Littleton Arts Uptown

January Skyline from Uptown

2012-01-28T19:08:00.000-06:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2012

The Chicago skyline in January monotone mode.

We need that occasional colorful sunset, a vivid imagination, and a sense of humor to make it to Spring.

The Year of the Dragon

2012-01-21T17:47:00.000-06:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2012

The Giraffe and the Rat

2012-01-19T15:54:00.000-06:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2012

The Giraffe and the Rat are neither friend nor foe.

Uptown's Aragon Ballroom...Hop on the Bus and Party With Us

2012-01-18T21:16:00.000-06:00

Ink on Paper 9" x 12"

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2012

Stumpy!

2012-01-05T14:29:00.000-06:00

Ink on Paper Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2012

The Chicago Holiday Train!

2011-12-21T09:53:00.000-06:00

Speeding on its way north beneath downtown Chicago. The holiday train is a colorful break from the routine.....

Littleton Arts Over Uptown

2011-12-16T16:53:00.003-06:00

Photo Credit: Jeffrey Littleton

I took these photos from a Cessna at about a 1000' from over west Lakeview. The plane is owned and operated by talented aerial photographer and pilot Allan Goldstein who invited me along.

You can see in the top photo Sheridan Park section between the cemeteries of Graceland and St. Boniface, my home neighborhood. It was a bumpy ride up the last week, gusty 30+ mph gusts. I still got off a few shots with the Blackberry!

Also you can see the Loop/downtown, Wrigley Field, and St. Alphonsus in Lakeview, a suburban golf course........Whadda view!

Uptown the Morning After......

2011-12-15T10:17:00.000-06:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

This is a quick sketch from a photo I saw in the Uptownupdate blog. It would make a nice painting I thinks........

I made a coupla change like changing the "WIGS" on the sign to "UPTOWN" and moving Uptown Bikes over a bit.

On the same block we had a Hollywood-style barricade situation, as you can clearly see all is well and good again!

The Star of Uptown

2011-11-29T15:49:00.000-06:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

It's time to put more Uptown in my artwork.

Uptown #1

2011-11-27T19:44:00.001-06:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

The (future) Uptown Music District

I've been thinking about the Uptown Music District, a mural, and what to do. It is time to sketch this out...one at a time until its right.

Uptown has so much content and material to visualize.......

The CTA Slices Through the Heart of the City of Chicago

2011-11-20T09:45:00.000-06:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

The future epicenter of the Uptown Music & Entertainment District

2011-11-01T17:59:00.000-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

A Full Moon on My Birthday...A Good Sign!

2011-10-19T08:58:00.000-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

Keep it Simple...

2011-09-24T12:45:00.000-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 4" x 6"

Sketch O' da Day.....er....Yesterday....

2011-09-19T11:26:00.005-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

Sketch O the Day for Early September

2011-09-09T21:26:00.002-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Chicago in da Middle

2011-09-04T18:26:00.000-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Polk St. Mural ...Step by Step ::UPDATED::

2011-08-28T17:29:00.002-05:00

It is a spanking new cinder block wall! And look...no dryer vents or whatever obstructions.

In the background we see Sears Tower and the Custom House.

Redline Quick Sketch Drawn....Between Jackson and Wilson Station Uptown

2011-08-27T22:31:00.001-05:00

After another trip..its finished!

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

A Proposal for a Fine Art Mural for the Wilson Avenue CTA @ Truman CCC

2011-08-06T22:02:00.006-05:00

Update:

This particular project is going to be tabled for the time being. While that may not sound like good news the results from this post have been completely positive.

I recieved an email from Alderman James Cappleman yesterday (Monday), no less then the very next business day after posting this. He informed me that there is a substantial renovation planned for this property although the details have yet to be finalized by the CTA. So this particular wall is going to have to wait until the dust settles so to speak..

I am very happy that James got back so promptly a very good sign indeed. And the comments left on this post as well as several sent directly have been positive and have given me ideas. I feel confident our Uptown is ready for the arts.

There are plenty of other walls, public property is most appropriate for this. I would not feel right volunteering to improve private property, and private property tends to change hands, owners can be fickle, only under special circumstances. They can always pay me though just like the plumber and the tuckpointer.

