School of Athens

This is the outcome of an assignment in one of my drawing classes: to copy and abstract a Renaissance painting. I chose Raphael's School of Athens at the Vatican from a photograph in H. W. Janson's History of Art. Looking at it some forty years later, my depiction of the painting's architecture (a reference to the new St. Peter's basilica) does not really look very abstract. A detail of a 27" by 20" acrylic painting on illustration board, done Spring, 1971. I photographed it at an angle to exaggerate the vertical perspective.

Altgeld Hall

An unfinished drawing of the bell tower of Altgeld Hall, a Neo-Romanesque building on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Conté crayon and turpentine wash on glossy paper, approximately 8" by 16" original size, done Spring, 1969.

Switch House

A railroad switching yard house in Champaign, IL. A watercolor, approximately 16" by 14" original size, done on site, Spring, 1970.

Illioskee

A view of Illioskee, a carnival that used to be held at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A watercolor, approximately 16" by 14" original size, Spring, 1970.

Bunny's Liquors

Now, I am going to post a few earlier watercolors. Here is a view of Bunny's Package Liquors in Urbana, IL: approximately 16" by 14" original size, done on site, Spring, 1970.

Leaning Tower

A sketch of the Leaning Tower.....of Niles, a suburb of Chicago. This half-size replica of Pisa Cathedral's campanile is located at the Leaning Tower YMCA. A quick study, felt tip marker on tracing paper, 6" by 8" original size, done March, 2012.

Russell's Barbecue

Before there was a McDonald's, there was Russell's. Serving barbecue sandwiches since 1930, Ray Kroc probably sold this establishment Multi-Mixers way before he sold them to the McDonald brothers. For me, the building evokes a monumental Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie Style house, several of which are nearby: the simple volumes, the broad low-pitched roof with overhanging eaves, the horizontal bands of windows and wall materials. Felt tip marker on tracing paper, approximately 6" by 8" original size, drawn on site, March, 2012.

Ukrainian Church

Getting really close to home, here is a sketch of St. Joseph Ukrainian Catholic church in Chicago. The onion domes were originally bright metallic, but they were painted over because pilots landing planes at nearby O'Hare airport complained about the glare from them. Felt tip marker on tracing paper, approximately 6" by 5" original size, drawn on site, March, 2012. The sketch was photographed and color depth was decreased and a sky tone was added using Paint Shop Pro.

This is the same sketch as above, but with the vertical perspective exaggerated and with some added color using Paint Shop Pro to simulate sunset.

North Avenue Beach

A sketch of North Avenue beach looking south toward the Chicago skyline. Felt tip marker on tracing paper, 8" by 6" original size, drawn October, 2011.

Chinatown

A view of Chinatown in Chicago looking north along Wentworth Avenue. Willis Tower is in the distance, behind the Chinatown gate. Felt tip marker on tracing paper, approximately 6" by 8" original size, done August, 2011, with sky tone added later.

Millennium Park

A sketch looking north toward Randolph Street from Millennium Park. A quick study, felt tip marker on tracing paper, 6" by 7" original size, done August, 2011, with sky tint added later using Paint Shop Pro.

Buckingham Fountain

I had to include a sketch of my hometown. A view of the Chicago skyline from Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park. A quick study, felt tip marker on tracing paper, 7" by 9" original size, done August, 2011, with sky tone added later using Paint Shop Pro. There is a French connection here: the fountain was inspired by the Bassin de Latone fountain in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles.

Place des Vosges

Another sample of a page from my Paris sketchbook. Views of Place des Vosges, some of which were previously posted. Felt tip marker on Canson tracing paper, approximately 8 1/2" by 11" original size, done October, 1971.

Place Charles de Gaulle

A sample of one of the pages of my Paris sketchbook showing views of the Arc de Triomphe, one of which was previously posted. Felt tip marker on Canson tracing paper, approximately 11" by 8 1/2", done October, 1971.

Boulevard Saint-Michel

Two scraps of drawings from my Paris sketchbook, each no more than 2" by 3" original size, of the Boulevard Saint-Michel. Felt tip marker and pencil on paper, drawn on site, October, 1971.

L'Opéra Garnier

A sketch of the Paris Opera, approximately 4" by 3" original size, felt tip marker on tracing paper, done April, 1972, with color depth reduced later.

Café

There had to be a self-portrait sooner or later. A sketch of my reflection in a mirror at a café near the Gare Saint-Lazare. Dry tip marker on paper, approximately 4" by 7" original size, done April, 1972.

Café Bar

A view of a server at the bar of a café near the Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris. Dry tip marker and felt tip marker on paper, approximately 4" by 6" original size, done April, 1972.

Café

Another view of patrons in a café near the Gare Saint-Lazare. Dry felt tip marker on paper, approximately 4" by 6" original size, done April, 1972.

Café

A view of patrons in a café near the Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris. Dry felt tip marker on paper, approximately 5" by 7" original size, drawn on site April, 1972.

Café

Sketch of a patron in a café near the Gare Saint-Lazare. Dry tip marker on paper, approximately 7" by 9" original size, done April, 1972.

Café Bar

A view of patrons at a café bar near the Gare Saint-Lazare. The top sketch was drawn quickly on site and the bottom sketch is a cleaned up version of the top sketch done later. This café was all mirrors and neon lighting. Dry tip marker and felt tip marker on paper, approximately 7" by 8" each, original size, done April, 1972.

Café Bar

A sketch of patrons at a café bar near the Gare Saint-Lazare. The top sketch was drawn quickly on site while the bottom sketch is a cleaned up version of the top sketch. Dry tip marker and felt tip marker on paper, approximately 7" by 8" each, original size, done April, 1972.

Blackfriar

A sketch of patrons in the Blackfriar pub. This is an abstraction of a sketch in a previous posting. Approximately 4" by 5" original size, felt tip marker on paper, done February, 1972.

Blackfriar

A drawing of patrons at the Blackfriar pub. Felt tip marker on paper, approximately 4" by 5" original size, drawn on site, February, 1972.