Finished piece. 5 day spread to complete it.

So today after 5 days of painting I have completed my latest experimental piece. The motive behind this was to try and derive through Rorschach a painting out of my own psyche. From these observations I had a vision through the colors that had been laid out before me. This painting is done on loose black fabric which the paint was initially dumped onto then from there it was folded over a number of times and spread with a heavy ruler to evenly distribute the paints. After the first drying process and the image which I had visualized came to life for me I then began to stipple in multiple colored rows of different dots to form an outline or border of the image. From there outer lines were used to create the shadow and depth needed to create the optical illusion that was so intended of causing the owl with the crown to appear to be possibly flying off of the material.

Day 3

Here is day 3 of a work in progress. This piece is focused from a rorschach along with a stippling technique I have been trying to master

or achieve.

Start of something new..

My latest piece is being designed around the rorschach. Sometimes you can see what the rest can't. I'm trying to show what I see and relay it to you the viewer. Besides the rorschach I am also using my latest technique of incorporating as heavy a structure through stippling. I am not 100% sure where this piece is going but i can't wait to find out.

Experimental piece..

So this is my latest piece. It was created due to a dream that I had. I won't get into the dream, but the piece was just an experiment. It is done in a different style from what I usually work in. I still kept some of my basic techniques but tweaked them slightly to achieve the tones and colors the way I had seen them in my dream. I haven't titled it as of yet. It was achieved through Spray Paint and Acrylic Paints. The splatters were made through diluting the acrylic paint and then dipping my fingers in and flicking them at the canvas. Throughout though I try to keep some control and order the paints. This can also be seen through the layering of the colors. The metallic gold color is of course created with spray paint. In order to do that I used cardboard to create the straight lines. I used a gold and a flat purple. That was my way of creating the shadows for the gateway. Other than that I used an extremely fine brush in order to outline and highlight certain cuts and grooves.

Completion of my latest piece that I had been documenting each phase of for record.

Today after 6 days of nonstop painting I finally completed my latest piece. "The Arbor of Meditation" is a painting that was inspired by my recent knee surgery which took place on November 14th. I created this work on a glass cabinet door which I had found on my way home. It is painted on both sides of the glass and then I created an outline through stippling which was painstaking, but well worth it. "The Arbor of Meditation" is a piece that I learned a lot from. Through the painting of it via techniques to the spiritual factor that I acquired through creating it. This painting will be on display at The Village Tap from December 1st through January 31st in Roscoe Village. I will have the opening on Friday the 13th of December where I will be there for a meet and greet. Hope you enjoy.

update on my latest piece...

This one has been moving along nicely. The time that I've had has been most helpful in creating this piece. So as of right now I've basically finished the detail of the tree image and now beginning to pin point or give a pearl relief as an outline. This is to follow in with the concept of it being stained glass or following in towards a middle eastern tone with the colors. This piece has also had a large feeling of meditation for me and patience in creating it. The next part will be shown shortly once completed. By then it may finally be done.... To Be Continued...

Latest piece update.

So I am quickly reaching some crucial moments with my latest piece. As of now I have highlighted certain characteristics and am now in the process of putting the color scales together in order to hope make this image pop. The next step is for me to begin to create as was discussed with my buddy Stuart the "pearl effect" that I am trying to incorporate into these new works. I'll describe it more with the next update so as to let you the viewer see what I am referring too. It has been excellent and also tiring to have the amount of free time that I've had due to my recent surgery. This must be what it is like to be able to paint full time. Anyone out there want to sponsor me or become my sugar momma so I can continue to paint like this full time??? Just a thought....

sneak peak update on a wip

Here is a sneak peak of where my latest piece is at as of right now. I actually can't wait to continue working on it in the morning. I'll give more description about how I've painted it after I complete it tomorrow.

Link about me on OpenWall

http://openwallchicago.org/featured-artist-jim-riggs/

Three new pieces revolving around my glass works series.