I believe this is the way to propose a public artwork...publicly. The community can have a say, social media can be the catalyst to produce a genuine piece of art we can all believe in, no easy feat actually.

I have another wall nearby in mind, please forward any location suggestions you may have. I will be posting up another proposal sooner then later.

A mural just may be painted in this location eventually, thank you everybody and Alderman James.

Our Art is our Culture, and Uptown is our Home!

Cheers,

Jeffrey Littleton

This is the wall facing east on Wilson Ave, from the Truman College campus, it is CTA property. The size of the painted area is 16" x 131/2", So the mural itself would have a dimensions of 16" x 12" by starting 1 1/2" off the ground. It is primed and good to go, the suface is course and rough but appears to be in pretty good shape, I can work with the texture.

In a meeting with the Red line supervisor Ron Ekers and Mercy Housing TL I asked at the very end about doing a public art project such as this, he referred me to our Alderman.

And it was not a couple weeks later after a community meeting at Margate Park while chatting with Alderman James Cappleman he, completely unprompted, said what a great idea it would be to have artists do some work on the large CTA property at Wilson Station. He believes it would be great to paint the many pillars crossing Broadway artistically, which differs from my mural proposal here but in the same spirit,

I share Alderman James enthusiasm for painting the now ugly pillars, that would be a larger in scope project, including traffic barricades and surface preparation. This mural is a very actionable project that is good-to-go right now! I own a scaffold and any other equipment necessary to complete the job. Below is the materials I would need because the wall is white...seriously this is it:

- 1 Gallon of White paint
- 2 Quarts of Black paint
- 1 Quart of Penetrol (as a medium)
- 1 Quart of Paint Thinner

No artist fee....I live here......

This would be a public artwork so I am proposing this to the public as well as to our Alderman James to benefit from your feedback. I believe with social media and the like we have a new tool for public art, more participation is possible before the brush gets wet, avoid unwelcome surprises after the paint dries. The public can actually be a part of the creative process, in creating this composition.

I would like to publish the final composition for feedback from the community before painting,

The proposal is a mono-tone/ black and white image as you see in the two drawings above, perhaps with the landscape in the top half and the El below, a combination. Or a purely Chinese literati style landscape, or an urban street-scape? All suggestions and comments are welcome.

Cheers,

Jeffrey Littleton

jefflittleton21@yahoo.com

The Next Step:

When it can be determined there is support for this from the community in general, and the expressed support (non-committal for now)from Alderman Cappleman, I will prepare a drawn-to-scale finished drawing of the proposed mural. Then I will put it up for critiques/critisms, make revisions where and if necessary, or start all over again.

This is intended to be a FINE ART mural, by...of....and for the community.

Littleton Arts Uptown is Taking it to the Streets......In Uptown!

2011-08-06T18:36:00.000-05:00

Urban Renewel and Decay

2011-08-06T13:39:00.001-05:00

Watercolor and Ink, 18" x 24" Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

The City that Groans.....Along the Edge of an Inland Sea

2011-07-31T18:42:00.001-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

The secret life of a watercolour painting..............Step 1...then 2........and 3rd and last.

2011-07-27T00:23:00.005-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

Step 1 of ?.....this is on watercolour paper, a big 'ol 18" x 24" sheet. Basically just re-doing and mixing up an earlier composition....all done!

Summertime in Chicago...air Quality can be an Issue

2011-07-26T16:27:00.000-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

Its Always a Full Moon...Somewhere in the Galaxy

2011-07-26T12:41:00.000-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011 Watercolour and Micron pens 9" x 12"

A Ribfest "Which Happens to Be" in Uptown

2011-07-24T11:42:00.002-05:00

Zombies? Are we having fun yet?

The crowds were WAY to thick to allow for local vendors.

What is a neighborhood festival if it isn't local?

It is a RIBFEST it is!!

Photos from Uptown Update "a reader sends in....", and here was the the exciting headline 7/16/11 http://www.uptownupdate.com/2011/07/ribfest-starts-off-with-dancing-music.html:

"RibFest Starts Off With Dancing & Music In The Streets"

BOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRING!!!!!

Pop-Up-Town-Art-Tent Has Landed...In Uptown!!

