December Festivities with the Salon

The festive season is upon us, and what better way to embrace the spirit of creativity than by diving into the vibrant world of art? CFAS and Art City are thrilled to announce festively themed Paint & Sip and ornament painting classes throughout December, offering something for everyone—whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting your creative journey. Mark your calendars and join us for a month filled with inspiration, learning, and fun!

Gallery Openings

Join us for the opening of our Print Show! Coinciding with the opening of Art City’s two galleries, we will be showing artist’s prints. We have a wide variety of work and are so excited to share it with everyone

Spenser Bower’s “Beaches and Nightclubs” will be opening Friday, December 13th from 5 to 9 PM at Art City, 1400 N Halsted Ave. Chicago, IL

  Artist Statement:

  I’ve always wished for the power to freeze time. My art captures the golden ephemeral moments of vibrant youth in tableau. I draw inspiration from Chicago’s frenetic energy, especially its iconic gay scene. My work is meant to elicit the melancholic joy of a remembered summer afternoon. Though each of these vignettes, in reality, may have only lasted an instant, they will now live on long after I am no longer here to remember them.

Elise Blair Bagnoli’s “Lovecraftian Sentimentality” will also be opening alongside Spenser Bower’s collection Friday, December 13th from 5 to 9 PM at Art City, 1400 N Halsted Ave. Chicago, IL

Artist Statement: 

  Elise Blair Bagnoli (b.1998) is an American Italian artist who uses her work as a way to navigate her subconscious. Using atmospheric qualities, she allows mythos and reality to seep into one. Through architecture and abstract portraiture, she references the self and activates these tools to digest the observable world. Elise has spent time researching concepts revolving around philosophy, mythology, and therapy-based meditation to help progress her work and better understand herself—her artistic and life practices mirror each other, as the process of making art isn’t one of pleasure but of necessity. They make art to survive and understand.

Come support these artists and see their incredible work in our gallery spaces NEW Gallery and miar. We hope to see you there!

Hands-On Learning with Joe: Figure Drawing and Color Theory

On the following weekends, deepen your artistic skills with our workshops led by the talented Joe.

Figure Drawing   

  Dates: Saturday, December 14 & Saturday, December 21  

  Time: 11 AM - 1 PM  

  Location: Art City 

  Explore the fundamentals of figure drawing in a relaxed and supportive environment. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, Joe will guide you and provide valuable insights. Bring your sketchpad and get ready to bring the human form to life!

Color Theory

  Dates: Sunday, December 15 & Sunday, December 22  

  Time: 11 AM - 1 PM  

  Location: Art City  

  Understand the magic of color! In this workshop, Joe will demystify color theory and teach you how to use color effectively in your art. Unleash your creativity as you learn to mix, match, and harmonize colors.

Vision Boarding: Start the New Year with Intentions ✨

Sunday, December 29 & Monday, December 30

 Time: 2 PM - 4 PM, 5 PM - 7 PM  

 Location: Art City 

As we transition into the new year, join us for our Vision Boarding sessions! Create a visual manifestation of your dreams and goals for 2025. Gather your magazines, scissors, and any other art supplies you wish to use to curate your personal vision board. Supplies will also be provided with the purchase of a class.

New Call for Art: “Eros: The Sensual Side of Love” ❤️

CFAS is excited to announce an open call for artists for our upcoming exhibition Eros: The Sensual Side of Love. We invite artists to explore and express the many dimensions of sensuality, intimacy, and desire. This call for art seeks works that delve into the deeper, more nuanced aspects of love—the physical, emotional, and passionate connections that shape our most intimate experiences.

Submission Details:

Deadline: January 19, 2025  

Opening Show: February 7, 2025 at Chicago Fine Art Salon  

We encourage artists from all backgrounds and mediums to submit their work for this thought-provoking exhibition. Let your creativity shine through the exploration of love’s more sensual side!

Don’t miss out on these exciting art events! Whether you’re looking to enhance your skills, find inspiration, or simply enjoy the creativity of your community, CFAS and Art City have something for everyone this December. Bring a friend, make new connections, and immerse yourself in the world of art.

