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Chicago Skyline Drawings #169Z

Chicago skyline #2453A pen & ink watercolor at sunset overlooking Burnham Harbor and the Loop with large clouds.

This article is about Chicago skyline drawings and prints, 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 drawing above is a color pencil drawing of the Chicago skyline. The drawing is more formal in character than the lead pencil drawing below. The reason for this in this case is due to the integration of color. If I were so be quick and bold as I am in the lead pencil sketch below I will lose coloration. To the left is the setting sun behind Willis Tower with the most intense use of line work. There is a bit of a compromise in detailing as the scrambling of lines that are competing for a voice in the crowed space.

Lead Pencil Drawings

Chicago skyline pencil drawing of downtown at night.
Pencil drawing of Chicago skyline at sunset by artist Stephen F. Condren.

The use of color pencils instead of watercolor and definitely oils has a very refined affect on skyline works of art. The quick study just above shows the poetry of lead on paper. The lead is quick, spontaneous, and precise. When I have the pencil in my hand I am at one with the paper and the image flows from me. The joy of drawing jumps out at you from the image just above. I move my hand quickly and freely to capture the image and there is not a moment to lose. The darkest tones are behind Willis Tower and the evening sky shout for joy with jubilant cross-hatched lines.

Chicago Skyline Drawings In Perspective

The case for perspective drawing come to fore when working with linear forms. The most common form of perspective that is used in architectural drawings is that of the 2-Point Perspective. This simply means that he drawing lines meet at the sift and right side of the horizon line in the picture plane. This is what you have here in both drawings that are shown.

Chicago Skyline Art Link

Chicago skyline art

Related Links

Chicago skyline color pencil drawing at sunset, Skyline art, 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 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 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 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 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 #075Z

Chicago skyline #627A pen & ink cityscape watercolor with the sunset reflecting on the waters of Lake Michigan.

Chicago skyline #075Z a cityscape sunset watercolor, 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. Prints & Scans Of This Skyline Watercolor #075Z ~ Order Here.

Chicago Skyline Watercolor Sunset Painting #627. Key elements to this work of art are as follows:

  • Light
  • Water
  • Delineation

This is one of my favorite watercolor of Chicago, because it is at sunset. The sunsets in Chicago are wonderful, because the colors of the setting sun are reflected in Lake Michigan. The tall building which make up the famous Chicago skyline add to the drama of the watercolor, because their image is shadowed in the sunset.

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 Dusk #073Z

Chicago skyline watercolor Impressionist painting at dusk.

This article is about Chicago skyline #073Z Watercolor Painting At Dusk #610, 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 Impressionist watercolor painting of the Chicago, Illinois, skyline at dusk.

Chicago Skyline Watercolor Painting At Dusk #610. Key elements to this work of art are as follows.

  • John Hancock Center
  • Sky
  • Color
  1. John Hancock Center: The John Hancock Center along with Water Tower Place stand at the center of this watercolor. Their reflections are loosely seen in the waters of Lake Michigan below. The cluster of buildings that culminate with the John Hancock Center gently dissipate on both sides and vanish into the evening sky.
  2. Sky: The majority of space in the painting is in the sky as the horizon line is very low to accommodate the tall buildings. The atmosphere is loose and calm as the clouds have vanished into the sky.
  3. Color: The sky is a mixture of blues and red making a violet and purple backdrop to the cityscape.

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 Sunset Watercolor Painting #067Z

Chicago skyline #423A sunset cityscape watercolor with yellow billowing clouds, and crimson red in the sky.

This article is about Chicago skyline #067Z Sunset Watercolor Painting #423, 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 dusk.

Chicago Skyline Sunset Watercolor Painting #423. Key elements to this work of art art as follows:

  • Sunset
  • Colors
  • Lake Michigan
  1. Sunset: The light of the sunset is the strongest element in the watercolor painting of downtown Chicago. The emphasis has been placed on the strong yellow tones emitting from behind the Chicago “Loop” near the Willis Tower. I have mixed white and various yellows to get this high level of intensity with worked out very well.
  2. Colors: The colors in the painting are in the yellows family for the immediate sunset and then we move into browns and red when we move up into the sky above the sunset. The water is a soft green mixed with blue and yellow.
  3. Lake Michigan: Though very small in proportion to the scale of the painting, the waters of Lake Michigan are crucial in supporting the skyline in the background.

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 Sunset Watercolor Painting #066Z

Chicago skyline #2455A pen & ink, cityscape, color pencil watercolor of downtown at sunset.

This article is about Chicago skyline #066Z Sunset Watercolor Painting #2455, 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 viewed from Burnham Harbor at sunset.

Chicago Skyline Sunset Watercolor Painting #2455. Key elements of the work of art are as follows.

  • Sunset
  • Burnham Harbor
  • Lake Michigan
  1. Sunset: The setting sun is the glory of this work of art. I have accurately intensified the sun’s glowing aura just behind Willis Tower. Immediately after this aura the clouds hover over the Loop and give resistance to the sun and thus let the balance of the sky fall into a lilac light.
  2. Burnham Harbor: The scene is from the most popular view of Chicago, and that is none other than Burnham Harbor, named after the famous architect Daniel Burnham.
  3. Lake Michigan: Lake Michigan is the “red carpet” of Chicago, and she graciously sets out her best to offer a colorful evening sky.

Chicago Skyline Watercolors Link

Chicago skyline watercolors

Stephen F. Condren ~ Artist

312-303-0207

School of the Art Institute of Chicago ~ BFA