Violet Verve

Purple is a complicated color. That's why I prefer to purchase it rather than mix my own variations. Maybe if I kept a measuring cup and measuring spoons or graduated cylinders at my studio I'd change my mind, because at least then I could follow a consistent recipe or formula to achieve the same results every time. But because I didn't have measuring tools at my studio (I do now!) when I started painting Violet Verve, I availed myself of all the brightest violets that the art supply stores I frequent had to offer, as well as some of my secret ingredients.

 It kept going back and forth between too pink and too blue every time I glazed it.

I tried a pigment that required a UV light to cure correctly. So I got a blacklight bulb.

 

Then I added a final coat of glaze. Little did I know that paintbrush bristles broke off and formed this number 7 in the paint before Violet Verve dried. 

It took a long time, but after all that glazing I was very pleased with the wide range of hues.

The painting has a chameleon-like quality. Its gloss and iridescence cause it to reflect its surroundings and take on a different color cast depending on where you are standing when you look at it.

I'm selling it for $600 on Etsy. If you happen upon this post after it's been sold, don't despair. I can make a similar custom painting for you. Click here to learn more about my commissioned art process.

Emerald Splendor

My goal for my upcoming art show was to make a rainbow of paintings. I needed a green one.
Since I mistakenly bought a 24" x 30" board for Photosphere, I decided that I needed to make another painting that size to balance it out.

While walking downtown one day, I saw these plants and was inspired by their colors.

I decided to immerse the perforated Kraft paper in paint. It worked very well, essentially dyeing it, but it ruined my manicure since I didn't feel like wearing gloves. And that's why I so rarely paint my fingernails.

 

 I was very pleased with the result. The yellow highlights are like lightning in a dark sky.

There is an interesting combination of textures.

The metallic ink I used gives it areas of interest and depth.

UPDATE: As of September 30th, this painting is no longer available but if you want something similar, feel free to commission a custom artwork in these colors.

The 2018 Ravenswood Art Walk

It's been a while since I visited The Ravenswood Art Walk. As always, it was a treasure trove of discovery. But unlike previous years, it was unseasonably warm and the lack of air conditioning in some of the older studio buildings was palpable. Despite the heat, it was good to be back so that I could see the incredible variety of artwork on display.

My first stop was at The Awakenings Foundation's Cats Against Catcalling show. The gallery featured artwork dealing with street harassment while also ho
sting cats that needed new homes.

I loved this sign. It would go very well with Tatyana Fazlalizadeh's Stop Telling Women to Smile mural on Wabash in the South Loop.

My favorite piece from the show was this series of drawings by Ursa Eyer showing a woman who has been dealing with street harassment for her whole life finally reaching her breaking point. I can definitely relate to that feeling. The Awakenings foundation exclusively shows work by survivors of sexual assault and the other pieces on display dealt with that subject matter so openly that I could feel the artists' vulnerability and trauma. I felt so emotionally raw after seeing it that it brought me to tears. I wanted to hold one of the kittens that were up for adoption but didn't get a chance to.

Eventually I made my way to Architectural Artifacts, which, if you're familiar with my blog, you may remember is one of my favorite places to take pictures. I never know what sorts of odds and ends I will find there. Among the many unusual finds I came across were a set of Frank Lloyd Wright chairs, unpainted paper masks from a German opera house, an exquisitely drawn map of Paris, and a giant paintbrush prop that I would have gotten for my studio as a decoration it it hadn't been so expensive.

Finally, I went to Lillstreet Art Center to see what everyone was working on over there.

I loved this piece by Abi Gonzales. I was also impressed with the mosaic work in the stairwells. I don't remember seeing it before, so maybe it's new.

I had a good time and look forward to returning to the area soon, maybe to help a design client find something unusual or maybe to get a giant paintbrush for my studio.