painting the night

There is something about nighttime in the jungle of the urban landscape that reaches into the primitive part of the brain. We interpret the night differently. The ordinary is transformed. Our senses are more acute and we see things not noticed by day. Because of the surrounding darkness, light dances and hits our eyes more intensely. Colors are more saturated. If the street is deserted, you can hear the hum of the neon, the echo on the sidewalks.

What better city to explore these things…
Chicago.

I create these paintings in a primitive way but my medium is as high tech as it gets. I use the most simple brush – my finger, the canvas – an iPad. The act of finger-painting on an iPad is like painting with light itself. There is a satisfying immediacy to the medium. The subjects I choose to paint shine in the night. Some of them are well known, others just attract me like a moth. The streets of Chicago offer an endless source of possibilities.

I fell in love with Chicago back when I used to visit as a tourist. The architecture and the unique neighborhoods struck an instinctual chord. I have always been drawn to the visual nature of nighttime in large cities...the streets, the alleys, the lights, the corner diners and bars. I admire and am influenced by Edward Hopper’s night paintings.

Painting on an iPad is still novel but ultimately just another tool in the artist’s arsenal. Artists have always been adopting new technology, each of which inspires in its own way.

method

I have painted with traditional methods for years - oils, acrylics. I started finger-painting digitally first an iPhone then an iPad just a few years ago. I adapted quickly and grew to love the medium, especially with this night series.

I start by taking reference photos, then create a sketch based on them, taking artistic liberties as I go. I move and subtract certain things. I build a painting just like I would with traditional media. I pick a color palette, brush styles, opacity levels but its all digital and I use my finger as a brush. I can zoom in to do detail work and zoom out to create broad brushstrokes.

Once finished, I move my files to the computer and from there, I can print the paintings as small or large archival high-quality prints on paper, mounted woodblocks or large canvas giclees.

Time-lapse of painting creation

You can also find Chicago Night prints for sale in these Chicago area stores:
Andersonville Galleria
Local Goods
Transistor
Sacred Art