Category: Chicago Skylines

Chicago Skylines by artist and architectural illustrator, Stephen F. Condren, BFA-SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, with JPEG & PDF scan and prints of Chicago skyline #026Q.

Chicago skyline watercolor Impressionist painting at dusk.
Impressionistic watercolor painting of the Chicago Skyline at sunset by artist Stephen F. Condren.
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Chicago Skyline Watercolors #149Z

Watercolor painting of Chicago Harbor Lighthouse

This article is about Chicago skyline watercolors #149Z are metropolitan cityscape paintings, which is for sale at discount with prints by artist Stephen F. Condren, BFA-SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. Because Chicago is on the water, it has a shoreline.

Chicago skyline watercolor on Lake Michigan.
Chicago Skyline Watercolor On Lake Michigan

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

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Chicago Skyline Drawing With John Hancock Center #085Z

Chicago skyline #2458A pen & ink, color pencil, cityscape drawing at sunset with clouds.

This article is about Chicago skyline #085Z color pencil drawing with John Hancock Center, which is for sale at discount with prints by artist Stephen F. Condren, BFA-SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. This is my color pencil drawing of the Chicago, Illinois, skyline of the near north side with the John Hancock Center. Focus is on the color pencil medium. The color pencil lines give a strength  to the drawing because the line work clarifies the architectural elements. Also, the use of many different colors make the body of the drawing more robust and finished. The color from the pencils also provide an excellent enhancement to the tones of the setting sun.

Chicago skyline #085Z prints are available here.

Chicago skyline #085Z key points

  • John Hancock Center

  • Construction

  1. John Hancock Center: The John Hancock Center is a large scale office building and high rise residence. This building is the anchor of this color pencil drawing of the Chicago skyline. The John Hancock Center, which stands firmly behind. The Drake Hotel and the Palmolive Building, both historic gems of Chicago architecture.
  2. Construction: Originally, the construction of the John Hancock Center was planned to be a complex with two separate towers connected by the parking helix. However, the Casino Club on the north east corner of the property would not sell. Thus there was not enough land area to build the tow towers and so redesigned the plaza to house the giant single story building that we all know so well today.

Chicago Skyline Drawings Link

Chicago skyline drawings

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

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Chicago Skyline Watercolor Sunset Painting #084Z

Chicago skyline #985A pen & ink cityscape watercolor overlooking Lake Michigan at sunset with crimson sky

This article is about Chicago skyline #084Z Watercolor Sunset Painting, which is for sale at discount with prints by artist Stephen F. Condren, BFA-SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. This article is about my watercolor painting of the Chicago, Illinois, skyline at sunset. The view of Chicago from Lake Michigan overlooking the Loop from Burnham Harbor is the most popular view of the city. The lakefront is like the front door to Chicago and the key access point. Having Chicago on the shore of a great body of water offers many wonderful opportunities for artist. The shimmering lights of the skyscrapers can be rendered so beautifully as a mirror on the water.

Burnham Harbor

Daniel Burnham had in his famous “Plan of Chicago” to make the heart of Chicago start at the center of the harbor and radiate outward like a Chinese hand fan.

Key elements of this work of art are as follows.

  • Color
  • Lake Michigan
  • Delineation

Chicago Skyline Watercolors Link

Chicago skyline watercolors

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

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Chicago Skyline Watercolor Painting #083Z

Chicago skyline #853A pen & ink cityscape watercolor is popular because of it's view of Streeterville.

This article is about Chicago skyline #083Z Watercolor Painting, which is for sale at discount with prints by artist Stephen F. Condren, BFA-SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. This is my Chicago skyline watercolor painting of Chicago, Illinois, skyline at Streeterville. Prints & Scans Of This Drawing #083Z ~ Order Here.

Chicago Skyline Watercolor Painting #853. Key elements to this work of art are as follows.

Chicago skyline watercolor with John Hancock Center.

  • John Hancock Center
  • Elevation
  • Delineation
  1. John Hancock Center: The John Hancock Center is centerpiece of the watercolor painting. The tapering of the walls of this famous skyscraper lends itself to the formation of the cluster of building that form the apex with the antennae.
  2. Elevation: The elevation of the watercolor is right on Lake Shore Drive. I have omitted any waterfront so as to focus on the structures. A thin strand of trees form a buffer between the shoreline and the buildings.
  3. Delineation: I have used a more careful line work for this watercolor. The lines on the John Hancock Center are clean and clear not loose and free. The lines on the lower building are looser.

Chicago Skyline Watercolors Link

Chicago skyline watercolors

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

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Chicago Skyline Watercolor Painting At Sunset #082Z

Chicago skyline watercolor painting at sunset from Burnham Harbor

This article is about Chicago skyline #082Z Watercolor Painting At Sunset #788. Chicago Skyline Watercolor Painting At Sunset #788, which is for sale at discount with prints by artist Stephen F. Condren, BFA-SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. This is my Chicago skyline watercolor painting of the Chicago, Illinois, skyline at sunset.

Chicago Skyline Watercolor Painting At Sunset #788. Key elements to this work of art are as follows.

