New York Times Article You Should Read

Nice article in the New York Times laying out a few of the factors that define the 'Millennials'. Some interesting ideas within the article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/17/fashion/the-millennials-are-generation-nice.html?_r=0

A Drawing From The Show At Las Manos Gallery

Untitled - Watercolor, Cardboard, Acrylic Paint, Watercolor Paper - 40"x26"

I am avoiding using the word 'sailboat' when talking about this drawing, I don't want it to be quite so literally interpreted. But whatever the white triangles are, in this latest iteration I challenged myself to include a lot of them. Why not push it to some extreme? When are there ever this many boats assembled? Only during the largest regattas, or some large scale evacuation.

I begin by washing good Arches watercolor paper with very concentrated 'Windsor Newton' Indigo watercolor. When the color is dense the blues look black/violet from some angles. The color never goes on completely evenly, and I don't really strive for that, the variations indicate traces of the handmade, and it can suggest any number of landscape elements. Once the paper is dry I flatten it by piling on heavy books overnight. The next morning the paper is flat-ish and I begin gluing on the triangular white cardboard pieces that have been washed in varying degrees with white acrylic paint. I diminish their size as I work my way up the sheet of paper, attempting to create a sense of perspective and receding space. I did forget how difficult it is to glue down the smaller triangles. My glue covered fingers just are not dexterous enough to easily manage small pieces of cardboard neatly. And every piece needs to be held in position for the first few minutes of dry time. Three days later I was finishing up the top row of tiny white triangles, and very ready to move on.

A Few Photos From Last Fridays Reception At Las Manos

Ted Harris, Michelle Peterson Albandoz and Myself in front the wall of my drawings.

The front entry of Las Manos Gallery.

The view from Foster Avenue with Ted Harris Lamps in window. 

A collaboration between Ted Harris and Myself. 

New Show, New Work

My concept for the show with Ted Harris that opens this coming Friday at Las Manos Gallery is various works on Arches 26 x 40 inch watercolor paper. As you might know if you have check in on this blog recently I have been dying, staining and/or adding watercolor washes to the paper for a few weeks now. On top of that I have been drawing, with acrylic paint pens, imagery derived from my architectural drawing past. I hope to have at least a dozen of these drawings and although they will not be framed, I'm going to make some sort of installation out of them on the plywood walls.

Untitled (Grid on Grid 1) - Watercolor, Acrylic Paint, Watercolor Paper - 26 x 40 inches

The opening reception is on Friday August 22, 2014 at Las Manos Gallery, 1515 W. Foster Ave in Chicago. The party will run from 7 until 10 pm. It should be a good one!

Ted Harris has been hard at work in his studio creating lamps to fit the scale and sensibility of Las Manos.

Nicole Hollander is creating what I can only call dioramas with fish!

Kathryn Trumbull Fimreite will be showing a beautiful DVD about the frustrations of creative endeavors.

Michelle Peterson Albandoz promises on new large 'circular' piece, and Tricia Rubolz is always hard at work.

Guess What, I'm In The Next Show At Las Manos!

The new show will also feature Ted Harris. He had been designing new lamps fitted to the scale and sensibility of Las Manos Gallery. I continue to hand dye Arches watercolor paper and then draw architecturally inspired images over them. Also included in this next show will be Nicole Hollander showing small dioramas with live fish, and a few hand embellished drawings! And Kathryn Trumbull Fimreite will show a beautiful video that concisely sums up the art-making experience. Michelle and Tricia promise new work too.

The show will open on August 22, 2014, and the reception will run from 7 to 10pm on that day. Hope you can make it.

Back Courtyard Las Manos Gallery - Michelle Peterson Albadoz, Wood Rings - Ted Harris,  Indigo Lamp - Michael McGuire, Cubed Tower

New Collage - White Paint on Cardboard

I have used India ink on cardboard many times, but never white paint on cardboard. I like the idea of the combination, color and material-wise. I painted white acrylic paint on the backside of two 'Cheerios' boxes, let it dry overnight, and then cut the cardboard into two inch squares. I played with the composition as I was gluing the pieces down to archival mat board, largely thinking abstractly. The next step would be to work larger, but I will live with this study for a few days before moving on.

White Collage Study - Acrylic Paint on Recycled Cardboard - 12 x 24 inches