Something different

I've never been much for urban painting, just not a subject that excites me (all those man-made straight lines). But I know there are things to be admired in the city. Artists like William Wray and Stephen Magsig can point them out.

For the more than thirty years I've lived in the Chicago area, I've driven by the Stars Motel at Lincoln and Kedzie avenues an uncountable number of times. As far as I can remember, It's always been seedy, but the graphic designer in me has always liked the--now retro--sign. In preparation for gentrification, they tore down the building a year or two ago. They left the sign and with the economy the way it is, I don't think anything will be happening there for a while. But just in case, I stopped the other day to paint before the era has completely gone by. When was the last time a motel advertised having a Switchboard?


The Stars, oil, 12' x 9"

Back to Michigan

Enough Hawaii for a bit. here's a new Michigan painting from a location I've spent summer vacations at for more than forty years.
Ready to go, oil, 14" x 20" SOLD

North Kaanapali

I started this late one afternoon and had to stop when I lost my light. I took to much time with the drawing. I figured I'd come back the next day, but didn't get to it. So back at home it became more en studio then en plein air. It lost some of the freshness and spontaneity, but I'm not completely unhappy with it.
North Kaanapali afternoon, oil, 11" x 14"

Lots of palms

I just finished touching up this one from Maui. I painted it in a park on a very windy day. I lost my set-up once to a strong gust. Spent the rest of the time holding on to it.

I sometimes get into trouble painting in the sunlight (my oversized painting umbrella seemed like too much work to bring). That happened on this one. I painted it a bit dark and the palm trunks didn't read right against the big tree in the background. I worked on that a little during the touch up--as well as removing some of the dirt from the wind.

Through the palms, oil, 16" x 12"

Now showing

As a member of the Glenview Art League, I have the opportunity to exhibit in group shows around town. For the next couple of months I have paintings at the Bookmarket in the Glen Town Center. They have a nice kind of gallery/events/reading area adjacent to the bookstore. There are six of us who each have six to ten paintings. Stop by to see a nice little show.