  • Burnham Harbor
  • Color
  • Delineation

Chicago Skyline Watercolors Link

Chicago skyline watercolors

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

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Chicago Skyline Watercolor Sunset Painting Of East Randolph Street #081Z

Chicago skyline watercolor of east Randolph Street at sunset.

This Chicago skyline #081Z Watercolor Sunset Painting Of East Randolph Street #781, which is for sale at discount with prints by artist Stephen F. Condren, BFA-SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. This is my watercolor sunset painting of the Chicago, Illinois, skyline at sunset on east Randolph Street.

Chicago Skyline Watercolor Sunset Painting Of East Randolph Street #781. Key elements to this work of art are as follows:

  • Sunset
  • Delineation
  • Lake Michigan
  1. Sunset: The sunset is the backdrop to on-stage drama of the tower skyscrapers on east Randolph Street. A muted yellow, brown, and red are combined to give off a soft glowing sunset.
  2. Delineation: The line work on this watercolor is here to give address to the famous buildings along this drive. There is no use of hatches or cross hatching, just simple horizontal and vertical lines put together to yield to us a great form.
  3. Lake Michigan: The view is from Burnham Harbor with is on Lake Michigan. We are looking north at the edge of the harbor. There is very little water to be seen in this watercolor but the little that there is strongly supports the domineering skyscrapers just above.

Chicago Skyline Watercolors Link

Chicago skyline watercolors

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

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Chicago Skyline Watercolor Painting Of East Randolph Street #080Z

Chicago skyline watercolor of east Randolph Street.

This article is about Chicago skyline #080Z Watercolor Painting Of East Randolph Street #780, which is for sale at discount with prints by artist Stephen F. Condren, BFA-SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. This is my watercolor painting of the Chicago, Illinois, skyline at east Randolph Street.

Chicago Skyline Watercolor Painting Of East Randolph Street #780. Key elements of this work of art are as follows.

  • Delineation
  • Skyscrapers
  • Lake Michigan
  1. Delineation: The lines in this watercolor are done with pen & ink and are the most essential element of the watercolor, for it is the line that gives form to the structures and not the watercolor, which merely renders the tone.
  2. Skyscrapers: The skyscrapers are composed of ink lines rather than pencil or paint, it should be noted that the watercolor is first drafted out in pencil in the most loose terms.
  3. Lake Michigan: The image of Lake Michigan is at the lowest level, however, this is the level that support the scene and give us the horizon line.

Chicago Skyline Watercolors Link

Chicago skyline watercolors

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

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Chicago Skyline Watercolor Painting At Sunset #079Z

Chicago skyline watercolor silhouette painting at sunset.

This article is about Chicago skyline #079Z Watercolor Painting At Sunset #775, which is for sale at discount with prints by artist Stephen F. Condren, BFA-SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. This is my watercolor painting of the Chicago, Illinois, skyline at sunset.

Chicago Skyline Watercolor Painting At Sunset #775. Key elements to this work of art are as follows.

  • Color
  • Contour
  • Light
  1. Color: The colors are a simple contrasting of yellows and blues. It was my intention to make a silhouette of this work and the wonderful display of angles given to us by the cityscape lent itself to this vision. In the right center can be seen the image of the broad shouldered Willis Tower.
  2. Contour: The contour of the watercolor is down with paint not line. No delineation of any kind is done in this pure watercolor. There are traces of the original pencil sketch that commenced the piece but this is more fundament and basic is level than the finished contour of the cityscape.
  3. Light: The light is a wonderful array of yellows in the evening sky and reflected in the water below. It is the sunset that really makes the piece and not the buildings, whose task is to pay homage to the sun!

Chicago Skyline Watercolors Link

Chicago skyline watercolors

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

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Chicago Skyline Watercolor Painting At Sunset #078Z

Chicago skyline #712A pen & ink cityscape watercolor at sunset reflecting in the waters of Lake Michigan.

This article is about Chicago skyline #078Z watercolor painting with colorful sunset, which is for sale at discount with prints by artist Stephen F. Condren, BFA-SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. This is a very colorful sunset painting of the Chicago skyline with rainbow colors in the evening clouds.

Chicago Skyline Watercolor Painting At Sunset #712. Key elements of this work of art are as follows.

  • John Hancock Center
  • Lake Michigan
  • Color
  1. John Hancock Center: The John Hancock Center without doubt dominates the skyline as it should! This historic structure stands as the culmination of the surrounding skyscrapers of Streeterville in Chicago’s near north side. This watercolor is a perfect blending of both pen & ink drawing and watercolor painting. One form of art compliments the other.
  2. Lake Michigan: Lake Michigan plays a vital role in this sunset drama offering a wonderful reflection that cast the images of the city skyline with the glorious colors of the setting sun.
  3. Color: The colors in this work of art are as important as the pen & ink line work. The glorious yellow and maroons are cast into the night sky as their colors fade way in the deep blue tones of the sky. The clouds with their gaseous structure give a wonderful full body structure to the tones making for a full and rich sunset cityscape.

Chicago Skyline Watercolors Link

Chicago skyline watercolors

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA