to work quickly, so screen printing lets me create many images at once. They are created as part of a series, but each piece is unique and one-of-a-kind. I enjoy the multifaceted process of screen printing and the experimental nature of the medium that sometimes leads to happy accidents, contributing to the unique quality of the print.