Each one of these paintings is done on found windows and glass cabinetry. The windows were donated to me from a friend (Shannon Mendoza). The first piece titled: Desolation/ Isolation is based on my personal concept of transcendental meditation. I was trying to picture a place, somewhere, where I felt I was all alone entering a sanctuary within. I then wanted this to be something that could be shared amongst the viewer that I can not let into my mind, but through this window you can peak inside or out. Which ever way you may want to interpret your moment.  In order to achieve the reflections and depth on glass.  I then have to paint on both sides. This will create depths and illusions. 

For this piece I had found 2 separate glass cabinet doors in an alley near my home after work. The glass on both of these cabinets are colored. This is the first time I've ever tried my technique on opaque glass. This one was a milky white. This piece titled: Internal Landscape (arborescence) is based off of photographs and images I had seen of the internal structure of the knee. This is an interest to me since I just had to have my right knee worked on this past Nov. 14th. More  to come.......

Title:Duality of Solitude

This is another piece based off of one of the donated windows. The concept for what came about here is based off of certain views on society. On one hand there are people in the world whom thrive off of being alone and then there are others whom crave the adoration of people. Over stimulation, bipolarity, At one, in tune. This work is a multi media piece. This is a combination of acrylic paints, spray paint, cotton balls and phonebook pages.  

  

Latest rehashing of an old piece

The image of evolution walks again.

Recent pieces along with a new mural I painted near my apartment in Humboldt Park

The first piece you see here was another rehashing of one of my idols Hunter S. Thompson. In order to create it I used a sheet of peg board and then pasted on sheets of phonebook paper. From here it was quite a fun splattering of paint and then the placing of the stencil which I had drawn and cut out. 

This next piece was created on a canvas in the same style as the H.S.T. piece. The only difference was I ripped away part of the painted paper and then designed the birds flying in the sky.

This is a piece I painted at Summer Camp Music Festival this year. This piece was inspired by the band STS9. It is painted in spray paints and acrylic paints on flat canvas which I temporarily stretched while the music was being performed. After the set was over I am able to pull down the piece and roll it up for easier portability.

This piece was created as a test piece for the large mural I painted down the street from my  apartment. This piece is a stencil I drew up and cut. It is painted on a canvas which I found in an alley where someone had thrown it out.

This is my newest mural going into the summer. It is created by Hand made stencils and spray paint. It stands approximately 4.5ft.  tall. It is located at Maplewood and Hirsch in Chicago Il in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. The location is an outdoor gallery entitle Uncle Art.

City blocks project I did for the town of Elmhurst Il.

I recently just completed a project for the town of Elmhurst. The project is called the "City Blocks Project". For this I used a childish game to idealize the topic of time. Chutes and Ladders is a game from most peoples past.  It seemed like a strong enough and a nonabrasive way of bringing up the question of time and life and how no matter how hard we try we can never beat the hands of time. The title of this piece is "Always Chasing...". It will be on permanent display and will be showcased along with others made from talented artists I believe in May. I will post the date as soon as I find out.

A few pieces you can still see up at LOGAN BAR & GRILL in Logan Square.

This is a few of the pieces of mine you can view at LOGAN BAR & GRILL in Logan Square. The pieces I am featuring are all painted on old windows from around the Chicagoland area.

Newest piece I created today.

This Piece is on an old plank from the abandoned apartment across from my place. If you look you can see some old graffiti which I decided not to remove. I felt it had a strong urban feel to it which I wanted to continue to show. From there I used both a black and a white gesso and then began to adhere sheets of old phone book pages across the bottom have. From there I began painting the landscape scene on top of the sheets of phone book. In order to create a certain feel to the piece I cut up a stencil to use for the plant imagery. This I then used as my outline to create the foliage which I cluttered with the rest of the piece. I wanted a lot of color and a lot of movement to occur with this piece. Once I finished the landscape to my liking I then used a clear glaze and painted that onto the landscape in order to cause a high gloss sheen in order to help with the illusion of depth.

CURRENT SHOW I AM FEATURED AT.

