A Print Project

I have spent today and part of yesterday working on an echoing based on one of my watercolor sketches. This had been a wonder collaboration with the Carriage House Press at Millikin University. Working with students and art professor Lyle Salmi, we produced an edition of 11 prints. This was a great experience!

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

A new small piece from the studio.

Works In Progress

The weather in February was not for outdoor work so I have been in the studio. After the Holidays it always takes me a while to get back into the routine. Right now I have several paintings in various stages and getting ready to start a new, larger piece too.

Painting At The Field Museum

Monday afternoon several members of the Sketch Group met at the Field Museum for our February outing. I decided to visit the dinosaur hall which I found has been wonderfully updated since I was last there! Altho rather dimly lit, I did manage to do a few watercolor sketches of some of the exhibits. This sketch is from the Maiasaur exhibit. I did several rather quick sketches, challenging myself to work without doing any preliminary pencil drawing.

Thompson Center

Today I was gallery sitting/working at the Thompson Center in Chicago. I have three paintings in a group show with 18 other members of the Illinois Artisan Program. This week long exhibit is part of the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Artisan program. The small watercolor here is of a sculpture in the atrium, it was right across the table so it was easy to sketch and still interact with visitors to the show. Aside from the chilly air in the atrium, it was a nice morning and thanks to those that stopped to visit!

Salt & Pepper At The Corner Bakery

Today the Sketch Group got together at the Corner Bakery on the corner of Rush and Cedar to work a bit and plan for 2011. We roughed out a schedule for the first part of the year and a list of possible locations. Visits to some exhibits will be added to our activities this year! With the time we had left, I worked on a drawing of a few items on the table and added color after arriving home. It was good to see everyone and wonderful to get back to work!!

Another Bean

Here is a second watercolor sketch from the outing to Milleninum Park.

Painting The Bean

Yesterday was the October outing for the sketch group and we met at Millennium Park. Altho only three of us braved the coolish and damp forecast. We were rewarded with a partly sunny, dry afternoon and we set up at one of the tables and tackled "The Bean". It was the first time I have tried painting it and getting the scale right is a challenge. I may still add a few details to this sketch and I started a second one that I will post later.

More Fish!

Here is another fish sketch from trip to the aquarium.

Painting at the Aquarium

Last Monday the Sketch Group's last outing for the month of September and we decided to take advantage of a free admission day at the Shedd Aquarium. We set up around the circular reef exhibit and after our eyes adjusted to somewhat dimmer lighting than we are used to, we all set to work. The constant movement of fish and people is a challenge but it was a most enjoyable afternoon. I would like to go back again, the view was always changing.

Painting At Belmont Harbor

It was a perfect clear and dry day in Chicago, a wonderful day to spend some time outside painting. We met at Belmont Harbor this afternoon and it was difficult to choose a subject, there was just too many good views. This watercolor sketch is of a few boats in the harbor with the lakefront and some buildings in the background. I started another of the lakefront and city skyline but it is still a work in progress.

Painting On Location

Last Monday was painting outside with four others from the regular
group. It was a beautiful day, perfect for working outside, and we
enjoyed our time at Marino Park at Rush, State and Cedar. This small
triangle of green space was a busy spot but we found some space to set
up and choose our subjects. The small work pictured here is of the
flower filled hanging baskets on the lamp posts.

Taos Sketch

I found time during our last afternoon in Taos to do a few small
watercolors of different views from the upper deck of the house. This
one is the view to the north of the town looking at the mountain range
that is home to the Taos Ski Valley. It was a warm afternoon and altho
the clouds were building we never did get the rain we could see in the
distance.

Taos Opening

Last night was the opening reception for this year's Taos National
Exhibition of American Watercolor. This exhibit is put together by the
Taos National Society of Watercolorists and this year they featured
works by all of the signature members in one gallery and works by
their local members in the second gallery. My painting "Pieces", the
lower painting seen in the photo, was chosen for the exhibit and I was
pleased to be able to be there for the opening. I have been a
signature member of the TNSW for several years.

IWS "Small Waters" Opening

Friday night was the Opening Reception for the Illinois Watercolor Society's "Small Waters" Exhibit at the Elmhurst Art Museum. The exhibit includes 44 original works by artists from 9 states, all of which are 144 square inches or smaller. The reception was very well attended and we heard comments from our juror, Nancy Fortunato, prior to the presentation of awards. My painting, "One Piece Of The Puzzles" is in this exhibit which will be open thru August. This show is worth seeing!