Chicago Moon

Original Painting - Acrylic on Canvas 30x40

A full moon over Chicago with the John Hancock Center in the foreground was a challenge and a learning experience. The moon was added midway through the painting and it controlled the painting from that point on. The sparkle and glitter of the city at night plus the moody sky combined for a dramatic show. Sometimes a painting lets you know what it needs if you just look and ask ...what if ? I'm glad I did. city scenes prints

Reflections of Christmas

Original Painting - Acrylic on Canvas 24x36

I decided to paint two holiday paintings this year. Christmas tree gazing is one of my favorite pastimes. The twinkling tree lights have always reminded me of the city at night and everyone knows that I'm still fascinated with that subject.

Old Water Tower Milwaukee

Original Painting - Acrylic on Canvas 20x16

Milwaukee's old North Point Water Tower is this years choice for my annual holiday painting. I can remember riding past the tower as a youngster. I always thought it looked like a storybook castle...I still do. In the 60's it was often used for war protests and other rallies. The eastside location and proximity to the University of Wisconsin contributed to the popularity of the site for gatherings. This historic Milwaukee landmark was built in 1874. 

Milwaukee River Downtown

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 20x24

I grew up in the city of Milwaukee and I love to paint the city at night. This is a view of the Milwaukee River looking north. The revival of the city's downtown Riverwalk has added a vibrant new feel to the area and the Third Ward District pulsates with energy and nightlife. It is also home to the Milwaukee Institute of art and design, bars, outdoor cafes and galleries, including Katie Gingrass Gallery which represents yours truly.

Nor'easter in New York city

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 20x16

"Suckerpunch Nor’easter adds to the misery of Super Storm Sandy victims." – Baltimore Sun Blog

“God hates us!” the New York Post said in a front-page headline.

These are the headlines regarding the Northeaster of November 2012. I wanted to capture the atmosphere of the unexpected snow blanketing the city of New York and see the beauty even in an ugly weather event.

Babydoll

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 24x36
(click on painting to enlarge)

This is without a doubt the creepiest painting I've ever made.  I asked my (at the time) teenage daughter if I could use one of her old dolls as a model and she gave me Babydoll. I proceeded to mutilate the doll for the scary effect I was after only to find out she still wanted her doll intact. Who knew? I painted this about 30 years ago, and then roughly 15 years ago I revisited it and added the Raven.

She wrote a paper on it in college writing class when she was required to write a description of a work of art. She received an "A" on the assignment so it wasn't a total loss. At least that's how I see it.

This painting actually made me feel very uneasy while I was painting it late at night and I had to quit and only worked on it during the day after that. I didn't like the look in the doll's eye staring at me from the canvas. My traumatized daughter has forgiven me and we still laugh about it every once in awhile.

Read about two artists and their different career paths by Robert Genn; http://faso.com/brushbuzz/links/7675

City On The Lake

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 30x40



The wind blows through the man-made canyons formed by glass and steel, while neon lights and countless headlights flicker and gleam, the sun sets ...darkness decends, and the city awakens. SOLD

Halloween Dare

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x20

The little boy dressed as Batman, takes the dare and bravely heads to the scary old house for Trick-or-Treat. His older sister and friends huddle together outside the gate. The light is on so someone or something must be home!

This was a lot of fun to paint ...Halloween, jack-o-lanterns and haunted houses with bats and even a black cat. Is that a creepy face on the  spooky tree?

City Lights 2

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 20x16

(click image to enlarge)  

The wet pavement of the city streets reflecting lights in a prism of colors still fascinates me. This impressionistic scene was commissioned as a companion piece to the first "City Streets" painting and also was meant to convey the night city as seen through a car windshield with scattered drops of rain. SOLD

Open edition prints are available.

Moon Over Third Street

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 20x16

I painted this as a companion piece to "Street Life". I had so much fun painting the seedy section of town teeming with life and vitality, that I was compelled to paint it again. I added the guys with the basketball for my grandson Joey because he's a dedicated basketball player and he really liked the last painting.

