16. Farias House

This image is the childhood home of my Peruvian friend, Carlos. I had the pleasure of visiting the Farias home soon after my friend Beth married Carlos, in 2005. It was a delight to visit Lima, explore Barranco (the neighborhood where the Farias family lives), and especially to experience the generous hospitality of the whole Farias clan. Now, about four years later, Beth and Carlos are expecting their first baby. Several months ago, Beth told me that they are planning to paint the baby's room the same color yellow as Carlos's Peruvian home. Also, they plan to paint a blue and white "Liliana" (the baby's name) over the door, just as Carlos's great-grandfather painted his wife's name, "Victoria," over the door to his home. This inspired me to make this painting for Lily, my future Goddaughter. I wanted her to always have a special image of her Peruvian home. In making this painting, I found myself challenged to make an architectural rendering feel "nursery-appropriate." I tried to accomplish this with some whimsical clouds, blue skies, and playful colors.

15. Manistee, Michigan

Over Labor day weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting the family cottage of a Chicago friend, in Manistee, MI. It was a wonderfully relaxing and delightful weekend filled with laying on the beach, swimming, trampoline jumping, delicious food, shuffleboard, and friends! I did this painting sitting in front of cottage looking out over Lake Michigan, at sunset. This painting reinforces one of the challenges of watercolor, which is that it can not always be done quickly. Often a wash must dry before proceeding in order to acheive the desired effect. Therefore, the medium is not entirely ideal for painting time-sensitive events like sunsets! It was delightful none the less to sit and paint the sunset and to sit and imagine the sunset as I completed the painting the following day.

14. St. Gertrude's

This image is of St. Gertrude's Church in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago. The painting will be for sale at the Edgewater Gralley on September 19th. The Gralley takes place along a 4 square block area along GRanville Ave. The name "Gralley" pays homage to Chicago’s alley system and to St. Gertrude’s “alleys," which are actually wide sidewalk and driveway spaces nestled in between it’s gothic buildings and courtyards. The event features two music stages including bands performing at the 2009 World Music Festival of Chicago. Also, a bike parade with State Representative Harry Osterman will officially kick off the GRalley!

13. Chicago Theater at Night

This painting of the Chicago Theater at Night was donated to the Literacy Works, June Jamboree Fundraiser several months ago. Literacy Works is a small, but awesome organization in Chicago which aims to "fulfill the promise of a basic human right: to read, write, and interpret the world." Check out their website: http://www.litworks.org/ This painting is the second I've done of the iconic Chicago Theater sign. It's hard to find an image more readily associated with Chicago. I enjoyed the exercise of painting the night.