New Abstract Cityscape Painting: The Upside Down of Uncertainty, oil on canvas, 30x40", 2021

It’s been nice getting more time in at the studio lately — feels grounding to me. I finished this new painting up today: The Upside Down of Uncertainty, oil on canvas, 30x40", 2021. It started out as something else, which I then whitewashed and flipped it upside down and assembled the composition into what you see now. I even flipped it over again to paint the upside down building.

This piece relates to a series of abstract cityscapes that I worked a lot on during the first part of the pandemic. When creating abstract paintings, they tend to be a bridge to something else, or they become their own series and take me in a new direction. I think The Upside Down of Uncertainty is one of those pieces that will hopefully lead me into a new direction — especially as we approach the end of the year and transition to a new one. It has strong cityscape elements, but there's also this balanced/imbalanced aspect to it that feels appropriate for this moment in time.

The Upside Down of Uncertainty, oil on canvas, 30x40", 2021

Wells Street Bridge Viewfinder in its new DC home!

This new commission painting, “Wells Street Bridge Viewfinder” is now in its new home in Washington, DC! It has prime placement in the dining area above the piano and next to an awesome bar. It was a super fun project to work on with these awesome collectors! 

If you’re interested in a commission, please contact me to discuss options. Or, contact me if you’re interested in purchasing any existing pieces. Plenty to choose from!

IMAGE: “Wells Street Bridge Viewfinder” by Kevin Swallow, oil on canvas, 48x60", 2021

Cornelia Arts Building 2021 Fall Open Studios

Tomorrow is the Cornelia Arts Building Fall 2021 Open Studios event! Friday, November 5, 2021 - 6pm-10pm.

RSVP Here on Facebook

Or, contact me to set up a private studio visit.

Masks are required (over nose and mouth) by everyone at all times throughout the building. Proof of vaccination may be requested. We want the CAB Open Studios event to be safe for our guests and artists, so your cooperation is appreciated in following these COVID guidelines.

Andersonville Water Tank featured on Clark Street Cab

Clark Street Cab, featuring an image of my painting, “Andersonville Water Tank” is now available at In Fine Spirits in Andersonville. Special thanks goes to Jarran Conger, the owner, who approached me about working on this project. It's so great to have this custom wine available at my local neighborhood wine shop. The original painting is also on display in the wine shop. Contact me directly if interested in purchasing.

About the Wine
Clark Street Cab is a special collaboration between Chicago-based Distributor Vinejoy, Paso Robles-based wine producer Field Recordings, local artist Kevin Swallow, and Andersonville-based bottle shop, In Fine Spirits. The fruit for Clark Street Cab was sourced from 3 distinctly different organic vineyard sites across the Paso Robles AVA. The wine is fermented via native yeast and then aged for 9 months in neutral French oak barrels at Field Recordings Winery in Paso Robles, California. Stop by the shop and get your bottle today! YOu can also view the painting in the shop.

Click on the images below to view full size.

The Corner of Clark & Balmoral

This is a selfie looking into what used to be Hamburger Mary’s at the corner of Clark and Balmoral in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood. Mary’s was a good and (mostly) reliable burger place which also had really good grilled cheese. But it was also a hub for LBGTQ culture - everything from dance nights to Sunday brunch drag shows or drag queen bingo were happening. They had Saturday night dance parties upstairs at Mary’s attic which I could hear a block away in my apartment during the summer. Unfortunately, they closed at the end of the year. Another victim of the downturn in the economy due to the pandemic. I walked past it this week and guys were hauling out furniture, restaurant items, and various other things, including metal scraps they’ll probably take to get recycled for money, and it was kind of sad.

Looking into the former Hamburger Mary’s space which used to be Café Boost a long time ago

Twenty years ago I had my first solo show of my art (photographs) in the same space. Back then it was a place called Café Boost. $2.50 bottomless cup of coffee. Good pastries, sandwiches, and salads, including a salad pregnant women would eat to induce labor. True.

I’d sit there at Café Boost all afternoon drinking coffee and sketching, reading, writing. I met other artists there and then got to know the owners. They were also artists and musicians. I asked if I could show my work in the café and they said yes which led to my first public solo art show in Chicago. It was even a recommended show listing in the arts section of the Chicago Reader (see other photos in this post). I went on to show my work there several other times before they closed in 2005. One of those artists I knew from drinking bottomless cups of coffee everyday at Boost, introduced me to Richard Lange, the director of Friends of the Arts (FOTA) - a non-profit arts organization helping emerging artists show their work. Richard and FOTA helped me kick start showing my art publicly in Chicago. Within a couple years I was curating monthly art shows at Café Boost on behalf of FOTA and I also showed my work around town in other places via FOTA’s network, including the Cornelia Arts Building, where I’ve had my studio space since 2006.

For most of the past 20 years, I’ve lived near this corner of Clark and Balmoral. It’s a reminder to me of when I was really starting to become an artist and showing my work in Chicago. It’s sad to see it vacant now, but hopefully it will become something new and once again be that glue that brings locals together in a way that builds community and celebrates the arts.

Mural on the side of the Hamburger Mary’s buildling

New Cityscape Painting: Vacant Buildings (Downtown Pandemic Blues)

I just finished up a new cityscape painting - the final one for 2020. It's been a fairly productive year for making art. I created 20 new paintings in 2020. And there were about two months I didn’t paint or go to the studio because of the pandemic.

This most recent one is another painting where the perspective of looking up at the buildings seems like they're falling toward the viewer. And with it, another poem that came from thinking of ideas for a title of this piece.

Vacant Buildings (Downtown Pandemic Blues)

Quiet city streets with distant sounds of freight trains.
Office workers — working from home.

Theaters shut, bars and restaurants closed —
Painfully alone.

Thinking about the vacant buildings,
With their downtown pandemic blues.

Vacant Buildings (Downtown Pandemic Blues), oil on canvas, 30x40", 2020

Sold Paintings from Art Pop Shop - Presented by The Wright House

I’m excited to say that I sold two paintings during the Art Pop Shop this past week. Feeling grateful that I was able to participate in an art show in 2020 and that people bought my art during a pandemic. A nice way to end this crazy year!

Special thanks to Shelley Wright of The Wright House for curating the show.


Art Pop Shop - Presented by The Wright House, December 19-24, 2020

I was invited to show my art at Art Pop Shop Show, presented by The Wright House. If you're in the Chicagoland area, they will be open to the public and by appointment for socially distanced viewing. 

Here’s what I’ll be showing (click to view full size image):


New Cityscape Painting: Social Distancing BLues

I’ve been on a productive roll lately in the studio and finished this painting this weekend. It’s another piece where the perspective of looking up at the buildings seems like they're falling toward the viewer. And with it, another poem that came from thinking of ideas for a title of this piece.

Social Distancing Blues

Shoulder to shoulder,
Slanting sideways —
With unsteady uncertainty.

Looking up at the
Teal blue reflections,
Feeling the social distancing blues.

Social Distancing Blues, oil on canvas, 30x40", 2020

New Cityscape Painting: Collapsing Skyscrapers

Another new painting, and with it, another poem that came from thinking of ideas for a title of this piece.

Collapsing Skyscrapers

As dusk settled,
Dizzy looking up —
Tumbling.

Big shoulders and collapsing skyscrapers —
Downtown, falling down.

Leaning in,
Absorbing the teal blue reflections.

Collapsing Skyscrapers, oil on canvas, 48x36", 2020