Street Life

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 24x20

This painting of a city street is completely imaginary but representative of any older run-down neighborhood in any major city such as New York, Detroit, Chicago, or Milwaukee. People are outside on the street to escape the heat of a summer night. Graffiti painted walls are the backdrop for a police stop gathering onlookers.The old brownstones lean together remembering a grander and more genteel time and place as hip hop music blares and sirens wail in the distance.  night city art

Milwaukee Rain

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 24x20

This is an impressionistic painting of Milwaukee's historic City Hall. This is the second time I've painted this building and I'm pleased with the result. The dark and misty rainy day with the glowing lights of City Hall and the downtown traffic create a soft jewel of light and reflections on the wet pavement. See more Milwaukee art here; milwaukee art

Will-o-the-wisp

Original painting - Acrylic on canvas 24x36

Under a full moon, the ghostly woman in green holds out her lantern to lure hapless victims into the swamp.

Definition; A will-o-the-wisp is a ghostly light seen by travelers at night, especially over bogs, swamps, or marshes. It resembles a flickering lamp and is said to recede if approached, drawing travelers from the safe paths.  moon paintings

The Plaza

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 12x16

The Plaza movie theater in Burlington, Wisconsin first opened in 1927 and is still operating today. The front view is deceiving, because the theater is much bigger than it appears. It actually is operating as a four-screen, first-run movie house. Recently upgraded the old theater seats for modern comfy seats. Lots of small town charm, beer and wine now served, plus some claim, an in-house ghost named Charlie. What's not to like?
 city scenes art

Magnificent Seven

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x20

This painting was inspired by the Waterford, Wisconsin Balloon Festival taking place as I write this. There is something truly majestic about the huge and silent hot air balloons floating above the earth! balloons art

Smokin' Hot

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x12

This Steampunk Girl with tattoos is armed and dangerous!  I especially like the design element provided by the tribal style tattoo on her left arm.

City Haze

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x12

Ghostly skyscrapers tower over older tenements on a hot summer morning in the big city.  city lights art

Bather at Sunrise

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 12x16

(click on painting for larger image)

Yes, I'm a romantic at heart. A painting awash in the warm glow of a rising sun with a classic female fiqure in the foreground, is my nostalgic nod to Romanticism.

Navy Pier Ferris Wheel Chicago

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x20

(click on painting to enlarge)

The Navy Pier Ferris wheel in Pier Park was modeled after the first Ferris wheel built for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It is the jewel of Navy Pier with its thousands of lights sparkling over the waters of Lake Michigan. Almost 300 people can ride the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel at a time, with up to six people in each of its 40 passenger gondolas. chicago art



The Brooklyn Bridge

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x20

(click on painting for larger image)

This iconic New York landmark, the Brooklyn Bridge, ranks as one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century. The impressive bridge spans the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan. The bridge officially became a national monument in 1964. Part of the history of the bridge is the number of times con men sold gullible tourists the bridge, convincing them that they could set up their own toll booth and make a fortune. I would never do such a thing. If you believe that ...I've got a bridge I'd like to sell you. new york paintings

The Chicago Theatre

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x20
(click on painting to enlarge)

This historic Chicago landmark first opened it's doors in 1921 and has thrilled visitors ever since. The last time I was there was for a performance of "Dirty Dancing", but the theater itself is the real show. See more landmark images; landmarks art

Sudden Downpour Opening Night

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x20

The theater has just let out and thunder and rain greet the crowd as cabs and buses carry the patrons on their way. Wet pavements cause neon reflections to shimmer and glisten as the rain washes the grime from the city streets.

Shanghai Surprise

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 20x16

Here is my 11th painting in my ongoing "Sin, Sex and Cigarettes" series. This time it's the mysteries of the Orient. In the war years asians were often portrayed as sinister villians like Dr. Fu Manchu. Like the pulps that inspired this series, my captions are meant to tantalize the viewer.

"In the hidden passages beneath the opium den, Madam Chen made her play. She was the Jade Spider, and I was trapped in her evil web!"

Blossom Trio with Backup

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x12

What can I say? ...it's finally Spring

Just the Two of Us

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 12x16

It's the time of year for spring flowers and rebirth. I don't often paint florals, but I think everyone should from time to time.

Dad

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 20x16

This is a portrait of my Dad, Robert Standish Shropshire. He knew how to enjoy life and we all miss him but we do appreciate the many years we shared his love and laughter. So raise a glass of Blackberry Brandy to Bark Lake Bob, A.K.A. Grampa Teaser and Shrop the Cop!

Sacred Bundles

Original Painting - Acrylic on Canvas 24x36

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

It felt good to loosen up and paint an abstract with strong color, texture and bold contrasts!

Native American War Pony

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x20

Click image to enlarge

According to the dictionary, these horses are descendants of the animals the Spanish conquistadors brought to the Americas that were adopted by the indigenous people. They were also known as cow pony, buffalo horse, mustang, Indian pony, cayuse, and Spanish pony.

Mystery of the Lake

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x20

A sense of impending doom and the rising wind of an approaching storm creates many unanswered questions. Who is this woman? Why is she standing on the shore? Why is she wearing a formal gown in the forest? Is she holding a wand ...casting a spell? Quoting Edgar Degas, "A painting requires a little mystery, some vagueness, some fantasy. When you always make your meaning perfectly plain you end up boring people." See more Halloween images here; halloween art

Pelicans

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 12x16

The hazy sun shimmers across the water backlighting a gathering of these prehistoric looking birds. I took photos of the California Brown Pelicans on a trip north from San Diego along Big Sur. In flight, they resemble flying Pterodactyls. I think they help create a somber timeless mood to this piece. This painting has been SOLD but prints are available

Savannah

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 24x20

This beautiful young lady is my grand daughter Savannah Shropshire. She is an award winning young artist and is known to like and prefer pretty things. She is also a fan of "Hello Kitty". NFS

American Classic

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x20

(Click on painting to enlarge image)

Okay, I know this is a corny and overly sentimental theme ...a nostalgic Christmas card rendition of a snow covered village complete with horse drawn sleigh. I'm not apologizing, because that's exactly what I was going for in this tribute to an idealized Currier & Ives type of snow scene. Sometimes a sugary sweet is just what you crave and this has been an unusual Wisconsin winter without much snow. snow scene canvas prints

Cloud Over The City

Original Painting - Acrylic on Canvas 16x20

Night has already descended on the city, but the sky is still fighting off the darkness. The light will soon fade and the sky darken but the city lights will still glitter even brighter than the faraway stars. $600.00

Olimbos Greece

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x12

This village clinging to the side of a mountain on a Grecian island is as picturesque as a scene can be. Another location for the bucket list! $500.00

Church Spires

Original painting - Acrylic on canvas 9x12

Click on painting to enlarge

This small study was painted directly on the canvas without drawing or underpainting. My goal was to capture the morning light and hazy silhouettes of the buildings in gradations of intensity from the horizon ...in other words, light in the back to dark in the front. $300.00

Back Alley Justice

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 20x16

The tenth painting in my "Sin, sex, and cigarettes" series features a sinister, armed man silhouetted by harsh lights in a wet and foggy alley. I don't know if there was ever a pulp novel with this title, but it wouldn't surprise me if there was. Available from the artist $950.00

I have been asked why I have chosen to create these paintings as a tribute to the lurid pulp covers of the past. I can remember that as a boy I would take the bus to downtown Milwaukee for a day at the public museum and library. Afterwards I would go to the old bookstore on Wisconsin Avenue. The musty smelling basement level was filled with pulp magazines, paperbacks, and comic books all at half off the cover price. Then I realized that these magazines were priced at .10 cents to .75 cents apiece before the discount! I loaded up on Weird Tales, science fiction, Southsea Adventures, True Detective, Amazing Stories and comics. The tantalizing element of the cover art was the mystery of the unexplained dramatic action and exotic locations portrayed, even though the stories rarely lived up to my high expectations. The melodramatic covers of pulp magazines helped influence and shape my art. I want these paintings to function as illustrations for unwritten stories. Back then, the cover art and captions of the pulps captured my imagination and fired my sense of wonder and adventure!

Leon's Frozen Custard

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 12x16

Leon's Custard is a Milwaukee landmark on south 27th Street. Family owned and operated since 1942, and that makes it older than me! $600.00

Deadly Surprise

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 20x16

Here is number nine in my "Sin, sex, and cigarettes" series, my tribute to the lurid pulp magazine covers and film noir genre. Nothing puts a damper on a romantic interlude like a loaded gun pointed at your cheatin' heart. As you can see, our leading man is a little slow on the draw in more ways than one. You can tell by the fact that she already has her dress off and he's still wearing his hat and coat! Available from the artist $950.00

Milwaukee's North Point Lighthouse

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x20

Each year I paint a special holiday scene to share with my family, friends, and collectors. This year I chose North Point Lighthouse, a Milwaukee landmark. Perched on top of the bluffs over Lake Michigan it provided a guiding light for sailors just like the star guiding the wisemen in the Christmas story. Happy Holidays everyone! Available from the artist $600.00

New York the Emerald City

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 20x24

I intentionally enhanced the greenish tint on this New York skyline as I thought about the immigrants coming to America and their first glimpse of the city. It must have seemed as strange and magical as the Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz. I used thin transparent washes of color to achieve a shimmering translucence to the buildings. Available from the artist $950.00

Bad Girl

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x12

This is number eight in the "Sin, Sex, and cigarette" series, my tribute to the lurid pulp magazine covers and film noir genre. The title comes from the old saying "good girls go to heaven ...but bad girls go everywhere." The background is typical of the paperback covers of the time, showing a slice of the seedy part of the big city. Available from the artist $800.00

Sunbather

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 12x16

My cat, Moe, always finds great spots to sunbathe and nap. I wanted to capture his backlit form with a halo of light, plus the haughty annoyed look on his feline face. I'm also pleased with the loose almost abstract background which I applied quickly with a palette knife. $450.00

Chicago Skyline Silhouette

Original Painting - Acrylic on Canvas 24x36

The twinkling lights of the city at night are a subject that I always return to. I also love the silhouette of man-made mountains against the evening sky. The Hancock tower dominates this view of Chicago but the backdrop of clouds is my primary subject and inspiration. This is a 1.5" gallery wrapped canvas and requires no frame. Available from the artist $1500.00

The Pack

 Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x20

In Wisconsin "The Pack" usually refers to our football team, but this is a more primitive group of team mates. They say today's domestic dogs are descended from wolves, but there is nothing domestic about this she-wolf of the frozen tundra.

Ballet Leap

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 9x12

This small study features my grand daughter, Callie Tuchel, in silhouette at one of her performances. The lighting and positions of the figures created an unusual dynamic that I wanted to capture. This painting was inspired by a photo taken by Annie Jones. SOLD! Prints are available.

Prints of this painting are still available.

Rainy Afternoon Milwaukee

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x20

The great thing about a rainy day is that you don't feel guilty about staying indoors. Listening to a storm roll through has always had a soothing effect on me and I love to paint while the rain beats on the roof and thunder rattles the windows. This one is for those that enjoy a rainy day! See more rain images; rainy night prints

Bear Creek

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x20

Click to enlarge

Wilderness areas are rapidly disappearing but there are still many areas of untamed beauty for us to enjoy. This northwoods scene shows a bear on a fishing trip. $600.00

Incantations of the Witch

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x20

The Red Witch is casting a spell under the crescent moon in the shadow of the bare oak trees. The fire has suddenly flared up as she invokes the name of the demon she summons on All Hallows Eve. This painting is SOLD but prints are still available.

Full Moon on Halloween Lane

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 20x16

My kids, all grown up now, inspired this painting. From left to right are; Tanya, Gina, and Scott.

The kids are not so sure they want to trick-or-treat at the spooky house down the lane. Can't say I blame them. halloween paintings

Halloween Spider

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 12x9
What says Halloween better than a full moon, glowing jack-o-lantern, and a big hairy spider? Although this painting is SOLD prints are availablehalloween canvas prints