I'm back with a huge oil painting project

Where have I been since my last post? Working on several oil paintings including these four. (I'll post the other two paintings I've been working on later this this week.) These four oil paintings are each 4-5 feet tall. Click on the photo above to see them better. The paintings are designed to hang together or apart. The subjects are a sweet Lincoln Park family on their roof deck. My studio assistant Tracee Badway and I have been working on capturing the values in gray scale before we add color. I'm very excited and pleased with how this is turning out. Watch this studio news blog for the final color version in a few weeks. My artwork photographer is Scott Keely who does great work.

The Boys of September

With the Sox giving up and the Cub pretty much out of it too, I thought I'd express my disappointment though the eyes of a little boy in the ball park. Another card for sale at my studio, October 3rd & 4th.

Bahamian Sunrise

My boys started school yesterday, and it made me a little nostalgic for our summer vacation in the Bahamas. I painted this card which will be among the dozens for sale during the Ravenswood Artwalk October 3rd & 4th. Stop by.

Absinthe Man

I created this painting as a demo for my older-adult students, loosely based on the husband of one of my students. I love the green cocktail. I turned the painting in to a blank greeting card for sale during my October open house. Stop by.

Two-Color Watercolor Woman

Created as a greeting card for a close friend, I enjoyed creating this quick two color sketch today. It is inspired by the work of British fashion illustrator Sharon Pinsker. I may try to create a series of hand-painted notecards, for sale at my October 3rd & 4th Studio Open House. Mark your calendars...

Very Funny Pavement Art

My talented artist friend, Tracee Badway and I created this funny chalk artwork yesterday on Michigan Avenue, outside the Tribune tower. Tracee is waving, I'm wearing the hat. If you click on the photo you can see it larger. We chalked from 9:30 am (when the rain ended) until 5:00 pm. It was a long day but the crowds were supportive and excited. And we were quite proud of the finished product. I checked on it this morning after last night's storms and it is significantly faded. Oh well, the best art is ephemeral.

Laughing Faces

I was hired by TBS to create "very funny" sidewalk chalk art as a promotion for the comedy festival TBS is hosting in Chicago this weekend. This is my maquette based on some laughing friends (with whom I watched the Cubs lose to the Twins last weekend). It's nice to focus on happy faces after years of painting the "rage series." I'll create the real thing, up to 20 feet wide, on Thursday, outside the Tribune Tower at 435 N. Michigan Avenue (near that crazy Grant Wood sculpture). Come visit--I'll be there, on my hands and knees rubbing the pavement, all day. As usual, rain is in the forecast. Check for photos of the real thing later this week.