Chicago Gold

Original Painting by Tom Shropshire

Acrylic on canvas 30x40



An impressionist view of Chicago after dark. The lights glitter and shine like a pot of gold against a backdrop of towering buildings. A light fog drifting in from Lake Michigan diffuses the golden glow and softens the edges of the skyscrapers. chicago cityscape canvas prints

Cold Hard Streets

Original Painting By Tom Shropshire

Acrylic on canvas 16x20

This piece began as a class demonstration in monochromatic painting and was later completed in the studio. I like the mood and film noir feel of the finished work.  It reminds me of the opening shot for a black and white Hollywood crime movie from the 1940's or early 1950's.

The voiceover - "Corrupt cops and politicians, hookers and junkies, delinquents and gangsters ...you'll find them all on the COLD HARD STREETS. (Title scrawled across the screen as orchestra comes in)

Lillian

Original Painting by Tom Shropshire

Acrylic on canvas 16x12

This painting of the famous silent film actress, Lillian Gish, was inspired by a photo captured by photographer Charles Albin, New York, 1922. 

Pulse of the City

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 20x24

From Trash To Triumph

This painting began as a purely non-objective abstract painting and I was unhappy with the results. I then decided to try again and painted over the surface until only the texture remained. The random and heavy texture forced me to use a loose approach on my second attempt. I am now extremely happy with the results. In fact, I plan to use this technique in the future for my large scale night city scenes. We can learn a lot from our failures. Sometimes failure points us to success and triumph only needs another try and a little more umph.

When Planets Align

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 24x36

My students, (AKA) the Fine Art and Cheap Wine Group, in our latest session, wanted to attempt abstract expressionist painting. Now back in the day, I was known for my large scale abstract paintings and for me this was a return to my artistic roots. I still feel that there is nothing more creative than non-objective painting and I enjoy the pure use of action and color without restraint. We dripped, we splattered, we pasted and textured with wild abandon and finished with mixed results. I think the group may have learned a new appreciation for abstract painting and also learned how difficult it can be to do it well. I always return to ny love of contemporary impressionist painting and more representational work ...but each style energizes and feeds the other. abstract expressionism prints

To quote the famous art collector and critic, Leo Stein;

"Realism and abstractionism are not enemies. They eat out of the same dish; but their digestive systems are different."