Google Image Search

I use 'Google Image Search' almost every day. Every once in a while I will perform a Google 'Search by Image' search of a drawing of mine to see what pops up through the internet that is similar. I will upload a photo of a specific piece, and not only will Google display all the places that image exist, it will also display 'Visually Similar Images'. I'm essentially letting Google make associations for me. Most results are not too far off base, but a few are quite surreal.

I uploaded an image of the drawing on the left yesterday.

These were all in the first 20 images that Google found under 'Find Similar'.

Collage Commission

I have a commission to make a number of collages this spring. They will be larger than the cardboard collages I have made in the past, and the scaling up has been a bit of a challenge, but I think I may have resolved it. Part of the solution is to embrace the suggestion of architecture in these collages and include slices of my old photographs of buildings. I think incorporating photographic information in these collages adds a new dimension if you will.

Michael McGuire - Untitled Collage - 36 x 24 inches

Michael McGuire - Untitled Collage - 36 x 24 inches

Panels Installed on the Walls of Las Manos

Michael McGuire - Untitled - 12 x 12 inch panels, Acrylic Paint

Last Friday, during the opening reception for the latest Las Manos show, I hung most of my recent 12" x 12" color panels on the newly painted white walls. The initial installation was more orderly than this. As the weekend progressed and we continually moved them around as we showed various configurations and combinations, this is where we ended up. One of my concepts for these pieces from the start was a certain modularity and open-endedness to their final arrangement, but I did not anticipate this! I am more orderly - for example I had originally hung all the panels with an X in them in one rectangular area. But this is fun too. And I now see a connection to certain 8 bit characters from my past.

More Images of Current Work

Our next and newest show opens this Friday, April 1, 2016, 7 to 10pm at the Las Manos Gallery Space, 1515 W. Foster Ave, Chicago.

Michael McGuire - Untitled Watercolor (Klee Study 3) - Watercolor on Paper - 9.5" x 6.5"

Michael McGuire - Red/Gray City - Acrylic Paint on Archival Mat Board - 40" x 30"

Michael McGuire - Blue/Orange City - Acrylic Paint on Archival Mat Board - 40"x30"

Michael McGuire - Building Study - India Ink on Watercolor Paper - 11"x8.5"

New Show at Las Manos - April 1, 2016

This Weekend

I have six painted  12x12 inch panels in gray with a diagonal line running through them. I was continually rearranging them until I decided to do a few explorations in Photoshop. A faster way to generate configurations before I make additional panels. I cannot decide which arrangement makes sense.

Michael McGuire - 6 Gray Panels - Acrylic Paint on Panel - 12 x 12" each

Variation 1

Variation 2

Variation  3

And I have donated my "Pink Egg Carton Tower" to Ferrer Foundation. There was an event on Thursday at Norcross and Scott, and the tower is in the store for sale. All proceeds from this piece will go to the Ferrer Foundation which serves young persons in the Chicago area. Check out their website at FerrerFoundation.org. Or learn more Norcross and Scott at norcrossandscott.com.

 And finally, I'm working on a large commission this weekend. Four Drawings from my "City" series. Three days in I'm somewhere near the half way point, still fine tuning the overall scope. I kept count today and I drew 61'buildings'. Those are new Michelle Peterson Albandoz pieces above my drawings.

New Work This Week

I'm in the studio almost every day this month - it is such a good time of year to hunker down and work. Bouncing around from idea to idea a bit. But why not explore?