watercolor 14 x 21This is a painting of a photo that I had taken last week while driving through the city that I thought might make a good painting... I loved how the light was shining through the windows of the Art Institute.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGH8LEKM8lBdfa9zYOYIytrGFD407jH5sn3kaFgMUtPXXhW1XtuT9hvri8TFXHbPxNT3287ZcLdD0TvmoIbV1lvU0qejKIGeJFIAr350DQXbnCDuWBzv-oBqlgRO8RFzMvkZtSnSXBay4/s320/art+after+dark..chicago+001.JPG)
This is on 300# Lana wc paper. I first applied colors for my basic wash.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuHQyCJnZBltAiB2AZj30UoxOMGTMplcAemMMy8EAZ2H40BSWfApw7DZI26MCywtTMOhKlSy1Sizd3trMErLsdXr5Zsdh587EakjJemzwSHdYjvjWxRsqcCpcBxP_GWlU5bIHTKUjJkA/s320/art+after+dark..chicago+003.JPG)
Then I started to block it in with adding some of my middle darks.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOp25m20N707lOigi-twMj1KP2lGeHR6tpPycVgL5c2qlElACqPLlO_afPFtb6X9D-UbQyUUNDKqEogyzp4eWvSboA-mmhD-wODehWEMUWz0EG2J2ABicAXMZLYAUg1QHpMHOrR038bnA/s320/art+after+dark..chicago+006.JPG)
I try to establish my darkest dark as soon as possible so that I can key everything to it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAZXs5UttLZYPPBRgKegpwV8THLedDqzmEPVUb0PDWA3LFGxZPCDY9Jugwy5bEJNyb4dM0RYHFzv44yBLtlcenhrwYvlQrAMwD-n5PB0jTWG97U7pWcKnXqcw3VHgRYuE2qAhEJk379c/s320/art+after+dark..chicago+009.JPG)
Now I am establishing more of my darks by adding the foreground trees.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLC6_rDrAME1dpvMNgkJNC1eoaUC74Y0Mt2GtuDD_qxwjtP99H16eczCmxzmF2F0XZ_FijsKuLLuDY_Yg4eqlHk1SA3WQMAZP-eO942ngwwZFIQAvxNzPbMk3N-tVqt869sv_0hVRo2Q/s320/art+after+dark..chicago+015.JPG)
Finally there is the calligraphy of the painting where I add all of the little line work, such as the flag poles, any line work, tree branches, etc.
ENJOY!!