November with CFAS

Our Call for Art “Small Works” is coming to a close THIS month on November 25th! If you’re an artist with work smaller than 18’’ by 18’’, you might be eligible to be in our third annual Small Works show. Continuing a now three-year long tradition, CFAS will be showcasing Small Works at our West Town gallery located at 2623 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL. Our mission is to have a show surrounding smaller-sized artwork so that we can display more artists than we could usually do with larger artwork and to display all types of artwork. We want to offer smaller, inexpensive original work for the holiday season.The opening reception for the show will be on December 6th. Although the only requirement for the show is for the artwork to be less than 18’’ by 18’’, artists are also encouraged to submit audio and/or video pieces, although the viewing display must be provided by the artist and it must meet the size requirement. 

The Salon also has a second Call for Art open looking for printed artwork that could be promoted and sold at festivals around the Chicago area and added to our inventory. We prefer that artists already have the work printed and ready to sell (ex: the work is inside of a plastic sleeve or protected, the price is marked, and artist information is included), however, if you need assistance getting prints made and have high-quality images ready, we can work with you to get those prints made. This will be determined on a case-to-case basis, so email info@chicagofineartsalon.com for more information if this applies to you.

Shows this Month:

Art City is delighted to welcome two new shows into our gallery spaces: Jayne King’s “Strata,” and Shanti Grandi’s “Framed Absence: A Lyrical Dance.” Both will be opening on Saturday, November 9th with an opening reception from 5-9 PM.                                       

Strata’s Artist Statement:

These vessels are inextricable from the thousands of years of ceramic history preceding them, and the enduring materiality of clay that positions the medium as a critically important tool for understanding the past. Informed by the stratigraphic principles of archaeology and geology that assist researchers with understanding hominin history and deep time, these works exalt the unseeable things underfoot and consider the intersecting relationships between social invisibility, utilitarian craft history, and the subterranean mechanisms that both govern and record activity on earth.

(Imagine the pots are already fragmented and buried underground, preserved in time for a future archaeologist to unearth and interpret.)

Shanti Grandi will also be bringing work into our gallery space with her show, “Framed Absence: A Lyrical Dance.” Shanti Grandhi is currently a second year MFA Candidate in the Painting and Drawing Department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She was born in Arlington Heights, IL and lived in New York City before joining SAIC.  

Her paintings are a meditation on narratives, how history gets written and how the language of paint makes meaning.  Through mark-making and color, she explores her relationship with culture, memory, time and space. Pulling fragments from a wide range of the art historical canon such from Indian miniature paintings to Tintoretto and Michael Armitage, she stitches together various experiences—lived, imagined, inherited and appropriated. She seeks to create sensations, feelings and movement and to find moments of rest amongst the motion.

Shanti also holds degrees from University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University and Harvard Business School.

See the work and come to their opening ceremony for “Strata” and “Framed Absence” on Saturday, November 9th from 5 to 9 PM at 1400 N. Halsted Ave

The Salon has been planning this for a while now, and it’s finally here! CFAS presents our very own Art Club, featuring three membership tiers for artists at all career levels. Our introductory, Bronze tier provides a continuously updated bulletin board with curated Calls for Art specific to emerging artists in the Midwest region, but also, national and International opportunities, and more. The club memberships will officially launch in mid-November, so keep an eye out to be one of our first members!

CFAS has had the privilege to uplift so many artists' careers here in Chicago, and we want to extend that love to more emerging artists in Chicago and beyond! No matter what level you’re at in your career, CFAS has a tier that can help improve your reach and artist community. 

November Events with Art City and CFAS

11/2:Saturday Morning Figure Drawing (11 AM-1 PM)

11/3: Wild Mile Paint & Sip(11 AM-1 PM)

11/7: Empanada Mama Paint & Sip (7-9 PM)

11/9: Art City Gallery Openings (5-9 PM)

11/10: Color Theory Workshop with Joe (11 AM-1 PM)

11/12: Earl’s Kitchen Paint & Sip (6-8 PM)

11/16: Saturday Morning Figure Drawing (11 AM-1 PM)

11/21: Empanada Mama Paint & Sip (7-9 PM)

11/23: Saturday Morning Figure Drawing (11 AM-1 PM)

11/24: Color Theory Workshop with Joe (11 AM-1 PM)

11/24: Abstraction Workshop with Jacalin (3-5 PM)

11/25: Small Works Submissions close

11/26: Thanksgiving-themed Paint & Sip at Earl’s Kitchen (6-8 PM)

11/26: New Call for Art “Eros” Opens

11/28: Happy Thanksgiving! 