2011-07-21T16:04:00.001-05:00

Photo: Jeffrey Littleton

A Warm Afternoon on Wilson Ave. in Uptown

2011-07-20T22:13:00.001-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011 (18" x 24")

Several Generations of a Tree Family Spending a Summer Day Together in Uptown

2011-07-19T22:13:00.000-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

Proposal for Uptown Beach House

2011-07-11T19:19:00.000-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

Mini-Art-Uptown

2011-07-02T17:53:00.002-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011 (5" x 7")

No. 9......Moving Right Along......

2011-06-27T14:42:00.000-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

Recycle America.....those wood sraps.

2011-06-25T23:57:00.000-05:00

A Tree in the Park.

2011-06-20T21:46:00.001-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

Uptown Arts Featured in Danse Macabre...Summer Nights...

2011-06-17T10:20:00.006-05:00

{ Sommernächte

夏の夜

Nuits D'été

לילות קיץ

Noites de verão

Летом Ночами

Vara nopti

ليالي الصيف

Noches De verano

Passi l'estate notti }

danse macabre

~ issue xlvii ~

Jeffrey Littleton

Uptown Whirl

Truly, Jeff Littleton is a man of the visual - a photographer, a painter, and a sketch artist. He's also one of those citizens most every city hopes will fall from the trees (though not literally, unless they become insufferable to their alderman) - the urban maven, the neighborhood activist, the community advocate. Jeff labors unceasingly for the restoration and renewal of Chicago's Uptown, and his passion for this naturally informs his art. He shows his subjects great affection, yet his view is also tempered by a slightly flinty if not macabre inner frame that all Chicagoans appreciate.

Jeff is family, of sorts. Not just because of his present domicile, but through his mom, writer and English professor Arlene Greene, who endured having to teach not one but both beginning writing sequences at Columbia College with a wildly distempered post-adolescent me enrolled. We both somehow survived the experience, though I'm sure neither of us foresaw I'd one day end up poeting, much less professoring (or, editing, for the matter of that). But, in Jeff's works, I felt the same sober, patient, caring hand I'd once known, and am proud to present some of his palette throughout this issue to our worldwide readership.

AHC

Littleton Arts Uptown......is Proud to be Featured on the......Uptown Farmers Market Poster

2011-06-14T19:16:00.005-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

If This is Chicago.......Then That Must Be Uptown

2011-06-13T23:53:00.000-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

Ready to start working on #5 again....

2011-06-10T11:41:00.000-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Uptown Art Featured this Month in Danse Macabre.....Check it Out...Great Stuff!

2011-06-06T09:42:00.004-05:00

for immediate release

When darkness becomes electric ...

~ dm xlvii ~

Summer Nights

♠ poetry ♥ fiction ♣ klassiche ♦

from

James Beach - Ambrose Bierce - Prarthana Banikya Borkakoti
Matthew Burnside - Paul Bussan - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Walter Conley - Chris Crittenden - J. de Salvo

James Dye - Cheryl Anne Gardner - Astha Gupta

Ed Higgins - Zak Johnson - Lyn Lifshin

David Lynch - Andrew Montlack - Walkyria Orellana

Ellen Orner - Helen Peterson - Edgar Allan Poe

Adam Simmel - Nicholas Spengler - Stephanie Smith

Daniel Snethen - Hannah Van Sciver - Matthew Vasiliauskas

LT Verrastro - Mercedes Webb-Pullman

Bill Wolak - Syeda Zahan

* * *

dm xlvii

{ Sommernächte ... 夏の夜 ... Nuits D'été ... לילות קיץ ... Noites de verão ...

Летом Ночами ... Vara nopti ... ليالي الصيف ... Noches De verano ... Passi l'estate notti }

Summer Nights

featuring art & photography by

Jeffrey Littleton

Now Open 24 / 7

http://dansemacabre.art.officelive.com

Danse Macabre

An Online Literary Magazine^tm

Le premier magasin littéraire en ligne au Nevada,

new issues monthly on first Friday

(unless the Editor-in-Chief almost dies. Again.)

ISSN 2152-4580

Surrealistically.................. Chicago!

