Chicago Strata

Chicago Strata
2017, watercolor on cold press paper, 7.5×9.5″
I spotted this gorgeous building while visiting Chicago with my godson, Jamie, and couldn’t wait to come home to paint it. I love how this exposed side reveals the building’s Chicago history like geological layers or strata of earth. I’m crazy about painting bricks. Probably because it requires glazing layers upon layers of very thin paint to create the desired textures and depth of color. Painting the cars whizzing by was also super satisfying. This was one of most fun compositions and paintings I did in 2017.