11/30: Saturday Morning Figure Drawing  (11 AM-1 PM)

Getting Spooky with the Salon

It’s October in Chicago and Fall is finally in the air! CFAS has been celebrating with Art City at our Barcocina Pumpkin Painting classes in West Town and Lakeview. With the $50 ticket purchase, painters got a two-hour instructed class with materials provided, two cocktails, and chips with guacamole. We’ve been at Barcocina every Wednesday for the month of October and will be continuing until October 30th. We’ve also been getting spooky at our Sunday night Movie Nights, with a recent viewing of the 1965 horror/comedy film, “Color Me Blood Red” on 10/20. 

Pumpkin Painting at Barcocina 

We’ve also been enjoying the fall weather at our Wild Mile Paint & Sip classes. Painters get to enjoy and paint the world’s first floating eco-park, located right here in Chicago at 905 W Eastman Street. We meet behind the REI before walking together to the two-hour class, where there are views of the iconic Chicago skyline combined with the natural beauty of the Wild Mile. Weather permitting, there are two classes remaining on 10/27 and 11/3 before we pause instruction until springtime.

 In a quote from the Wild Mile website, they say: “look at a river running through any major city around the world and you will probably find the same thing — sheet metal walls where riverbanks used to be. These walls remove essentially any natural riverbank habitat for plants and wildlife to live. Since these walls simply cannot be removed from most cities, we are bringing back river habitat to urban waterways by building artificial floating gardens that can fit into existing river systems. These gardens are filled with native wetland plants that provide food, shelter, and overall high-quality habitat for native wildlife — a sanctuary in the middle of the city.

These sanctuaries aren’t just for the fish, birds, and turtles. We are restoring life to the Chicago River for all by installing floating boardwalks for human communities to access and enjoy the river too.”

Chicagoans walking on the Wild Mile

CFAS currently has two open Calls for Art, our Small Works and Call for Prints. Continuing a now three-year-long tradition, our Small Works show will feature 2-D and 3-D  works that are 18’’ by 18’’ or smaller. The opening reception for the show will be on December 6th, and we’ll be accepting submissions until November 25th. Although the only requirement for the show is for the artwork to be less than 18’’ by 18’’, artists are also encouraged to submit audio and/or video pieces, although the viewing display must be provided by the artist and it must meet the size requirement. 

The Salon is also looking for printed artwork that could be promoted and sold at festivals around the Chicago area and added to our inventory. We prefer that artists already have the work printed and ready to sell (ex: the work is inside of a plastic sleeve or protected, the price is marked, and artist information is included), however, if you need assistance getting prints made and have high-quality images ready, we can work with you to get those prints made. This will be determined on a case-to-case basis, so email info@chicagofineartsalon.com for more information if this applies to you.

Upcoming Events with Art City and CFAS:

10/27: Paint n Sip at the Wild Mile(11 AM-1 PM)

10/29: Pumpkin Painting at Earls (6-8 PM)

10/30: Pumpkin Painting at Barcocina(6-8 PM)

11/3: Paint n Sip at the Wild Mile(11 AM-1 PM)

11/10: Color Theory Class with Joe Sikora (11 AM-1 PM)

11/12: Earl’s Paint & Sip (6-8 PM)

11/15: Staple + Stitch Print Fair (Friday through Sunday)

11/17: Color Theory Class with Joe Sikora (11 AM-1 PM)

September with the Salon

Fall is finally here and CFAS is feeling festive! We started the month of September off with the opening of our latest show, “Chicago Style.” Chicago style aims to highlight Chicago's emerging and mid-career artists by giving them a space to present their work and their unique perspectives on living in Chicago. Featuring photography, paintings, drawings, and more, “Chicago Style” shows a diverse view on our great city. The show opened during West Town Art Walk on September 6th, and we had a great turnout and a lot of fun! If you missed the opening reception, the exhibition will be open until October 6th by appointment only. You can reach out to us to schedule an in-person viewing by emailing us at info@chicagofineartsalon.com, or you can see the work through our Online Gallery. 

