Help Kickstart the Chicago Writers Conference!

The Chicago Writers Conference is coming this fall: September 14-16.

My wife founded the conference to help bridge the business end of writing with the creative side. To help get it off-the-ground, she is running a Kickstarter fundraising campaign for the next 30 days to help raise the start up dollars. I am donating art towards this project as rewards for people who pledge donations at various levels (see below).

She was able to get Chicago rock band, OK Go to donate a song to use in the Kickstarter video. The Chicago Tribune has generously donated the space to hold the conference. She has some prominent local authors, publishers and agents lined up. Now, she needs help to get a full website up and running with registration capabilities along with other conference-related expenses.

If you'd like to support this project and help the Chicago writing community continue to grow, please visit the Kickstarter page to watch the video, get more info and to make a donation. The temporary Chicago Writers Conference website has additional details too. Thank you!

Below is the artwork I'm donating for the Kickstarter fundraising campaign rewards:

Chicago Skyline Sunset, digitally enhanced photograph, 16x20 (framed)

Marina Towers, digitally enhanced photograph, 8x10 (framed)

Watertanks and Birds #1, screen print on paper, 11x14 (ready to frame)

Watertanks and Birds #2, screen print on paper, 11x14 (ready to frame)

Kingsbury St. Watertank #1 (orange), screen print on paper, 11x14 (ready to frame)

Kingsbury St. Watertank #2 (orange), screen print on paper, 11x14 (ready to frame)

Thank you very much for your support!

Kickstarter video:

Cornelia Arts Building Open House - Tonite!

CORNELIA ARTS BUILDING - FRIDAY NIGHT OPEN STUDIOS
March 23, 2012
6-10pm
1800 W. Cornelia, Studio #201
Chicago, IL 60657

This is a FREE event and there will be drinks and snacks!

Water tanks - Cornelia Arts Building Spring Show

I've been working on a lot of new water tank paintings and drawings the last 6-9 months. They'll be on my main display wall for the Open Studios tomorrow night. I'll also be showing cityscape photographs and aerial landscape paintings - stop by tomorrow night if you can!

CORNELIA ARTS BUILDING - FRIDAY NIGHT OPEN STUDIOS
March 23, 2012
6-10pm
1800 W. Cornelia, Studio #201
Chicago, IL 60657

This is a FREE event and there will be drinks and snacks!

Cityscape Photographs - Spring Show Preview

Here is a preview of the colored cityscape photographs I have on display for the Open Studios on Friday night. I'll be posting more preview images throughout the week of the different work I'll be showing.

CORNELIA ARTS BUILDING - FRIDAY NIGHT OPEN STUDIOS
March 23, 2012
6-10pm
1800 W. Cornelia, Studio #201
Chicago, IL 60657

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

Cityscapes Photographs - slideshow

A new slideshow of my colored cityscapes photographs set to music.

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

Water tank paintings in progress - studio view

Water tank paintings in progress, acrylic on canvas

Since finishing the West Loop Cityscape commission, I've been working on a couple new water tank paintings based on photographs and sketches. Both are images of cityscapes from the NoLita and Chelsea neighborhoods in New York City.

I'd say these paintings are about 50% done and I'm hoping to complete them by the March 23rd Cornelia Arts Building Open House happening from 6-9pm.

I'm also planning on starting (and hopefully finishing) a third piece before the open studios show.

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

New Painting: Warehouse District

I've been sick for several days and haven't been to the studio. Today was my first day back and was very productive. I finished a painting that I've been working on here and there for a couple months. It's another piece that's part of my cityscapes and water tanks series. What makes this one different from other recent works is that it's entirely from my imagination. Therefore, it gets a rather vague title: Warehouse District.

Warehouse District, acrylic on canvas, 22x28, 2012