41 Train Rides #28

Saturday January 25, 2014 - 9:01pm - Red Line from Howard to Addison.
Returning home from Evanston where Laura and I saw the movie 'Her', (Amazing! Best science fiction movie of the year). Quick dinner afterwards then the long ride from the Davis stop with a transfer at Howard Street. It all went smoothly with a short wait at Davis (thank you 'Train Tracker') and a train waiting for us across the platform at the Howard Street stop. Good thing too as the temperature was quickly dropping from 20 to 8 degrees, and three inches of snow forecast for after midnight. I was totally busted by these two taking their photo as I shot this panorama, but I gave them a hand embellished business card and a friendly conversation ensued. I notice the boy on the right had no sock on and I 'mothered' them both from the Loyola stop to Addison. No hats, no long underwear, no socks! Note the condition of the floor, salt and ice everywhere, and the streets are worse, with piles of snow to walk over and around. This winter will not quit. It may be time to quote Albert Camus.

"In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer."

Hand Embellished Business Cards

Whats On My Wall - January 19, 2014

My living room wall January 19, 2014. 

Acrylic Paint on Arches Watercolor Paper - 26 x 40 inches

It is a little difficult to make out what is going on in this piece. It is a sheet of good watercolor paper on which I've drawn horizontal lines with a straight edge ruler. The media is acrylic paint in a 'Molotow' pen. In this case I have kept the the color monochromatic - black, white, gray and silver - I plan to experiment with color eventually.

Cold Week - Might As Well Work

The weather was extreme in Chicago this past week. It began with the coldest temperatures I could remember in Chicago and ended with pouring rain and treacherous sidewalks. But there are things I embrace about this time of year, my nesting instincts kick in and I find it a great time to focus on my work. My work table sits next to a window and pictured below was the view Tuesday morning (-11 degrees).  

Later in the morning the sun would shine in and I was able to begin work. This week is was all about grids and grids that look like buildings, (I have a commission).  

Untitled Grid - Acrylic Paint on Arches Watercolor Paper - 40 x 26 inches

Second City #2 -Acrylic Paint on Arches Watercolor Paper

Work table with drawing in process. 

Detail

I am looking forward to spring and will be ready when it arrives, but in the meantime I like being close to home and work. Keep warm.

New Lake Collages

Large abstract watercolor washes with triangles of white cardboard affixed to them. 

Recent Ink Drawings

This last fall during my show at Scout I met Kim and Kyle when they purchase a large unframed India Ink drawing of mine. Three months later both the drawing, and Kim and Kyle's home show up on 'Apartment Therapy' (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/kim-kyles-graceful-home-house-tour-198080), a fun blog for those that are serious about the interior of their homes.

Since that little bit of internet publicity there has been a lot of interest in that particular body of work. I consider this piece to be a drawing although it is created in an somewhat unusual manner. I use cardboard and foam-core dipped into India Ink to make the marks on the paper. It is a different way to make a mark that moves away a bit from 'the hand'. I like this type of work, it veers between flat, pattern-like surfaces to architectural drawing formats. The spills and splatters occur during the making and I consider them a bonus. Below a few examples.

Size Approximately 20 x 50"

Large Drawing on My Wall

Detail