Painting on St Patrick's

Since moving to Chicago I've spent every St. Patrick's Day holed up, in one place or another, making art all weekend.  After three years, it's become my favorite unintentional tradition!

This year I spent most of my time at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Musuem.

In a new exhibit there, Lana Crooks is installing a large-scale plush "Fiber Forest", which will soon be a Storytelling Nook for children who visit.

While Lana sewed and constructed the large 3D elements of her installation, I mixed up some colors with the provided house paint (my new favorite medium) and dropped in the 2D forest background.  Max was a huge help painting and keeping up with the deadline.

The exhibit, "Nature's Struggle", opens

Saturday, March 22

There will be photos of the entire installation soon, but for now

here's a look at the mural's progress over last weekend:

A palette of warm tones, mixed up in take-out containers.

Working on the first section, the 'entry view' to the installation. 

Max comes to help, while Jarrett works with Lana (and a staple gun) on the Plush Trees

It looks quiet and serious, but we're really rocking out to the Pogues here.

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is located at

2430 N Cannon Dr,  Chicago, IL   60614

You can see more photos of Lana's entire Fiber Forest installation by checking out Instagram:

#fiberforest

Saturday, March 8th: Emerging Artists at Morpho Gallery

Hey Chicagoland!

I'm very happy to announce that I'll have three paintings on display at

The 9th Annual

Emerging Artists Exhibition

at

Morpho Gallery

Chicago

The reception is from 6 - 9pm, stop by and say hello! There will be plenty of great art on the walls, and maybe a couple beers. 

What else is happening?

The usual! 

I'm working on a 3D shop update with fun things for March

More on that later!

I'm spending a lot of time with my sketchbooks, exploring more

Just paint over everything.

Of course, the new day-job is keeping me busy.   A recent company move has improved my daily view:

Well, this is actually the view from a few floors up, where I buy my sandwiches.  

But, still.  Pretty great lunch breaks.  

And as always

Late nights at the drawing table.  

This will be a new watercolor portrait, once I pencil in a bit more of Shea's long curls.  

Never a dull moment!  

See you Saturday, Chicago!

xoxox

Friday, March 7th - Portraits

Hey, Indiana!

(or, South Chicago!)

This Friday, March 7th, I'll have three paintings on display for

"Portraits"

at Studio 659

Whiting, IN

The Opening Reception is from 7pm - 9pm

Show will be up until March 19th!