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Chicago Skyline Pen & Inks #168Z

Chicago skyline #871A brown pen & ink cityscape drawing of east Randolph skyscrapers.

This article is about the Chicago skyline pen & inks, 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. No other medium better expresses the landscape of a city than pen & inks. The elements of a skyline are architectural and thus lend themselves to delineation. The clean clear lines show all the intricate details of the buildings. The get the proper tones of shade and shadow hatching and cross-hatching is employed.

Hatching and Cross-Hatching For Chicago Skyline Pen & Inks

Since pen & inks do not make use of water to cast shadows the use of hatching is employed to provide this affect. Hatching is the process of carefully moving the pen & ink lines closely together all parallel to each other. This “screen” or “grid” is the matrix of the shade and shadowing process. The darker that you want the background to be the closer you make the lines. When you want to make things very dark such as in a sunset or night scene you make use of cross-hatching. This is where you drawing the pen & ink lines perpendicular to each other. This makes a screen like affect on the drawing and is very effective.

Architecture for Chicago Skyline Pen & Inks

The subject of skylines is architecture and the line is the backbone of this great topic. The pen & inks better than any other medium bring out the boldness of the cities great architecture. Pencils are excellent but they lack the boldness. Watercolors and oils are good as well but fall short when it come to delineation. It is the power and strength of the pen & inks that set the stage for outstanding architectural renderings and illustrations. When you have sections of a scene that require a lot of fine detail the pen & inks come to the rescue. With razor like accuracy the pen & inks zoom in on the details that you are seeking and produce them with clarity.

Chicago Skyline Art Link

Chicago skyline art

Related Links

Chicago skyline drawings, Chicago skyline of the near north side,

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

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Chicago Skyline Of The Near North Side #167Z

Chicago skyline #2460A pen & ink, color pencil, cityscape watercolor at sunset of the near north side and the John Hancock Center.

This article is about Chicago skyline watercolor 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. At the center of the watercolor stands the Palmolive Building and the Drake Hotel below it. However, the giant on the scene is the world famous John Hancock Center. Sadly however, the name has been dropped from the building and is up for sale. The current designation for the building is 875 N. Michigan Avenue.

Color Pencils

The watercolor is a mix of brushed watercolor paint and color pencils. I have made a point of leaving the lines to show clearly. Like a pen & ink, the colored lines offering us color rather than black ink.

Chicago Skyline Watercolors Link

Chicago skyline watercolors

Related Links

Chicago skyline at sunset, Chicago skyline pencil drawing at sunset,

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

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Chicago Skyline At Sunset #166Z

Chicago skyline watercolor of the near north side at sunset.

This article is about the Chicago skyline watercolor #166Z of the near north side at sunset is taken from the south, 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. The main focus of the watercolor is east Randolph Street. This amazing short road only goes east a few blocks from Michigan Avenue out into the lake. However, this short strip probably has the highest proportion of tall buildings per block than any other city including Manhattan Island.

Chicago Skyline Watercolors Link

Chicago skyline watercolors

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Chicago skyline watercolor sunset painting, Chicago skyline pencil drawing at sunset, Chicago skyline watercolor painting at sunset

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

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Chicago Skyline Watercolors #165Z

Chicago skyline #599A pen & ink cityscape watercolor with view of North Lake Shore Drive.

This article is about  Chicago skyline watercolors and prints, which is for sale at discount with prints by artist Stephen F. Condren, BFA-SAIC, of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery. Prints & Scans Of This Chicago Skyline Watercolor #363Z ~ Order Here.

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Chicago Skyline Watercolors

Watercolor are a wonderful medium to do skylines with. The greatest quality of watercolors are their ability to carry pigment through water giving a transparent effect. This effect makes it easy to introduce pen & ink and pencil lines to the a work of art. In the case of skyline painting this is especially true due to the architectural nature of the subject. Buildings require delineation and thus watercolor permit this access of lines.

Scale & Perspective

In general, the scale of most watercolor, no matter what genre are small. This is because you are working with fine lines and providing a lot of detail in a small about of space. Imagine, if you will, having the Sistine Chapel executed in watercolors with the same detailed. You would not be able to see anything, it would all look like a blur. This is where perspective comes into play, due to the fine detail you have to accommodate the space of the viewer. Providing watercolors in a scale that can be handles or easily looked is the best code of practice.

Light

As with all works of art, light is crucial. One of the most important elements of watercolor painting is freshness. When you put the brush to the paper you have to work it the way that you want and quickly. If you do not, then the work of art becomes murky and looks worked or over tooled, something to be avoided at all costs.

Chicago Skyline Art Link

Chicago Skyline Art

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Chicago skyline at sunset, Chicago skyline of the near north side, Chicago skyline watercolor painting

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

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Paul Manafort’s Jail Boss Says “No Special Privileges” #164Z

Paul Manafort #2406A pen & ink celebrity portrait shows him in a shirt and tie.

This article is about Paul Manafort’s jail boss in Virginia say “No special privileges” pen & ink drawing, 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. It looks as though Mr. Manafort will not live to see the end of his prison sentence since he is 69 years old. Needles to say being close to Donald Trump has it’s price to pay. Where is Mr. Trump now when Manafort most earnestly needs him?

