November 14, 2015

Another Saturday with no video! Today the camera wouldn't even start up, so we're pretty sure something is wrong. We'll investigate further, but meanwhile we'll have to settle for still photos again.

We began the day by taking down our exhibit in the McKeon Center. It certainly came down faster than it took to install! If you made it over to see the exhibit, thank you! If not, we'll keep you updated about future shows.

On to the art—starting with a wonderfully witty seasonal painting by Vivian. She began this last year and is adding finishing touches this year. Entitled Freedom from Want, it features her cat and some of the most delectable looking Thanksgiving food we've seen in quite some time. Our mouths are watering as we look at the luscious turkey and pie... and it seems the cat feels the same way!

Abla is using her fabled #0000 brush to great effect. Zoom in and look at this tree trunk. The colors, the texture.... just lovely!

Sara is painting trees too, but hers are in New York's Central Park. Appropriately enough, as this chorus line of dancing trees looks like they took lessons from the Rockettes. We love that Sara is channeling her inner Seurat in the frame, too.

Who doesn't love trees? Alan uses a tree trunk and leaves to frame a lake cottage. The beautiful texture and colors guide us right to the focal point.

The cottage painting above is on paper, but below, Alan switches to his newest favorite, Yupo. And no wonder, when you see the effects he can achieve on this tricky surface. The delicate flowers stand out in contrast to the deep background. Love the fern, too!

More Yupo for Alan. This time, he's created a lovely pond background and has started to reverse out a field of water lilies. Watch out, Monet!

Bill returns to his floral still life. This time, he's strengthened the vertical elements of the composition and added volume to the plant.  We especially like the window and the way the plant leans toward the light.

 Another floral! Here Madeleine is memorializing a bouquet she received, skillfully adding a candlestick and pottery to the composition. She's perfectly captured the metal and we applaud her use of yellows in the background.

Madeleine has also finished her painting of Bill and his friend, Donkey. This just makes us smile—for so many reasons—the warm sunlight, the textures, the shadows, the gestures and the sweet relationship. Don't you agree?

Elaine is in people painting mode, too. And like Alan and Greeta, she's memorializing the last days of summer at the lake in this scene of paddle boat racers.

Mohammed taps into all of our major themes today—portraits, flowers, textures and unusual surfaces. He's added a floral background to his portrait of a woman framed in an textured arch. And he's returned to another favorite technique, sponge painting. Despite the slick surface of the foamcore, he is certainly making it work.

Ken's painting of a view through a stained glass window (Alan's creation, to be precise) to the street beyond is coming along beautifully. Even the tree across the street looks like a stained glass window! We love this Ten Cat series.

We end with Greeta's take of summer on the lake. And what's even more exciting than the painting of the kids fishing is the fact that she's painting this in a book of "cottage" paintings.  That's right! It's a spiral bound book with paintings that have a common theme. They are all of her cottage or done at her cottage. What a wonderful idea! So we've added a small sampling below, ending with a tribute to summer.

This painting is a bit fuzzy, but be assured that the real painting is exquisite. It's a very watercolor-y painting of a cottage...

... as is this.

A  floating platform on the lake is perfect for kids to fish from.

These flowers look like something Van Gogh would have done if he visited the cottage.

Isn't this casual arrangement of flowers in a rusty watering can just the essence of lake living?

And we end with heirloom tomatoes on a country tablecloth. (Again, the painting is much better than the photo.)

Upcoming events and important announcements

Finally, as we mentioned, our exhibit is over, as is Ken's opening reception. But it's not too late to see his paintings at the Ten Cat (through mid-December) or to hear Steve and the DePaul Community Chorus next weekend. Mark your calendars!
 

The Ten Cat Ten Cat Show.  Ken will be having a show at Ten Cat Tavern. Drop by to see the art...and maybe play some pool.

      Where:
      Ten Cat Tavern

      3931 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL

     When:
     October 26–December 7, 2015
     

DePaul Community Chorus Concert.

Come hear Steve in the November concert, Darkness & Light: Nordic and Mediterranean Perspectives. 150 voices strong, eight part harmony—it's beautiful and it's free!

      Where:
      DePaul Concert Hall
      800 West Belden, Chicago

     
     When:
     Sunday, November 22, 2015 at 3pm