Installation Views: DAC Group, Chicago

I finally had the chance to get the images posted of my DAC Group commission from 2014. This was an exciting project for me as I had the images printed, framed, and hand-delivered by me and my friend and fellow artist, Scott Simons. Special thanks to Blackbird Framing for the excellent framing job! DAC Group, a Canadian digital marketing and PR company, commissioned me to create a series of cityscape photographs which now hang in their newly designed Chicago office on Michigan Avenue. In addition, they will be conducting a PR campaign to local media and sending out smaller, limited edition prints to the press announcing their arrival in the city.

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First paintings of 2015

The paint is still wet, but the first paintings of 2015 were finished this weekend. I usually shoot photos of my completed paintings out on my studio rooftop. I wait for an overcast, cloudy day to do this since diffused light is best for shooting artwork. Sunday fit the bill - it was overcast but cold, with some snow flurries which made for a challenging shoot on the rooftop. These are based on sketches and reference photos I took and are part of my cityscapes series.

Lofty Towers, oil on panel, 30x40, 2015

South State Street Lofts, oil on panel, 24x24, 2015

New Painting: Rooftop Escape Plan

This painting is based on a photo I took in the summer of 2014 on a weekend trip to New York City. I shot it while taking a walk on The High Line. The High Line is a park built on an abandoned elevated rail line that runs along Manhattan's west side from the Meatpacking District up through Chelsea to 34th Street. Lots of great views a few stories above street level of new and old architecture. One of the things I love is getting the close-up views of the rooftop water tanks.

Rooftop Escape Plan, oil on panel, 24x30, 2014

Here's the photograph I took that the painting is based on:

December in the studio

I've been working on multiple paintings the last couple months but haven't finished any recently. So, continuing to work on them and starting new ones and other projects, like these 3D watertanks, which I will continue to explore: Rooftop Watertanks, mixed media on cardboard, works in progress

And getting close to finishing this piece which is based on a photo from New York. Working in a more limited, muted palette.

Rooftop Escape Plan, oil on panel, work in progress

And another still in the works, also based on New York imagery:

Lofty Towers, oil on panel, work in progress

And there are a few more paintings in progress that I'll post soon...

What is Painting? Project - NeotericART

I'm excited to announce that I was asked to be part of The WIP Project: What is Painting? from NeotericART. NeotericART is a website about painting and drawing and WIP is an ongoing series where they ask artists that simple question: What is Painting?

Click here to read my essay

Rooftop WaterTanks - Paintings in Progress

I'm working on about 6 or 7 paintings right now - three of them are focused on rooftop watertanks. One is based on the Swedish watertank in Andersonville that was removed last spring, one is from the West Loop/Fulton Market, and one from my imagination - no specific location. They are disappearing elements in our city skylines, so I enjoy documenting them while they're here. All of these are large scale pieces, oil on panel.

Rooftop Watertanks, oil on panel, works in progress

A couple new paintings in the works

I started these two paintings last weekend. They are both from my imagination, no photo references this time. Oil and oil bar on wood. Still more layers and colors to go but trying to keep it loose...

Enjoy!

-Kevin

Three New Cityscape Paintings + Open Studios

I finished up three new cityscape paintings over the weekend - just in time for Friday night's open studios! These will be hanging in studio #201 on the second floor. Come check them out in person and help us kick off Chicago Artists' Month! In a Silent Way, oil on canvas, 24x48, 2014

High Line Bend at 30th St., oil on panel, 24x36, 2014

Ravenswood In Bloom, acrylic on panel, 24x30, 2014

Cornelia Arts Building 1800 W. Cornelia Studio #201 Chicago, IL 60657

Art from 30 artists on two floors, live jazz music, and food from a local food truck in the parking lot. Hope you can make it out! All are welcome - invite your friends

Open Studios - October 3, 6-10pm

Mark your calendar for the next Open Studios at the Cornelia Arts Building - Friday, October 3, from 6-10pm. Cornelia Arts Building 1800 W. Cornelia Chicago, IL 60657

I'm in studio #201 at the top of the stairs on the second floor.

Art from 30 artists on two floors, live jazz music, and food from a local food truck in the parking lot!

Click here for a show preview

Now on Instagram

I finally got around to creating an Instagram account: http://instagram.com/swallowstudios. I'll be posting there regularly, mostly using it as a way to have a daily creative outlet to quickly and easily create art. I'm mostly sticking to shooting architecture and cityscapes that will give me inspiration for paintings and other projects.

I've also embedded the Instagram feed into my website in the photos section: http://www.swallowstudios.com/photographs/instagram. Or, if it's easier, Like and Follow my art page on Facebook.

Enjoy!