Tag: Chicago Art And Prints #043K

Chicago art #043 is an article about metropolitan artwork, 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.

Watercolor painting of Chicago Harbor Lighthouse.
Watercolor painting of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse with pen & ink by artist Stephen F. Condren for post #1089 and file 1000.
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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

Related Links

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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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

Related Links

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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Chicago Skyline Drawing #153Z

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

Chicago skyline drawing #153Z is a pen & ink drawing of North Lake Shore Drive by artist Stephen F. Condren of Condren Galleries, a Fine Arts Gallery, with prints, and scans. This article is about my brown pen & ink drawing of the Chicago, Illinois, skyline looking southward from Lincoln Park, along Lake Michigan. Because Chicago skylines are great, their prints are great! Prints & Scans Of This Skyline Drawing #153Z ~ Order Here.

Chicago Skyline Drawing #153Z Key elements to the fine drawing are as follows:

  • Brown Pen & Ink.
  • Lake Michigan.
  • John Hancock Center.
  1. Brown Pen & Ink: This drawing is done in brown pen & ink so as to compliment the soft tones of the drawing. Everything about this drawing flows gracefully and elegantly. The John Hancock Center, which is the centerpiece of the drawing stands aloft in triumph over the scenic cityscape. On the far left is Lake Point Tower, drawn with just the right line work and weight to give full account of that great residential building.
  2. Lake Michigan: The presence of Lake Michigan is all pervasive in the coast drawing as she quietly dominates the lower portion of the drawing from side to side. It is along here that Lake Shore Drive nestles among the trees as it moves traffic along the lakefront.
  3. John Hancock Center: The undisputed grand monarch of Streeterville, and among the greatest skyscrapers of history stands the John Hancock Center. The line work that portrays this great structure is exact and elegant at the same time, perfectly expressing with a few strokes this mighty structure. I have gently worked every detail of this building so as to bring out it excellent proportions, and in so doing leaving the giant exoskeleton out of the drawing.

Chicago Skyline Pen & Inks Link

Chicago skyline pen & inks

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA

Chicago skyline drawing #153Z%MCEPASTEBIN%

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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