USA Inspired Mini Collection

A planned tour of the Chicago art scene in the late 1980s was cut short by a family bereavement, but other occasions provided stimulus from visits to the sites of modern real life legends and the sites of famous movie scenes also served to enhance the tableaus in the work, incorporating both real and imaginary.

Chicago has always been my favourite city in the United States of America. Its decor and history of real-life gangsters and movie characters are recalled but in vivid colours. For me it was a city where the sun always seemed to shine and didn’t suffer too much from the wind.

Biograph Cinema, v1. Acrylic painting on canvas of the location of the shooting of John Dillinger.

The Dillinger Gang is also known as (The Terror Gang) and was the name given to a group of American Depression-era bank robbers led by John Dillinger. They gained notoriety for a successful string of bank robberies, using modern tools and tactics, in the Midwestern United States from September 1933 to July 1934.

The Bureau of Investigation (The FBI’s predecessor) led to the dismantling of the gang where most of the gang members were killed or later imprisoned.  Most notably, John Dillinger was killed during a shootout when he exited a cinema. Dillinger’s famous dying words were said to be, “Tell Billie for me, ‘Bye-bye Blackbird’”.

See the related painting Little Bohemia

Chicago days, v1. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s collection.

Dream on. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 2000s collection.

The big parade. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1990s collection.

Mr Chicago. Painting on paper 24×26 Inches. This design was later commissioned as a limited edition linocut artist print run of 15 prints. A businessman’s Christmas gift to his employees.

Lady with four feathers in her hat. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1990s & Divorce series.

Lady with two feathers in her hat. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1990s & Divorce series.

Windy City V1. Original acrylic painting on paper from the 1990s

Windy City V2. Limited edition linocut print from the 1990s

Windy Day Chicago. Original acrylic painting on paper from the 1990s

Windy Day Chicago. Original acrylic painting on paper from the 1990s

Windy Day Chicago. Original acrylic painting on paper from the 1990s

Windy Day Chicago. Original acrylic painting on paper from the 1990s

Chicago monument 61 x 66 cm Original acrylic painting on paper from the 1990s

Chicago monument 61 x 66 cm Original acrylic painting on paper from the 1990s

Chicago monument 61 x 66 cm Original acrylic painting on paper from the 1990s

Fort Worth is a city in North Central Texas. In the late 19th century, it became an important trading post for cowboys at the end of the Chisholm Trail. Today, it’s a modern city, with international art institutions like the Kimbell Art Museum.

The Fort Worth Stockyards are home to rodeos, and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honours pioneers. Heee-Haaa!

Shopping in Fort Worth. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s collection.

Fort Worth days. 121 x 91 cm Acrylic painting on paper from the 1980s & Texas art collection

Fort Worth Cowboy. Acrylic painting on canvas commissioned in Fort Worth Texas in the 1980s.

Texas. Acrylic painting on canvas from the 1980s collection.