New Abstract Cityscape Painting - Cityscape Swirl

This is a new cityscape painting that I finished over this past weekend: Cityscape Swirl, oil on canvas, 24x30", 2024. I think it bridges both abstract and more representational cityscapes that I create, so I'm including it in my Abstract Cityscapes series.

It's based on photos I took in September 2023 in Culver City - Los Angeles, CA of the (W)rapper office tower building. It's a great modern brutalist-style building in the middle of an industrial area that sits alongside Ballona Creek. It was really cool to see up close, and I took a bunch of photos at various angles that I used to come up with the composition of the painting.

Cityscape Swirl, oil on canvas, 24x30", 2024

Here’s a few of the reference photos I took of the building. At one point, a security guard came out to be sure I wasn’t doing anything I wasn’t supposed to do. He didn’t leave until after I walked away. Click to view the larger full images.

New Cityscape Painting - Elusive Bending Turn

This is a new painting I finished recently: "Elusive Bending Turn", oil on canvas as, 24x30, 2024.

I described the painting to ChatGPT and when I asked it what it thought of the painting’s title, this is what it said:

"Elusive Bending Turn" has a captivating and enigmatic quality to it. It suggests a sense of mystery and fluidity, inviting viewers to contemplate the unseen twists and turns within the urban landscape. Overall, it's a compelling title for a painting that combines elements of movement and architectural intrigue."

So, there you have it. The robot's opinion. 🤣

"Elusive Bending Turn", oil on canvas, 24x30, 2024

Art included in a scene on Justified: City Primeval

I'm excited to share that a digital reproduction of a collaboration painting between myself and Scott Simons showed up in an episode of Justified: City Primeval. We got contacted over a year ago to sign the rights to have it included in the show, but you never know if it will make the cut or not. I finally got around to watching the show recently and it appears early on in the second episode. I’m still getting through the episodes, so who knows - maybe it will be in more.

In a funny coincidence, the original hangs above my TV which you can see below.

You can read about the original project here - large abstract wall coverings that were installed on all 18 floors of the Xavier apartment building directly outside each elevator bank.

IMAGE: Sunflower Slow Drag, mixed media on panel, 24x48, 2013 (collaboration painting with Scott Simons)

Click the images to view full size.

WGN-TV featured Andersonville Wine Walk and In Fine Spirits along with my art on custom wine label

Very cool to see the below video on WGN-TV about the Andersonville Wine Walk curated by In Fine Spirits, happening this weekend in Andersonville. "Clark Street Cab" features my Andersonville Water Tank painting on the label and will be one the wines they'll be pouring along the route! You can also view the painting in-person anytime at In Fine Spirits located at 5418 N Clark St. in Chicago. Watch the video and click the photos below to view.

More details about this wine label collaboration with In Fine Spirits.

Announcing Open Studios during Ravenswood Art Walk - September 16 - 17, 2023

I'm excited to announce that I'll be participating in the Ravenswood Art Walk happening September 16-17, 11am-6pm. My studio mate, Erik Weinstein, and I will be hosting our first open studios since moving into our new space in Ravenswood back in 2022. It’s been a while since we've had open studios and we’re looking forward to sharing new work with the public in our new-ish studio space. Check out my listing on the RAW website for more details, including our location and the art walk map. Other artists in the building will be open too, including Chex Studio, and friend Emily Rapport of Eat Paint will be showing work in her studio down the street.

The Ravenswood ArtWalk (RAW) Tour of Arts and Industry is a weekend-long celebration of our local creative community. Stretching from Lawrence south to Irving Park along Ravenswood Ave, RAW features: open studios and galleries, pop-up performances and activations, and an outdoor arts market featuring 50+ local makers, live music and dance, food trucks, and a Malt Row beer garden.

New York City - New Abstract Cityscapes

I finished up these two abstract cityscapes this weekend. They’re based on photographs I took in New York — creating the compositions by combining elements from different images taken in neighborhoods like Chelsea, The Meatpacking District, Tribeca, and The West Village. 

