Since January, I have been exploring abstraction with cityscapes. I’ve done a lot of sketching with charcoal and taking lots of reference photos to use. It’s been fun getting looser with the shapes and not being so concerned about things looking like actual architecture. Looking forward to making more of these abstract cityscapes. Click on the images below to enlarge fullscreen.
I’m excited to announce that my painting, Chicago Blues, and “elevator speech” artist statement are featured in the February-March 2019 issue of Professional Artist Magazine. The magazine has been around for over 30 years, but unfortunately, this will be the last issue. It’s sad because this was such a great resource for artists but I’m happy that I got contacted to be in the issue. Below are some screenshots (click to enlarge):
How to Nail Your Elevator Speech by Gigi Rosenberg, Professional Artist Magazine, February-March 2019
On Friday, October 5, 2018, we’re having Open Studios at the Cornelia Arts Building - kicking off the fall art season. I’ll be showing some new cityscape paintings and will also have a selection of pieces at discounted prices for a fall art sale. Stop by and enjoy an evening of art!
Art on two floors and guest artists in the hallways! Close to public transportation & free parking!
RSVP for the October 2018 Open Studios:
Friday, October 5, 6-10 pm
Check out a show preview on ArtSlant.
All are welcome so invite your friends! FREE and open to the public.
This past Friday, I was invited to give a presentation at my office about my art and volunteering at CHIRP Radio. It was a really great experience for me to share these two passions and creative outlets - people were engaged and asked questions about my art and CHIRP. The presentation was part of a bi-weekly office update and which always includes someone sharing something interesting they do outside of work.
Here are some photos from the presentation along with a few slides I used. Click on the images to view larger.
ART
I spoke about my art career, my studio, and how urban landscapes and architecture are my inspiration for creating paintings and photographs of cityscapes. I also let everyone know about the upcoming Cornelia Arts Building Fall Open Studios. Click on the images to view larger.
CHIRP RADIO
I gave an overview of CHIRPRadio.org - 1071.FM and my work as a volunteer, DJ, and marketing director for this Chicago-based independent community radio station. I also mentioned our current fall fundraising drive and upcoming one-year broadcast birthday bash. Click on the images to view larger.
Presentation Photos Credit: Nick Heitzman
I've bounced back-and-forth on the below paintings for most of the year but finally finished them up today. Part of where I had difficulty was working on another painting for a while - where I was experimenting with style, shapes, and colors - which blocked me a little bit creatively.
Here's the painting that blocked me that I was able to finish last week:
Bridge To Nowhere, oil on canvas, 48x36, 2018
And, once I finished Bridge To Nowhere, I was able to get back to the six other paintings I started earlier this year and finish them up. These are all imaginary cityscapes and a way to explore a little bit of abstraction in the shapes.
This Chicago Sun-Times video features Roscoe Village, the eclectic neighborhood where my studio at the Cornelia Arts Building is located. CAB (and my art) is featured at the 7:48 mark in the video where you can also get a glimpse of our open studios night!
The Grid: Exploring the Roscoe Village neighborhood, Chicago Sun-Times, July 11, 2018
We had our May Open Studios at the Cornelia Arts Building this past Friday and I decided to print some photos on canvas to both show something new and demonstrate how my photos are the foundation for my paintings. These shots are from 2013 and 2016 and have never been shown.
It's been a while since I put up a blog post and a while since I finished some paintings. Last week I finished "A Little Uneven" and today I finished up "Claustrophobia". Both are imaginary cityscapes where I'm trying to pull in more abstract elements and really flatten out the perspective to focus on color, shape, and texture.
A Little Uneven, oil on canvas, 30x40, 2018
Claustrophobia, oil on canvas, 30x40, 2018
For the past couple of months, I've been working on a new series of black and white paintings. They are based on Instagram photos I shoot on walks during my lunch break. Back in the studio, I create charcoal sketches from the photos and then use those sketches to make the paintings using oil pigment sticks. Many times, I will shoot the photograph, do the sketch, and create the painting in the same day. My day job at a digital agency is now located at The Merchandise Mart, so this series of cityscape paintings is really just me exploring this new work neighborhood along the Chicago River. I'm still focusing on the older architectural elements, the steel bridges, and L trains, along with their surrounding modern architecture. Lately, I feel like I'm drawn to the various abstract shapes in the compositions and this method allows me to create quickly in a looser way since I'm using the pigment sticks as a drawing tool.
Click images to view larger.
I have been working on this painting on-and-off now for a couple years and finally finished it up this past week. It's a large piece on panel with a lot of layers and texture that was originally sketched using spray paint and acrylic. I based it on a photo I took in the West Loop in the Fulton Market District right before a big upswing in neighborhood development and before Google moved in.
Fulton Market District - Chicago, oil on panel, 48x48, 2017