City Abstracts

I've been in more of an experimental mood lately. I'm working on a series of abstract paintings but have also been creating the drawings below based on photos I took of the L tracks, steel bridges, water tanks and rooftops - focusing on the older city infrastructure. These follow a couple of other abstract paintings based on the L tracks.

I'm working to loosen up while also abstract the boring day-to-day city images we barely even notice. All images below are made with charcoal and acrylic paint on record album covers. You can view each drawing from the city abstracts series here.

Here is a shot of them all laid out on my studio floor:

City Abstracts, acrylic and charcoal on record album cover, 12x12, 2012

Abstract paintings in progress

For the last few weeks, I've been working on a series of abstract paintings. I originally started with a bunch of sketches of abstract forms and organic shapes then moved on to the paintings. Still more layers of paint to go but here's where things are at...

These are on record album covers:

This one is on wood panel:

These are on canvas panel:

Cornelia Arts Building Open Studios - Friday October 5th 6-10pm

We're having our Fall Open Studios at the Cornelia Arts Building this Friday night. Details below...

Cornelia Arts Building Open Studios
Friday, October 5, 2012
6pm - 10pm

1800 W. Cornelia
Chicago, IL 60657

We painted our studio and did some re-arranging - come check it out. Studio #201 on the second floor at the top of the stairs. We'll have some wine and snacks.

I'll be showing cityscape paintings, photos, and screen prints along with abstract face paintings. Here's a sneak peek:

The SamichBox food truck will be outside selling sandwiches. Plus, live music on the porch by "Old Town Pickers" (6-8pm) and "The As Is Collective and Wednesday Mornings" (8-10pm).

Street parking is easy and free on the surrounding neighborhood streets. Or, take the bus or L to Addison stop on the brown line. Walk one block south.

Here's a map.

Hope to see you!

New L Tracks Paintings

This past week, I started a new series of paintings - abstracted images based on photos I shot of the L tracks. The two below were created from photos and sketches I made of the Brown Line near my studio.

Underneath the L Tracks, oil and acrylic on panel, 18x24, 2012

Transformers, oil and acrylic on panel, 18x24, 2012

After working on a very detailed skyline commission painting the last couple months, I attempted to loosen up and to create something more abstract but still recognizable. I used oil bars and acrylic on panel so the media is also somewhat of an experiment. Just changing to using oil bars gave me a more direct interaction with the image through drawing, smearing and mixing the colors with my fingers.

When placed next to each other, the wires and sharp angled lines move your eye around each painting and back-and-forth between each painting. By keeping it loose and exaggerating the shapes, I was able to give these paintings a sense of movement.

These two pieces have given me a new jumping off point both in media and subject matter. More city abstracts to come...

Chicago Ave. L Stop Photo at South Loop Acupuncture

Chicago Ave L Stop, digitally enhanced photograph, 2006

My photograph, Chicago Ave. L Stop, is now up as part of a show at South Loop Acupuncture. It was selected through my representation by Chicago Art Leasing. The image is part of my colored cityscapes series.

The Chicago Ave. L Stop on the Brown Line is one of my favorite stops. Located in River North, it's near the gallery district and a block away from where I worked my first job in the city.