CURRENTLY I AM FEATURED AT OUT-OF-LINE GALLERY LOCATED AT 2812 W. CHICAGO AVE. HERE IS A LINK ABOUT THE SHOW.

http://www.outoflineartstudio.com/?page_id=11

HERE IS AN ADD FOR MY UPCOMING SHOW AT THE MULTIKULTI

THIS IS THE FLIER FOR MY NEXT SHOW I WILL BE TAKING PART IN AT THE MULTIKULTI. LOCATED AT 1000 NORTH MILWAUKEE FROM 6PM UNTIL 2AM THIS SATURDAY THE 16TH.

LATEST PIECE

HERE IS MY LATEST WORK WHICH WILL BE SHOWN ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER PIECES AT MULTIKULTI THIS SATURDAY. THIS IS AN OLD STORM WINDOW WHICH I HAVE PAINTED ON BOTH SIDES. IN ORDER TO CREATE THIS IMAGE I FIRST STARTED BY CUTTING OUT A STENCIL WHICH I SPRAY PAINTED ONTO THE REVERSE SIDE OF THE GLASS. ONCE I HAD LAYED THE PROPER COLORATION ACROSS THE BACK, I THEN WENT IN AND PAINTED IT FROM THE FRONT. THIS IS A REOCCURRING STYLE WHICH I AM STILL ATTEMPTING TO MASTER.

CONCEPT PROJECT FOR ELMHURST

THESE 2 PICS ARE BOTH CONCEPT SCHEMATICS FOR A PROJECT WHICH I AM HOPING WILL BE ABLE TO BE WORKED ON BY MYSELF AND RACHEL LECHOCKI IN THE NEXT UPCOMING MONTHS. ELMHURST IS TAKING STRIDES AT PUSHING FOR SOME PERMANENT STREET ART SCULPTURES FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENJOY.  THIS PIECE WE TITLED "ALWAYS CHASING..." FOCUSES ON THE FACT THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ONE THING WHICH WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO BEAT IN THE GAME OF LIFE AND THAT IS TIME. IF YOU LOOK AT THE 3 DIMENSIONAL IMAGES THERE WILL BE A CLOCK ON THE TOP THAT WHEN VIEWED FROM AN AIREAL IMAGE SHOWS A CLOCK WITH NO HOUR NOR MINUTE HANDS. INSTEAD THERE ARE FEET RUNNING AROUND IN A CIRCLE NEVER ABLE TO FINISH. FROM THE SIDE VIEW YOU SEE A PLAYFUL SCENE OF CHARACTERS ATTEMPTING TO REACH THE GOAL WHICH IS THE TOP OF THE BLOCKS. YET, NO MATTER HOW HARD THEY TRY AND CLIMB UP THEY WILL ALWAYS SLIDE DOWN TO LOSE AGAINST TIME. THE PLAYFUL IMAGERY IS A MIMIC OF CHUTES & LADDERS A CHILDHOOD GAME TO TEACH THE EBB AND FLOW OF LIFE AND HOW IT IS JUST A ROLL OF THE DICE.  

 

Recent events

So it has been a pretty busy month as of so far. Just had an opening at Morpho Gallery on february 22nd.
Out-of-line Gallery on March 9th and the show will be up and running until the middle of April. You can see more about it at www.out-of-line gallery.com
For the upcoming weekend of the 16th I will be taking part in an event for MultiKulti/Quennect 4 for an evening at "The Chicago Art Exchange".
Coming up for next month on April 3rd I will be showing at a "best of show" at Logan Bar where I showed last summer at for a month and where one of my pieces has been permanently hanging.
This has been some busy times with some new work on the way. Definitely keeping my fingers crossed for a few more opportunities on the way.

Newest pieces Newest series Underwater series Animal series

Here are two of my newest pieces. With this series I am beginning I am going back to my roots on detail. I am stepping back in by using pen and ink and water color. There will be more of these to come. Eventually I plan on doing this type of work focused towards land animals as well. Possibly even stepping back even closer too my roots and delving back once again towards nature i.e. plants. We will see where this takes me.