Sign Painter For Hire

I just finished a new sign for my favorite ladies at barbara&barbara  over in Logan Square.

Their new vestibule was hit by some graffiti vandalism a few weeks back and they asked me to cover it up.

It was a little of challenge because I used "1 Shot Sign Painters Enamel Paint"

This was the first time I used this paint and it proved to be a much slower process than I had anticipated. The paint is just super thick and because I was painting on industrial canvas it sucked the paint into the surface so fast the pant went a lot faster than I anticipated. Applying the paint was also much more challenging because it didn't allow for fluid lines like I'm use to getting with acrylic. And when I tried to make it more fluid with turpentine it created a terrible bleed mark on the edge. 

This is the rough sketch I did for the concept over a photograph of the damaged vestibule:

Me working on location, of course I pick two of the two hottest days we've had so far this spring. 

Finished detail: 

Swing by and give it a look its located 

at 2925 W Diversey

Chicago IL

Go inside and my mural I did for the space last summer and get your hair cut while your at it! 

Inspiration found in fashion: Lena Hoschek

I've always found inspiration for paintings in the works done by fashion designers.  My paintings tend to be heavy in the use of texture and craft materials that I've translated from clothing numerous times.

Recently one designer  Lena Hoschek a European designer that finds inspiration from the traditional costumes worn in Germany.

You can see more of her work on the blog Q's Daydream the blog that turned me onto Lena in the first place.

I really enjoy how she combines colors and textures into her clothes. Plus I'm a big fan of wearing boots with dresses and she does that fantastically in her Fall/Winter collection for 2013.

 Her Fall winter line also reminded me a lot of Henri Matisse's Red Room piece painted in 1908.

Bear tree Illustration finished

With teaching sometimes it's hard to find time to get to the studio as much as I'd like to. This piece took me a few weeks to complete but I'm really happy with the final result.

It's 18x24 watercolor on paper.

It's available for purchase on Etsy and I'll have prints available soon too!

I'm considering turning this image into a short children's book about the behavior both real and make-believe of these fuzzy fellows.