Paul Manafort jail
Pen & ink drawing of Paul Manafort by artist Stephen F. Condren.

Delineation

The line work for this drawing is very light because Mr. Manafort is older.

Celebrity Art Link

Celebrity Art

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Johnny Depp gaunt and sick looking as ever, Bill Cosby fires entire legal team, Paul Manafort, Brian Sims,

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

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Chicago Skyline Art #163Z

Chicago skyline #1449A pen & ink cityscape watercolor reflecting in the waters of Lake Michigan with views of the near north side

This article is about Chicago skyline art, 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. I have categorized my Chicago skyline art into four groups: Watercolors, Pen & Inks, Drawings, and Oils.

Watercolors Of Chicago Skyline Art

Chicago skyline watercolor painting of near north side at sunset.
Chicago skyline watercolor at sunset.

Watercolors lend themselves naturally to architectural themes. This genre is the most popular and they sell very well. The beauty of watercolors is the fact that they are translucent and thus let other mediums show through. In the case of skyline art this is an excellent thing because of the linear nature of architectural draftsmanship. Thus with watercolor you get the best of both worlds. You have the fine line detail of the pen & inks and the robust special dimension of the watercolors making a wonderful offering.

Pen & Inks Of Chicago Skyline Art

Chicago skyline pen & ink drawing on Lake Shore Drive with John Hancock Center.
Chicago skyline pen & ink drawing.

Pen & inks are my favorite medium to use for skylines. I am immediately at home when I have the pen & ink in my hands. There is just something magical and pure about the way ink moves from the pen and onto the paper. Also, when it comes to creating architectural works of art the delineation of the ink is a perfect compliment to the subject.

Drawings Of Chicago Skyline Art

Chicago skyline pencil drawing of downtown at night.
Pencil drawing of Chicago skyline.

When I hold a pencil in my hand I feel as though I am a poet. The pencil is like magic for me, it just lets me put down what I am thinking immediately.

Oils Of Chicago Skyline Art

Chicago skyline oil painting at sunset
Oil painting of Chicago skyline at sunset.

Oils of the Chicago skyline can be a daunting task. There is so much architectural activity along side a lake that is as large as a sea, that it is hard to capture. No other medium is stronger than oils. When you compare the image of the skyline oil that you see before you with the others on this page you can see it’s strength.

Skyline Art Link:

Skyline Art

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Chicago skyline watercolors, Chicago skyline pen & inks, Chicago brown pen & ink drawing of near north side, Chicago skyline drawing with John Hancock Center

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

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Atlanta Skyline Watercolors #162Z

Atlanta skyline #867A sunset cityscape watercolor is popular because of it's view of Piedmont Park.

This article is about Atlanta skyline watercolors, 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. Watercolors are a very popular medium for cityscapes and skyline paintings, drawings, and prints. Since watercolors are translucent they work very well with pencil and pen & inks to delineate architectural elements.

Pen & Inks With Atlanta Skyline Watercolors

Pen & inks are the best compliment to watercolors because they offer a sharp and clear line. When the time calls for it, you can water down the ink to make it lighter and then make use of more hatching for shadows. 

Atlanta skyline watercolors and brown pen & ink drawing
Pen & ink skyline drawing of midtown Atlanta in Piedmont Park overlooking Lake Clara Meer by artist Stephen F. Condren.

As you can see from the watercolor above the ink nice works in the details of the structures while the watercolor give a balanced tone to the work of art. Since both works above are on Lake Clara Meer in Piedmont Park it is easy to compare them. The pen & ink below without doubt show the beauty of the park, the pen strokes are small and gently reflect the water. A unique feature of Piedmont Park is that it has a very large lake (Clara Meer) right in midtown. No other major city such as Manhattan, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and Dallas have such a large body within the city boundaries.

Atlanta Skyline Art Link:

Atlanta Skyline Art

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Atlanta watercolor sunset of Piedmont Park, Atlanta skyline watercolor painting of Piedmont Park, Atlanta skyline watercolor of Piedmont Park

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

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Atlanta Skyline Pen & Inks #161Z

Atlanta skyline #822A pen & ink black line drawing is popular because of it's view of downtown.

This article is about Atlanta skyline pen & inks, 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. Pen & inks are second nature to me. It is always a difficult task for me to choose between pencil or pen & inks. I love them both so very much and they are so very different. The quality that I like so very much about pen & inks is their exactness and precision. I just love the flow of ink going from my pen onto the paper, it is so graceful.

Atlanta skyline pen & ink drawing of midtown at night
Atlanta Skyline Pen & Ink Drawing of midtown at night in Piedmont Park by artist Stephen F. Condren.

As you can see from the two pen & inks here of Lake Clara Meer at Piedmont Park, both the color of the ink and the time of day have tremendous impact on the works of art. The day time drawing above is done in brown ink and nice shows the cityscape behind the trees. The tower skyscrapers are very prominent in the rendering. However, in the night scene just below the skyscrapers take on a different role. Rather than giant security guards watching over the lake, they are now a backdrop to the evening light.