2011-06-02T18:25:00.010-05:00

These are the first 10 versions of the same composition, I am planning on doing 10-12 just to see where it goes.
The one above is the 1st, a small pen drawing. The one to the right is in oil, still working on it but its larger (approx. 40"x30").
Moving down the next two are also pen drawings, one with a little bit of watercolour., they are 12" x 9".
And down below on the bottom is a watercolor (approx. 20"x15").

Why you ask....I'll get back....more to come!

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

Not a Drop to Drink...

2011-06-02T14:12:00.000-05:00

Conte' Pencil on Paper, 18"x 24" Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Riviera Theater Basking in it's own Glow After Mayoral Visit

2011-05-26T18:00:00.000-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton 2011

Uptown Rabbit Population Up in Year of the Rabbit!

2011-05-24T17:03:00.000-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Springtime in Uptown Chicago

2011-05-23T09:24:00.000-05:00

Ink on Paper, Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

The Heart and Soul of Uptown Sleeps. Save our Uptown Theatre!

2011-05-20T17:56:00.000-05:00

Ink on Paper, Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Howl

2011-05-14T10:29:00.000-05:00

Techical Pens, 9" X 12" Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Uptownica.....at Wilson Station

2011-05-11T08:07:00.000-05:00

Pen and Paper, Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Wilson Station...before and during not after.

This was a preperatory sketch for a painting I am working on. I say was because it got stolen in Evanston. Maybe that is appropriate since Wilson Station is no stranger to crime.
Sometimes I think I could start a new blog featuring my stolen artwork.....joy.

Uptown Farmers Market opening up soon!

2011-05-08T08:17:00.000-05:00

Ink and Paper, Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

I declare that Spring has in fact.....sprung.

2011-05-03T10:12:00.000-05:00

Watercolour, Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Chicago is Changing.....the view from the North-Side.

2011-04-29T20:24:00.001-05:00

Drawn with my trusty Micron pens.

Uptown Chicago....The Early Years......

2011-04-28T21:56:00.000-05:00

Ink on Paper..........Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

The Chicago City Bird and Daley Plaza.....tourists welcome.

2011-04-21T11:24:00.000-05:00

Watercolour and Pen, Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Still Blue

2011-04-13T06:23:00.001-05:00

Pen and Ink 9" x 12", Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Brush Pens! Now I can paint on the El train....

2011-04-07T23:17:00.000-05:00

!!!Artists 4 Molly Phelan and a Vibrant Uptown!!!

2011-04-04T00:27:00.000-05:00

Oil on Canvas, Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Broadway, Racine, and Lawrence...........of The Uptown Chicago Music District!

2011-03-21T19:19:00.001-05:00

This is the part of Uptown most students at Truman know best...or how it should be....

2011-03-17T02:08:00.000-05:00

Waterclour on Arches Paper 32" x 22", Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Spring is for Koi....even in Uptown!

2011-03-13T14:40:00.000-05:00

Pen on Paper 9" x 12", Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Wilson Avenue under the tracks......improved!

2011-03-09T05:04:00.003-06:00

A Nice Spot to Chill-Out......

2011-03-03T14:41:00.001-06:00

Ink Pen. 9" x 12" Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Thinkin' of Spring!!

2011-02-24T18:46:00.000-06:00

Pen & Ink, 9" X 12", Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Artists 4 Del Valle!

2011-02-19T21:05:00.000-06:00

Year of the Conejo 2011

2011-02-16T23:11:00.000-06:00

Pen and Ink, 9" x 12" Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Night and Day...Day and Night...in Da City

2011-02-15T10:40:00.000-06:00

Uptown Rising!

2011-02-13T11:47:00.001-06:00

This is the Year of the Rabbit and the Year of Del Valle!

2011-02-10T00:15:00.001-06:00

Uptown Chicago is Snowbound...it feels like this......

2011-02-08T05:52:00.002-06:00

The Roots of Chicago are Beyond the Loop....in the Neighborhoods! Uptown Arts Supports Miguel Del Valle for Mayor....because he knows this!!

2011-02-05T23:15:00.000-06:00

A cliff-hanger of an election we are having....in Uptown!!

2011-01-29T22:48:00.001-06:00

The one on top is the original drawing, the one below is "computerized"....

