Dana M Johnson – Paintings, Illustrations, VideoThe Blog of Dana M. Johnson

These are just some of the people I saw outside of the Art Institute of Chicago last week on a visit to the city.  I traveled on the overnight Megabus from Minneapolis to Chicago, which was cheap, and that’s about all I can say about that!  Most of all I enjoyed walking around the city taking in the daily life on the streets and parks.  Millennium Park really needs to be experienced in person.  I had read about the park in Landscape Architecture Magazine but it was even better than I had expected!  The Jay Pritzker Pavilion designed by Frank Gehry, is definitely the most unique concert venue I’ve been to.  The entire park was full of life, which proves that if you build it and have interesting things to see and do people will come out to play!  Other highlights in Chicago:  Old Town Ale House whose walls are covered in paintings (Nude and Political)  by Bruce Elliot, dessert at Hot Chocolate where the walls are covered in art by Jared & Jessica Joslin & a wonderful educational river tour by the Chicago Architecture Foundation, a great way to see the city.

* special thanks to Chicago resident, friend & songwriter Josh Leahy you can check out his music HERE

Camper, watercolor on paper copyright 2010

Southern MN Evening, watercolor on paper copyright 2010

A few images from the sketchbook & on the road in Southern MN!  Have a great memorial day weekend-

Central Park Spy, watercolor & pen on paper, copyright 2010

Last weekend I was in NY and Central Park was amazing full of spring flowers blooming!  The city is full of characters and the best place to discover them is quietly observing from a bench.

As promised from yesterday, here are the sketches created from the window of the Empire Builder line of the Amtrak which moves along the Mississippi River.

Mississippi Island, watercolor & pen on paper, copyright 2010

Glass Telephone Insulators, watercolor & pen on paper, copyright 2010

Passing Rusty Train, watercolor & pen on paper, copyright 2010

Flooded around trees, watercolor & pen on paper, copyright 2010

Moon over the Mississippi, watercolor & pen on paper, copyright 2010

2nd Shift, 10:18pm, from the sketchbook, watercolor on paper 2010

From my studio window the sites and sounds act like a visual moving clock.  Just 10 minutes after the Amtrak Train flies past on the tracks, the 2nd shift workers from the post office with their lunch boxes in hand walk across the snow covered parking lot to their cars and drive home for the night.  The sound of the engines and site of the headlights signal to me that it is time to clean up the paints for the night and get ready for bed.