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Art Institute of Chicago Watercolor #250Z

Art Institute of Chicago watercolor on Michigan Avenue.

This article is about Art Institute #191B is a landmark watercolor of the Art Institute of Chicago, which is for sale here, at discount with prints by artist Stephen F. Condren, SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. Growing up as a child from the south side of Chicago I would spend many years at the Art Institute of Chicago. In grammar school on weekends, my father sent me to art classes there. He owned the art supply company Favor Ruhl & Watson. At that time it was the largest art supply company in Chicago.

This Beau Arts building was erected as the World’s Congress Auxiliary Building for the World’s Columbian Exhibition of 1893. This was the only structure built for the exhibition outside of Jackson Park. The structure was intentionally designed to become the main building of the Art Institute after the closing of the exhibition.

Key Elements

My focus on the watercolor is Classical entrance of the building. The central block of the building was designed to have a dome over the center. However, since there were not enough funds available the dome was never completed.

The Chicago Club

Chicago Club interior after it's collapse in 1927.
Chicago Club Interior After Collapse

Most fortunately for the lives of local Chicagoan and the History of Art, the Art Institute moved. On June 17, 1928 the entire interior of the Chicago Club collapsed!

Imagine the Art Institute filled with people during this catastrophe. The loss of lives would be staggering and the loss of many world famous works of art would be forever lost!

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Chicago Club Collapse #249Z

Chicago Club interior after it's collapse in 1927.

This article is about the Chicago Club collapse #249Z of the interior building on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, written by artist Stephen F. Condren, SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. As a former member of the Chicago Club I learned of an interesting chapter in the book of the club’s history. When I joined the club I was given a book on the club’s history as a new member’s gift. The title of the book is “The history of the Chicago Club”, by Emmett Dedmon, 1960. On June 17, 1928 the entire interior of the Chicago Club (formerly the Art Institute of Chicago) collapsed leaving the building in ruins. No injuries were recorded.Key points

Chicago Club Collapse 1/9/2019B

Chicago Club collapse 1/9/2019 is an historic event that impacts Chicago and the history of Art. The Chicago Club was the original home of the Art Institute of Chicago. It was on the Sunday afternoon of June 27th that the security guard suddenly heard loud and violent noises coming from within the clubhouse. In fear of the unknown the guard immediately left the building. He made an exit from the front entrance onto Michigan Avenue and then to Van Buren. Little did he realize that the sounds he had heard with the fracturing of the supporting beams!

Just a few minutes after leaving the building the entire interior of the structure collapsed. The Chicago Club at that time was closed on Sunday so fortunately no one was injured. The club has already built an annex build adjacent to the older building, designed by Daniel Burnham. The annex can be seen in the photo below immediately behind the main building. Since that time the club tore down the ruined building and completed the clubhouse in the same style as the annex building.

It should be noted that this was an architect’s error. The design of the building put the main beam of support on a hard surface thinking that it was bedrock. However, in truth there was a small cavern below that “bedrock”.

Had the building collapsed at a time when the structure was the Art Institute of Chicago the incident would have been a catastrophe. Not only would many people have been killed and injured, but the loss of priceless works of art would be gone forever.

Chicago Club exterior.
Chicago Club Exterior
Chicago Club interior after it's collapse in 1927.
Chicago Club Interior After Collapse


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Chicago Skyline Pen & Ink Drawing At Night #248Z

Chicago skyline pen & ink drawing at night.

This article is about Chicago skyline #744B is a cityscape of the near north side, which is for sale here, at discount with prints by artist Stephen F. Condren, SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. This drawing has given me great pleasure in that gave me many unexpected twists and turns on the road but I never fell into the ditch! The drawing takes place at night and the sun is setting from behind the John Hancock Center (west). Thus, I have the surround sky gradually darken as it moves away from the sun.

In reality the buildings are very dark as well as most of the shoreline. However, to darken everything would give no meaning to the drawing. So I took the liberty to keep the building light so as to radiate light. I did keep the landscape dark to support the skyscrapers above.

The waters of Lake Michigan are not really dark as water carries illumination very well. The cross-hatching of the sky reminds me very much of a Rembrandt. He did an etching of the Holy Family but it is even darker!

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Chicago Skyline Pen & Ink #247Z

Chicago skyline #743A pen & ink cityscape drawing with a view of the near north side, and Navy Pier.

This article is about Chicago skyline #743B is a cityscape pen & ink drawing, which is for sale here, at discount with prints by artist Stephen F. Condren, SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. This pen & ink is by artist Stephen F. Condren, BFA-SAIC. The scene is from Lake Michigan looking at a glorious windjammer sailing by the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse. In the background Chicago Navy Pier can be seen under the towering figures of the Chicago skyline just behind. The setting of the pen & ink drawing is on the shores of Lake Michigan.

