Photo Fridays: Watertank Bird

Watertank Bird, photograph, 2008 (click to enlarge)

This is a new feature for the blog with the goal to post a new photo every Friday. This is the first post. I'll feature subjects that I usually shoot, but I'd also like to experiment and keep it a little loose with some unexpected images.

El Marina - Screen-print

El Marina - screen-print on paper, 2008

I took a 5-week screen-printing workshop at the Lill Street Art Center where I made this piece. It combines a photograph of the El train and one of the Marina Towers. I first painted the paper with acrylic using abstract shapes to echo the shapes of the buildings and train. I then transferred the photo images over the background using several screen-printing techniques.

New Work in Progress: red watertanks

red watertank #1, acrylic on canvas, 2008, work in progress

red watertank #2, acrylic on paper, 2008, work in progress

red watertank #3, acrylic on paper, 2008, work in progress

I started creating these experimental paintings after my first screen-printing workshop in September. The class really got my ideas going...I started with a make-shift stencil that I made using cardboard. I painted onto the stencil then pressed the image of the watertank onto the surface -- repeating a few times using different colors. The layers built up and I'm in the process of adding more colors and textures.

New Works in Progress: The Lake

The Lake 1, acrylic on canvas, 2008 work in progress

My fall exhibitions are over and so now back to work. I started creating a new series of paintings.

The Great Lakes contain about 21% of the world's surface freshwater -- in a world with rising water shortages. These new paintings are motivated by my environmental interests -- specifically the role the Great Lakes play in the region and how they'll factor into our future.

In this series, I'm taking my "city by the lake" paintings down to a basic, abstract level. I'm using aerial maps as my inspiration. I went to Google Maps, zoomed in on the Chicago region and printed the regular map view so I could reference the shapes of Lake Michigan and the surrounding states. The painting above is a close up view and the one below is a further out view of the regional area.

The Lake 2, acrylic on canvas, 2008 work in progress

I haven't done any true abstracts recently and it's always a great way to experiment. It's fun to throw on some tunes, mix some paint, and let the music create the energy of the brushstrokes. These are still a work in progress -- I'm looking to add more textures and layers and some boundary outlines.