'80 MONROE' - updated

This is where I left it before I began working on the 'AutoZone Park' Painting:

So as I took a loooong, hard look at it as I worked on the other piece, I wanted to figure out a direction for it.  It DEFINITELY needs to be more vibrant, so I did some tweeking just to get a feel.  Somehow, I always wind up playing with shadows and windows.....

Although, it is now starting to have an appearance of dimension to it, I want it to really POP!  so, I think I will try a couple of different techniques and see what happens....

AutoZone - Finished!!

'AutoZone Park'

'AutoZone Park' - Part 2

Now the FUN stuff..... COLORING!!

The client wanted the piece toned down a bit, so I went with a more traditional palette... 

Next, I start adding more detail and enhancing the colors to see what will work.

'AutoZone Park'

Not to switch gears from the '80 MONROE' painting, but there is also a new piece for a client that would like a painting of  'AUTOZONE PARK' for their suite at Redbirds Stadium.

Below is the approved 'rough sketch' of how it will be laid out and a sense of colorings that I plan on using.  

So I get started laying it out on canvas with vine charcoal..... 
(Size:  80" x 48")

From this point, I like the layout so I outline everything in black.......

After I cleaned the lines up a bit, now it is time to start blocking in some of the primary colors to see how it flows.


More to come.....

Blocking in Colors

After a layoff on this piece while I took care of other more pressing ones......  I finally started to block in some colors to see how it would layout.

Along with adding shadows to give it more depth, I wanted to give the piece more bulk so I darkened the lines on the buildings and windows.

Now I need the sky  entered so I can make sure that  )#1 The color yellow will work & )#2 That some of the directions of the shadows are good.

" 80 MONROE "

The NEWEST Project/Painting is now on deck..... or on the Easel as they say!


It all started one day late last year when I was downtown in a boardroom on the 5th floor signing prints and happened to look out the window and couldn't help but notice the Fantastic architecture and crazy angles that you get once you are looking DOWN instead of UP at these buildings.  

The challenge is 'how' to take all that you can see and create a painting that can stand on it's own.  

So with some help from a friend (Thanks Michelle!) I used some photos as reference material and started sketching.....


This is the photo I chose to work from:  

'80 Monore'

So I took this and after a few rough sketches came up with this image:

Then I took this image and transfered it to a 40" x 30" sized canvas:

So this is the starting point.....

'Orpheum Theatre' - Night scene

OK... so it was a couple of days to get this one up.

Again, I start with the basic outline... 

Then start adding color... & in this case, Black.

Then add some liquid paint.