To the right of the windjammer is the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse. Behind the lighthouse you can see Chicago Navy Pier. The backdrop of the rendering is the world famous Chicago skyline. The focal point of the skyline is the 100 story John Hancock Center which is in a cluster of other very tall buildings.

To the far left the image of Lake Point Tower can be seen as a sort of book stop that holds up the left side of the drawing. The glory of the drawing is the wonderful windjammer moving across the waters of Lake Michigan.

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Chicago Skyline Pen & Ink #246Z

Chicago skyline pen & ink drawing from Lincoln Park.

This article is about Chicago Skyline #742B is a cityscape, which is for sale at discount with prints by artist Stephen F. Condren, SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. The view is taken from Lincoln Park across the pond from the Lincoln Park Zoo. The line work here is clean and clear. I have made it my goal to grasp the images of the skyline in terms of pure for and not attempting to replicate the buildings. Prints & Scans Of This Drawing #246Z ~ Order Here.

Architecture

The buildings form a bar code of the city and that is how I want to express this imagery. Together with the landscape and pond the image is strong and tells you everything that you want to know about the scene without demanding to see every detail. Chicago is famous for it’s innovative architecture and the John Hancock Center is one of those great innovations.

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Chicago Skyline Pen & Ink Of Loop At Night #245Z

Chicago skyline #856A pen & ink drawing is popular because of it's view of the Loop at nighttime.

This article is about Chicago skyline #856B is a pen & ink cityscape drawing of the Chicago Loop at night time. The main focus of this pen & ink drawing is to capture the feeling of the city at night. This is done by permitting the glow of the light from the streets to show. The night time sky is effectively captured by the cross-hatching lines of ink.

Chicago Skyline Art #163Z
Chicago Skyline Of Near North Side
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Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Church Pen & Ink #244Z

Mt Carmel #143A Catholic Church pencil landmark drawing with view of the spires.

This article is about a pencil drawing of Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church #143B on Belmont Street in Chicago, which is for sale at discount with prints by artist Stephen F. Condren, SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church is landmark church located on Belmont Street in the Lakeview community of Chicago. This church is precious to me in that it is the church that my parents were married in.

AGLO Chicago

I sat on my stool and drew this picture live before Sunday evening service for AGLO Chicago, where I serve as an acolyte. Because the weather was still warm enough to draw outside, I took advantage of the time. I drew this wonderful building where my mother went to school, and my parents got married in.

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Chicago Skyline #243Z

Chicago downtown skyline #741A pen & ink cityscape drawing of the Loop and the river.

Chicago skyline #741B pen & ink drawing is a close-up cityscape view of a dense area of downtown Chicago Loop by artist Stephen F. Condren of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery offering prints, and scans. The Chicago Loop is the “corporate architecture hub” of the city of Chicago. The northwest corner of the famous “Chicago Loop” has a sharp 90 degree curve. Prints Of Chicago Skyline Drawing #243Z ~ Order Here.

Key elements:

Focus has been on the shade and shadows created by the structures rather than the architectural detailing. The line work is fresh and loose permitting the viewer to focus on the drawing. putting emphasize on tight delineation will defeat the purpose of the drawing.

Chicago River

The Chicago River used to empty into Lake Michigan, but early in the 20th century it was reversed. Upon entering the river from Lake Michigan, you travel about 9 city block to where you encounter a fork in the river. This forms the north and south branches of the Chicago River.

Chicago skyline #741B

Alt Image Tag

Chicago skyline #741B pen & ink drawing on the Chicago River by artist Stephen F. Condren.

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Dallas Skyline Oil #242Z

Dallas skyline oil #2876A cityscape painting of downtown from the fields with large clouds.

This article is about Dallas skyline oil #2876B is a cityscape oil painting of the city of Dallas, Texas near sunset, which is for sale at discount with prints by artist Stephen F. Condren, SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. It is not often that I produce skylines in oil. However, this wonderful scene of this great and fair city has taken my attention. I have rendered the scene in pen & ink, color pencil, and watercolor. Now it was my turn at oils.

The vastness of the sky and the power of the clouds above have strength to the composition of the painting. Many of the noted building of the city can be seen as well as Reunion Tower to the very far right.

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Atlanta Skyline Pen & Ink #241Z

Atlanta skyline #821A pen & ink cityscape drawing is popular because of it's view of downtown at night.

Atlanta skyline #241Z pen & ink watercolors is an article post, which is for sale at discount with prints by artist Stephen F. Condren, SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering JPEG & PDF scans. is a cityscape pen & ink drawing of downtown Atlanta and is take from Buckhead. The use of cross-hatching was done without intensity. The lines are clean and clear letting the viewer take in all the details of the buildings.

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Atlanta Skyline Pen & Ink 823 #195Z