If you missed the opening reception, join us for the “Chicago Style” closing reception on Sunday, October 6th! The event will coincide with the last day of West Town Art Walk, which will be on Friday and Saturday before the reception. 

As temperatures slowly lower and summer comes to an end, we have plenty of Paint & Sip classes available for anyone looking for a new activity to do with friends or family. Art City offers BYOB Paint & Sip classes in our studio in Lincoln Park (1400 N Halsted) every:

Friday: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Saturday: 2 to 4 PM and 5:30 to 7:30 PM

Sunday: 2 to 4 PM and 5:30 to 7:30 PM

We also have some Pop-Up classes around Chicago and In-studio themed classes during the month of September if you’re looking for a place to get dinner, a drink, and a painting class! 

September’s Events:

9/15: Paint n Sip at the Wild Mile (11 AM-1 PM)

9/17 Paint n Sip at Earls (6-8 PM)

9/20: Paint & Poetry at Art City (6-9 PM)

9/21 Paint n Puff at Moti (2-5 PM)

9/22: Crazy Cool Collage (10 AM-12 PM) *ages 7-17

9/22: Paint n Sip at the Wild Mile (11 AM- 1 PM)

9/29: Art City Movie Night: Screening “Loving Vincent” (7-9 PM)

Looking to improve your figure drawing skills or are just starting out and don’t know where to begin? We offer both instructed figure drawing classes as well as drop-in sessions for those who are just looking for practice. Our team of life-long artists will work with you at whatever pace you’re comfortable with in order to make sure you get the most out of our lessons. If you’re looking for a general introduction to figure drawing or for help in one specific aspect of figure drawing, we’re here to help! 

If you’re looking for help advancing in any art skill, CFAS has something for you too. We offer Private lessons on any subject on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Reach out to us at info@chicagofineartsalon.com to schedule a private lesson!

Our Next Call for Art: “Small Works” 

As our current show “Chicago Style” eventually comes to a close, we’re already looking ahead to our next group show. CFAS has hosted a Small Works exhibition for the last two years, and this year we’re happy to bring a third show to the Salon! Anyone can apply, whether you’re an artist based in Chicago or not. International submissions are also accepted. 

Summer in August

Written by: Taylor Doubek

With summer coming to an end and classes starting up, that does not mean the summer festivities need to end. From classes to shows, Art City and the Chicago Fine Art Salon have multiple events to keep the summer vibes going.  

The Salon is thrilled to have Riley Brady back in our gallery spaces, this time showing at our Art City location at 1400 N. Halsted Ave. Her show, “Me Time” debuted new embroidery artwork.

Opening on Friday August 23rd, the NEW Gallery will be exhibiting a collection of works by Chicago based artist, Riley Brady, titled Me Time. Her works involve an eclectic range of mediums, most notably her embroidery work, while exploring a tight range of themes.  

Growing up in a strict Catholic environment and being surrounded by both artists and craftspeople has manipulated the focus of her artwork to themes surrounding loneliness, religion, control, and the role of art vs. craft. These themes help explore the struggles and hardships Brady has faced through her life as a way to heal and forgive herself of these burdens.  

The subject matter of her works varies from religious topics to WebMDs Symptom Checker. With all of these topics, she connects with her audience and hopes to provoke a sense of catharsis to viewers who deal with the same issues.  

The Chicago Fine Art Salon is proud to present that it will be participating in this year's West Loop Art Fest. Free to the public, it will take place from August 30th to September 1st. For six blocks you will be immersed in a range of artwork by talented artists from across the country. Come out and soak in that last bit of summer and diver into the world of art! 

Want to be hands on and get in touch with your creative side? Art City and Chicago Fine Art Salon offer fun and affordable classes where you can learn to work with a variety of mediums. No matter the skill level, we have you covered! Want a more low-key night come and join our Paint n Sip class at Art City. Want more of a challenge? Come to CFAS’s Chicago Fine Art Drawing class where you can harness new skills and techniques. Either way, you will go home with a new skill, so do not miss out! More information can be found on CFAS’s and Art City’s website.