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.   

Sparks will Fly in July at Art City and CFAS

As the month of June comes to a close, July is coming in HOT, filled with activities, fun, and fireworks. Both the Chicago Fine Art Salon and Art City have many exciting events to keep up with July’s festivities. Launch into the artworld and explode into a world of creativity like a firework on the 4th of July.

West Fest

The Chicago Fine Art Salon is happy to announce that it will be at this year’s West Fest! CFAS will be presenting a range of eclectic prints and original works by talented artists that have been exhibited at both CFAS and Art City. West Fest is dedicated to celebrating the electric West Town community by hosting exuberating live music, delicious food, and of course a range of local artists and art vendors. West Fest will be on Chicago Avenue between Wood and Damen and will take place starting Friday, July 12th at 5pm and end on Sunday, July 14th at 10pm. Make sure to stop on by!

Art Classes 

Art City and CFAS have a variety of engaging classes no matter the skill level. Over 21? Art City has the Happy Painting studio, a BYOB paint n sip class with alternating paintings each week. Have young kids with a creative imagination? Sign them up for Art City’s kids summer art camp. Classes take place up until the start of the school year, so sign up now! For $25 only, every Wednesday Art City is now having open introductory lessons in a variety of mediums. All materials are provided! Need a more advanced course and want to harness new skills with a range of mediums? Come stop in for a 2-hour weekly drawing class at CFAS and get connected with your creative side. More information can be found on the Art City website.

NEW Gallery and MIAR

Art City is proud to present two new artists, Jason Schroeder to the NEW Gallery and Clair Boyle to the MIAR gallery, on Thursday, July 18th. 

Jason Schroeder is a Chicago based photographer. He takes much inspiration from films and movies. He explains “I learn from watching them. Sometimes I become so engrossed in the lighting of the movie, or the camera angles, that I lose track of the dialogue and the plot.” By seeing these techniques, he is able to incorporate it into his work, taking the ordinary and transforming it into the extraordinary, creating a truly captivating photo.

Clair Boyle is a painter based in Oakland and Chicago. Her works take inspiration from medieval image-making, before the discovery of perspectival space, where things feel at once wrong and charmingly human. The subject matter of the work depicts moments of social ceremony and celebration and exposing the unsettling, exuberant, and quite unhinged spirit of these gatherings. Within the paintings heads float on mile long necks, lobsters abound, figures gaze with unease, and martinis are always close by. Boyle is interested in flickering between celebration and disquiet, grandiosity and indignity, humor and sadness.

Call for Artists

CFAS will be hosting an exhibition in September titled Chicago Style, A Local Art Exhibition. It will be a group show dedicated to works that are about Chicago, by artists who identify as Chicagoans. Submissions for the show will be open throughout the month. Opening day for the exhibition will be September 1st and will close on October 6th. More information to come!

may flowers with the salon

May has been a month of milestones and artistic delights here at CFAS We've been overwhelmed by the incredible support and participation we've received from our community. From the rejuvenating ambiance of our plein air classes to the unveiling of our Capture collection, it's been a whirlwind of creativity and connection.

Plein Air Classes at the Wild Mile

One of the most exhilarating developments this month has been the resumption of our plein air classes at the enchanting Wild Mile. Nestled on the river behind the REI in Lincoln Park, the Wild Mile is a floating oasis, a harmonious blend of aquatic wonders and natural beauty. Our observational art classes amidst this picturesque setting have been nothing short of magical. If you haven't experienced the tranquility of painting the skyline against the backdrop of this spectacular nature preserve, now's your chance! Sign up here to immerse yourself in the art of plein air painting.

Curious to learn more about the Wild Mile? Click here to discover the wonders of this unique eco park.

Closing Reception for Capture Show

Mark your calendars for June 7th as we bid farewell to our captivating Capture Show. Join us for the closing reception as we celebrate the talent and creativity of the artists who have shared their vision with us. It's been a journey of discovery and inspiration, and we're grateful to everyone who has been a part of it.

Elena Morone: A Mosaic Marvel

Prepare to be captivated by the intricate beauty of Elena Morone's mosaic masterpieces. As our newest featured artist, Morone's work will soon be available in our shop, offering you the opportunity to bring a touch of mosaic magic into your own space. Stay tuned for updates on when Morone's exquisite creations will be gracing our shop!

New Installation by Kimmah Dennis

Stepping into our gallery at Art City, you'll be greeted by the mesmerizing works of installation artist Kimmah Dennis. With each piece, Dennis invites you into a world of introspection and wonder, challenging perceptions and sparking conversations. It's a privilege to showcase Dennis' talent, and we invite you to experience the transformative power of art firsthand. Read more here.

As we reflect on the events of May, we're reminded of the transformative power of art and the joy of community. Thank you for being a part of our journey, and we look forward to creating more memories together in the months to come.

Until next time, may your days be filled with beauty and creativity.