Mural commissions have been a big part of my focus the last two years. The Lincoln Square mural at 5011 N Lincoln is titled “The Announcement,” and references a figure (jazz singer) announcing a new chapter for the neighborhood. Interestingly, it is also a new chapter for me! Coming Soon: new murals summer of 2019 for The Des Plaines Historical Center and Holtkamp Heating and Air in Suwanee Georgia.
If you haven't noticed, I've got a bit of a thing for signage. I've been using the parking signage for years originally as a reference to our car culture and had a whole series of parking garages. More and more I'm just using the signage elements as graphic elements, and one other thing to think about when you as a viewer look at a piece. The figures have a relationship to each other and the signage brings another compositional relationship.
Utilizing silhouettes and a process of color blocking silhouettes and shapes, I’m especially interested in the graphic quality and color harmony in these works.
Recent posts from instagram.
The Mindfulness Garden Labyrinth is a project that I am currently working on, utilizing kids artwork. The scene is of a garden, with the North Elementary art class students participating in providing the drawings for the butterflies, birds, koi fish etc. in the scene. The end result will be a labyrinth that the kids can walk through and interact with.
See my new t-shirt line for discovergrey.com. Full interview here: https://discovergrey.com/profiles/artist-spotlight/this-colorful-artist-will-inspire-you-to-never-stop-hustling/
SEE PRINTS AND MERCHANDISE TAB FOR NEW SHIRT DESIGNS!
Decatur Arts Center Solo Show, “Signs of Life” March 2019. I was honored to be able to show my recent series of work at the Decatur Arts Center, what a fantastic space!
Green Mill, 2018. 38" x 38". I've always loved the Green Mill sign, and all that it represents as a long running club with live Jazz acts.
Recent graphic mural projects for Elmhurst District 205 schools. The compositions feature placement of student artwork in the larger artist scenes.
In the works, Oil on wood panels 4' x 12'.
Somewhere in our lives, the passion and energy of youth has passed us by. I’m populating my latest piece, “When we Ruled the World” with youthful characters as a way of looking back, and perhaps gaining my own middle aged mojo back in the process. I have been enamored with the idea of showing various stages of life, with a specific focus of the freedom and rebellious spirit of youth. The kids are all shown in action, playing without a cell phone in sight. The one jumping into the fountain I think of as myself at an early age, confident as hell and ready for anything. The scene utilizes Bethesda fountain in Central Park as a gathering place and allows for a directional narrative culminating in the fountain. The scene’s panoramic quality allows for multiple vantage points. Adding to this narrative character, the winged angel of the fountain looks down on the action in quiet approval.