IMAGES:
“High Line Overlook (Chelsea)”, oil on canvas, 30x40, 2023
“Tribeca Jumble”, oil on canvas, 30x40, 2023


Exhibit: “City Scenes" by Kevin Swallow at Eye See Ravenswood

I’m pleased to announce that I’m now showing some paintings at Eye See Ravenswood, just a few blocks from my studio. They’re a mix of city scenes with a focus on Chicago architecture. It’s nice to be displaying work again publicly, especially in the neighborhood at a local business. Stop in to Eye See Ravenswood, check out the art, and have a look at their great selection of eyewear. Please contact me directly if interested in purchasing any of my work. Special thanks to Tiffany Stronsky for making the introduction.

Featured paintings:
Golden Lights, oil on canvas, 24x30, 2013
Red Canyon Skyscraper, oil on canvas, 24x36, 2013
City Twilight Blues, oil on canvas, 40x30, 2014
Chicago Blues, oil on canvas, 42x42, 2015
A Peek at Sears Tower from North Avenue, oil on canvas, 30x30", 2019
Fire Escape Vertigo, oil on canvas, 40x30", 2020
Aqua Tower Blues, oil on canvas, 40x30", 2020
Marina Towers Moments, oil on canvas, 30x40", 2021
Empty on the Inside, oil on canvas, 30x40", 2021


What my art looks like in interior spaces

Art always looks better surrounded by furniture and other objects. And sometimes it’s hard to visualize art in your space. So, check out my paintings in different interior settings to see what my art could look like in your home. Don’t live with blank walls! Click the images to view larger.

IMAGES:

1. South Loop Skyscraper, oil on canvas, 48x36, 2017

2. Chicago Blues, oil on canvas, 42x42, 2015

3. Fire Escape Vertigo, oil on canvas, 40x30", 2020

4. Empty on the Inside, oil on canvas, 30x40", 2021

5. City Twilight Blues, oil on canvas, 40x30, 2014

6. When I Looked Up, oil on canvas, 30x40", 2020

7. 420 on LSD (Lake Shore Drive), oil on panel, 48x96", 2019

8. Marina Towers Moments, oil on canvas, 30x40", 2021

9. Shades of Blue, 39x57, oil on canvas, 2018

10. West Village Skyline - New York City, oil on canvas, 48X60, 2017

2022 Art Highlights

Looking back on this past year, here are my 2022 art highlights:

  • The Eat Paint exhibition, "Where Art Works: Artist Communities and Creative Placemaking", I participated in and co-curated, continued through January and ended with a virtual artist talk on Zoom.

  • Moved to a new studio in the Ravenswood Industrial Corridor in March.

  • Sold 5 paintings, including my biggest cityscape painting, "420 on LSD (Lake Shore Drive)", and installed it in a South Loop condo.

  • Clark Street Cab wine (with my “Andersonville Water Tank" image) featured in the Andersonville Wine Walk for a second year in a row.

  • My cityscape and L train painting, “Empty on the Inside”, featured in the Cityscape Chicago group show at Palette & Chisel Gallery.

  • Created 9 new paintings.

  • Developed a new series of abstract paintings based on the architectural elements of the stairwell in my new studio building.

  • Took a multi-level figure drawing class at Lillstreet Art Center.

Click the images to view larger.

Multi-level Figurative Drawing Class - Gesture Sketches

For the past few weeks, I’ve been taking a multi-level drawing class at Lillstreet Art Center on Thursday nights. Last night was supposed to be our final class but it got cancelled due to the snowstorm. It’s been fun and pushed me out of my comfort zone since I usually don’t make figurative work. There were many short poses combined with long poses - anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour long. I liked how the short 30-60 second gesture sketches turned out when I would layer them on top of each other as I drew in charcoal. Not meant to be representational, just capturing the movements of the models in an expressive way. Click the images to view larger.