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Have you ever made or hand-bound a book of your own work? Or actually have you ever bound anything? I’ve always wanted to learn.
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Oh ! And also This was a total surprise. I had no idea Fiona was making this until she called me today and showed the little book.

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artist book, artist books, handmade artist book, bookbinding, hand bound book, handmade books, book arts, bookmaking, art book, painting book, contemporary painting, abstract painting, visual artist, artist process, creative process, art school, art student, art school project, bookbinding class, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, SAIC, art education, graphic design, book design, mother daughter artists, artist daughter, paintings in print, documenting artwork, sharing artwork, creative family, art practice

#ArtistBook #Bookbinding #bookarts #ArtistLife

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Ending a challenging but fun semester of Advanced Painting @saic_paintinganddrawing with an exceptional group of young artists. All superstars-to-be.

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My last critique for advance painting!

“Pleasure Project” and “I just wanted to make people laugh”

Both 3’ x 4’

Oil on wood panel

2026

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“Pleasure Project”

36”x 48”

Oil on panel

2026

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Untitled

24”x36”

Oil on panel

2026

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10K 2 EZ
shoutout the real artists

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“Pacific”
Oil on unstretched canvas
9.3’x3.5’

Very very pleased with how this turned out, it was so fun and eye opening to make. I challenged myself to work on one detailed and large painting for half of the semester and I learned so much about patience, thoughtfulness, and practice. Worked on this humongous piece 6+ hours a day, 3+ days a week, for the last 8 weeks! That is at least 144 hours on this one painting. What a journey of meditation and reverence this has been. I feel like every version of this that I make is 1,000 times more powerful than the last, can’t wait for more.

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“Shifted”, a diptic

6’ x 2’ (each)

Oil on canvas (unstretched at the moment)

A self portrait of sorts, documenting my life shifting as of recent. Two out of many of this shape. We are far from done. A meditative process more than anything.

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“Solstice”
Oil on panel
24”x 36”

Tapped into something here I think

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“Untitled”
24”x 24”
Oil on panel
2025

I did this. something wrong with it. BUT it started something.

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Meet Fiona, our amazing 19-year-old middle child. She graduated high school in 2023 and immediately started studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). Growing up with me making my own and also teaching kids’ art classes, she was exposed to art more than most.

Fiona decided on her own to pursue art, and while I’d never push her into it, I was thrilled. Even though some, including family, question the value of paying for art school, we support her choice… and I was ecstatic to be honest. Recently, a neighbor mentioned his child would skip art school to do concept design (video game art), thinking no education was necessary. This brings up a question that can be argued on both sides— if art school is truly needed.

Last weekend, I attended a panel at Alma Gallery- in Chicago, led by artist and photographer Mark Ballogg. Fiona asked a question that relates to her own journey at SAIC:

“How necessary is a collegiate education in art to be a successful artist? When I started art school, a gallery attendant told me it was all B.S., and that uneducated artists are often more pure because they’re not influenced by formal education. Given the cost of art school, is it really worth it?”

In the next post I’ll share the way one artist on the panel , @anneharris.painting —Anne Harris, answered this question.

But first tell me in the comments what you think?
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#arttalk #artquestions #artschool #arteducationmatters #artedu #saic

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“Not Knowing”
oil on birch panel
12”x12”x2” (8 total)

People say to make art about what you know, but this series (or singular piece? Your choice) is about the things I don’t.
Faith by definition is having complete trust in someone or something, which is hard, no matter what you believe. This piece discusses some things I don’t know or have a hard time having faith in. If you have any questions or would like to discuss shoot me a dm!!

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