Uptown Then and Now

2011-01-20T20:35:00.000-06:00

Cha'va Cafe and Uptown Station. One is great while the other waits and waits....for just a little respect and a lot of attention.

Its a New Moon and Soon....a New Year!

2010-12-26T19:34:00.004-06:00

Pine Trees are Tough

2010-12-13T22:11:00.000-06:00

Pine Trees are tough and enduring. They bounce back and keep reaching for the sky no matter the calamity, drought, or what have you. Uptown is a lot like a Pine Tree.

Edgewater Artists in Motion

2010-11-25T07:52:00.000-06:00

A special thanks to EAIM (http://edgewaterartists.com/) for selecting a couple pieces of my art to display on Granville at Broadway Ave. The Koi fish painting is sideways, I need to take an updated photo pronto.

This is a fine program that benefits the the comminity by brightening up the retail districts of Edgewater and give residents and visitors something of interest to see, rather than just a forlorn empty space.

I would have VERY much preferred to display my work in Uptown, close to home where we need good news. Perhaps one day. I am placing my hopes that the next Alderman will be aware of what the arts can contribute to the culture of Uptown.

I guess another benefit is exposure for local artists. But to be honest exposure and a token will get ya a ride on the subway. (being sarcastic now) Happy Holidays!

A corner of the Uptown studio and home of Jeffrey Littleton

2010-11-07T08:11:00.001-06:00

Make Uptown the Venice of Chicago

2010-10-29T21:22:00.003-05:00

!!STOLEN!! From a lobby...classy....its just paper, a watercolor...no biggie. But if ya see it around lemme know eh......

Why not extend Montrose Harbor into our streets...its brilliant! When the canals freeze over we can all ice skate to work and school. How much fun would that be, and who in their right mind could disagree with this most modest of proposals.

watercolor on paper Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

I propose we pick-up the Bean with a helicopter and bring it here....to Uptown!

2010-10-29T21:18:00.003-05:00

Watercolor on paper 9" x 12" Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Sensing a change in her Uptown she thought,,,,,,,,,"who are we?".

2010-10-25T06:04:00.004-05:00

Watercolor on paper (fragment, for posterity of 12" x 18") Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Perspective

2010-10-24T01:00:00.001-05:00

A city without people is no city at all. We have good people and Uptown is home.
Markers on paper 18" x 24" Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

The Waters Edge of Uptown

2010-10-24T00:19:00.001-05:00

Uptown is on the cultured edge of an inland sea.
We belong together.

Ink on Paper,

Oil on canvas 15" x 20" Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Proposed illustrations for my mothers book.

2010-10-21T22:57:00.001-05:00

These are images were done for my mother, she is writing a book, fiction, but drawing from life. We always had a view of a water-tank and electrical birds-nest. Our Uptown, our city, and ourselves have changed so very much. Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Bamboo.....is there nothing it can't do.....

2010-10-21T13:09:00.003-05:00

I paint a lot of bamboo....what can I say? Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Nearby Attractions!

2010-10-21T12:35:00.002-05:00

Not quite Uptown....I love the sign must confess.... And FREE HBO...Weekly rates..... Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Lookin' north to Edgewater

2010-10-18T09:56:00.004-05:00

Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Montrose Harbor View

2010-10-18T09:53:00.004-05:00

Watercolor, 12" x 18" Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

...a distant jet-ski.....the ambient hum of a vibrant city. Uptown is home and this is our view.

Watercolor on paper, approx. 3" x 4", possibly the smallest watercolour I've done. Painted from life in the some spot as the one above. The couple didn't catch much fish, but the most important part is being together with your finest. And we've always got fish-sticks in the freezer.

Painted in your very own Uptown!

2010-10-13T22:32:00.003-05:00

I paint because its there.

These are NOT Uptown views it is to be noted. Artist: Jeffrey Littleton

Bottom O the blog mixed-bag O art.

2010-10-13T21:46:00.010-05:00

Sometimes a lamp is just.......a lamp. Artist: Jeffrey Littleton
Pastel on paper.... pencil....... watercolor...... acrylic.......... ink....... charcoal.......just about everything on this bottom O the blog mixed-bag O art posting.

Much more to come....please stay tuned.

YOU HAVE REACHED THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOG............CHEERS!