Hatching

The one common feature to both drawing is the use of hatching and cross-hatching to give contour and provide proper shade and shadowing to the images. When you look at the area below the trees along the shore line you can see that there is an extensive use of cross-hatching to bring out the darker tones needed for the night time shading of the lake. Also, behind the center of the drawing the image of the skyscrapers is made more dramatic with the fine outlining of the cross-hatched line that make the evening sky. If I were to use a paint brush to do the same the outcome would be entirely different. Pen & ink lines lend themselves naturally to architectural subjects.

Atlanta Skyline Art Link Is Below:

Skyline Art Of Atlanta

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

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Atlanta Skyline Drawings #160Z

Atlanta skyline #815A pencil cityscape drawing of downtown at night.

This article is about Atlanta skyline drawings #160Z, and this is an article post, written by artist Stephen F. Condren, BFA-SAIC, at Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, offering prints and JPEG & PDF scans, which are on sale at low discount prices. Because Atlanta skyline drawings are great, their prints are great!

Atlanta skyline drawings by artist Stephen F. Condren. The city of Atlanta offers a lot, from theaters and art to a would class business center. The robust skyline of Atlanta compliments the strong economic base of this queenly and gracious city. When I think of Atlanta I think of the Swan Mansion, only the finest! The drawings of the Atlanta are truly Atlanta skyline art.

I have categorized the drawing of Atlanta’s skyline by region and time of day. So there are drawings of midtown and Piedmont Park as well at midtown at night.

Atlanta skyline pencil drawings of downtown skyscrapers at night
Atlanta skyline pencil drawing of downtown at night by artist Stephen F. Condren.

As you can see from the drawing above the image is of downtown Atlanta at night. I enjoy doing the night time drawings because they bring out a different atmosphere than the standard day time drawings. I especially like the use of hatching and cross-hatching to bring out the shade and shadows as well as develop the contour of the buildings.

Atlanta skyline pencil line drawings of midtown in Piedmont Park.
Atlanta skyline drawing of midtown at Piedmont Park by artist Stephen F. Condren.

Atlanta Skyline Drawings Of Piedmont Park

One of the great treasures of Atlanta, and there are many, is Piedmont Park. Located in the heart of midtown Atlanta, Piedmont Park boast a robust skyline compliment by Lake Clara Meer.

Atlanta Skyline Art Link Is Below:

Skyline Art Of Atlanta

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

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Atlanta Skyline Art #159Z

Atlanta skyline #867A sunset cityscape watercolor is popular because of it's view of Piedmont Park.

This article is about Atlanta skyline art, 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. The city of Atlanta is rich in history and also rich with architecture. Often called the “Manhattan of the south”, Atlanta boast a prominent cityscape.

As an artist I work with four mediums for doing skylines: Watercolor, Pen & Ink, Pencil, and Oils.

Atlanta Skyline Art In Watercolor

Atlanta skyline art in watercolor with sunset scene of Piedmont Park overlooking Lake Clara Meer.
Watercolor skyline painting of midtown Atlanta in Piedmont Park at sunset by artist Stephen F. Condren.

Watercolors nicely lend themselves to architectural subjects since they are translucient and let the delineation of the pen & inks and pencil show through. This is especially important when dealing with precise architectural details. As with oils, I look working with sunsets a lot with watercolors. The one think that you have to be careful of is how demanding they are. Watercolors, unlick oils, are very unforgiving. One you put the brush down that is it, you only have moments to work out your image. Oils on the other hand will let you scrape off the entire section and start over again!

Atlanta Skyline Art In Pen & Inks

Atlanta skyline art in pen & ink drawing of midtown in Piedmont Park
Atlanta Skyline Pen & Ink Drawing of midtown at Piedmont Park overlooking Lake Clara Meer by artist Stephen F. Condren.

Pen & inks more than any other medium lend themselves so naturally to architecture due to the sharp crisp ink lines. These lines clearly bring out all of the architectural details. To make shade and shadows I make use of hatch lines and cross hatching for darker tones.

Atlanta Skyline Art In Pencil

Atlanta skyline art in pencil drawing of downtown at night.
Atlanta skyline drawing of downtown at night by artist Stephen F. Condren.

Pencil much like pen & ink lends itself to linear subjects. I have always enjoyed working with pencil and charcoals, I especially like to work them with night scenes.

Atlanta Skyline Art In Oils

Atlanta skyline oil painting of downtown at night.
Atlanta Skyline Oils At Night by artist Stephen F. Condren.

Oils are the most difficult medium to apply in architectural subjects. I will say that no medium is stronger than oils. The greatest quality that oil give are the wonderful blending of the texture of the pigment. The rich, thick oil is ideal for doing sunsets and Barbizon like artwork. The weakest part of oils and skyline is the lack of delineation. I use vague outlines of high contrasting pigments to give the contour of the structures. It take great skill and acumen to bring out the images of the buildings without losing the integrity of their various structures and end up with muddy looking sticks!

Atlanta Skyline Art Link:

Skyline Art

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA