June 10, 2017

It's been almost a month, but we're back with plenty of wonderful art. And keep reading for an invitation to a concert that is an amazing combination of music, art and science. We think you'll be as intrigued as we are, so we'll get right to the art and the invitation. Read on!

We welcome back Alan and Greeta. We've missed Alan's Yupo paintings, so we'll start with this painting of apples.

This is on regular paper and was an exercise in speed. It only took Alan 60 minutes for this. We love the background and the texture.

Alan perfectly captures a sun set. Between the gradated washes, the reflections, the shadows and the subtly painted boys, what's not to love?

Another great look at light—here the sun shines through trees and a field of bluebonnets.

Alan captures the essence of being a fan at a legendary blues performer's concert. The graphic quality of the face is perfect!

And here, Greeta captures Alan sitting at a bar by the water. We love the mood of relaxed serenity and can assure you that it looks just like Alan.

Greeta's first cat! Can you believe it? Come back to see more of these paintings. She's doing a series of paintings on a full sheet of watercolor paper folded into a booklet. The only requirement? Everything she paints has to have a face. She's right in tune with us all, isn't she?

 We're still intrigued with people, faces and portraits. Sara is finishing her series of birthday self-portraits, beginning with a sketch (not shown), a value study....

...a quick color study....

... and finishing up with the beginning of her final painting. Sara really does look better every year!

Elaine is still working on her portrait series. We're not sure if the portrait is accurate as she doesn't know the subject and is working from a black & white photo, using a new triad of paints (Daniel Smith Mayan Blue Dark, Pyrrol Orange and Quinacridone Gold). Still, it looks like a person, so she's reached her goal.

And here, Elaine has sketched a new subject—again, a person she doesn't know.

Ken has officially moved from corn to cats—in particular, cats' eyes. We're sure he hasn't yet run out of things to say about corn; he just wants to join the in-club and paint faces!

Another cat eye. But Ken is using a different technique in this series.

Susan painted two desserts—a creme brulee and a chocolate coated vanilla sundae. No wonder that cat's eye is so wide! Yum!

 

Herbie looks like he has his eye on the dessert, too. Tony painted this adorable dog—and it's not even his dog!

 

Tony also finished his Chicago cityscape...

... before beginning his experiment with a new wet-in-wet technique...

...and starting a street scene with people. Yes, Tony is all about people, too.

Madeleine effectively contrasts the graphic quality of the celtic cross with the billowing clouds and waving grass.

Here, Madeleine does a variation on her specialty—water. This feels like Georgia O'Keefe's painting of clouds, with the boats floating on the water.

Look closely at the soft texture Madeleine achieves below with a sea sponge.

Below is Madeleine's acrylic painting of Ireland. You can't tell here, but the gallery wrap canvas carries the vibrant colors around the sides.

Bill's gentle landscape sketch is the embodiment of watercolor.

As is his Turkish cityscape. He's used a minimal palette to impart a feel of cohesion.... and it works!

Like all of us, Bill loves series and studies. This Chicago gem started out as a quick sketch....

... and moved on to a more fully realized painting.

Not one to shy away from figures or experiments, Bill did this figure using line alone.

And remember Bill's abstracts? Here they are on a ceramic jar and lid. We're hoping this comes full circle and he paints the ceramic that came from a painting. Confused?

Upcoming events and important announcements

Have you ever wondered what the moon sounds like? You can find out! 

You're invited. You're invited to join the International Chamber Artists (ICA) for the exciting world premiere of Sallie Wolf's Moon Project. 

In a gorgeous original composition for flute, piano, tuba, French horn and narrator, composer Patrick Godon is inspired by Chicago naturalist and illustrator Sallie Wolf, who recorded years of the moon’s north-south shifts on musical staff paper, to create a sometimes ethereal, sometimes ecstatic melody. 

The five-section piece includes a “chant” theme and musical representations of four phases of the moon, interspersed with Sallie’s reflections. Also on the program are lively, evocative, and colorful works for brass quintet by Renaissance composer Tielman Susato and 20^th century Canadian composer Morley Calvert, and the lovable Beethoven Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 70, No. 2. 

Where:
     St. Gregory the Great Church
     5535 N. Paulina
     
When:
     Friday, June 23, 7:30pm

Click on the poster for more information about the concert.

And here is a link to Sallie's page which shows some of her work: http://www.salliewolf.com/moon.html 


Wolf’s Moon is unlike any other piece of music you will hear. It is at once data and song. Sallie Wolf once asked herself, “What might I see if I looked at the moon every day?” And now Patrick beautifully answers, “If you looked everyday, you might hear this.”