Ralph Bemont joined the Chicago Studio in January 2016, after working for decades at Austin Special.  From the moment he walked in the door, we knew he was a natural.  Making art was a source of great joy for him and there was no limit to his creativity.

This month, we say goodbye to long-time North Shore artist and dear friend Pamela Robe, who is leaving the studio in pursuit of new horizons.

The folks at Oak Wealth Advisors are long-time supporters of The Arts of Life and some of our favorite people to work with. Their impeccable taste in art and inherent understand of The Arts of Life as an organization has made them a wonderful partner. We were very honored when they invited our studio to develop an image for their 2016 annual thank you card. And we got really excited when they suggested an art contest!

Catch all the photos from the Renegade Craft Fair HERE! https://goo.gl/photos/vmZAMvN1akuPmvzz6

I first met Montell when I came to interview for my original position as Volunteer Coordinator. I was doe-eyed and disoriented as Quinn led me through the gallery, to the kitchen, and into the café sharing bits and pieces of what he thought was important about the studio.

“I'm doing really good at my art work. Like I make professional art work, it’s really easy.”

Pablo A. has worked at The Arts of Life Chicago Studio since 2012.  Before that, he never thought much about art, but today he says “I like art, it makes me happy, in the beginning I didn’t know I could do it.”  

Sometimes it's nice to have an excuse to get dressed up and decked out. On Friday, June 3rd, we had an opportunity to do just that for the opening reception of our most recent exhibition, "Cuz I'm Fancy." Dozens of folks came out in their finest to check out the show. In addition, our drama group presented a new piece and we screened the documentary film "Life and Where I'm At," about the life and work of The Arts of Life founding aritsts Veronica Cuculich. Check out the gallery below for photos chronicling the evening.

Rebecca Kubica is a force to be reckoned with! Her artistic style mimics her sunny disposition through the bright, energetic colors she uses in her paintings. Never underestimate Becky, though. She is a brave soul who participates in power lifting, celebrates “tomboys”, and recently painted herself as a “fire-lady”. You can count on her to stand up for  herself and others, speaking out for what she feels is right.

Becky takes pride in a job well done and puts care and intention into everything she does at the studio whether it is art making, daily sketching or afternoon responsibilities. This attention to detail is evident in the detailed figures and backgrounds she often paints.

A sense of peace pervades her artwork which, to me, is a reflection of her personal confidence and poise.

The piece I am working on is about friends and it is important to remember to be nice to friends. I was inspired to do this piece when I first came to the Art of Life. Since I've been here, I have made many friends in my fellow artists. I chose to use a lot of color on the piece because I want the people to pop out. I painted 7 people on this piece because I feel they filled up the space well. As I remind my friends, "don't worry, be happy". I think this painting showcases happiness beccause everyone is smiling. Don't forget to smile today!

Signing off!

This summer, the North Shore studio welcomed Marcelo Añón and Andrew Sautel (pictured above L to R) to our community. Both gentlemen are prolific art makers with lots of ideas and an intense creative drive. They've spent the past few months settling into studio life, learning about our Core Values and developing new bodies of work. Marcelo's primary focus is geometric line work, with a tendency towards urban imagery. Andrew enjoys portraiture and working in mixed media. Check out the gallery below for images of these artists at work. 

In 2012, Amanda joined The Arts of Life as a full time artist, making work five days a week at our North Shore location. She’s experimented with a variety of mediums over the course of her career, but recently chalk pastel emerged as a successful favorite. “I used to do photo transfer. Now I do chalk pastel… It’s good exercise for my arms and hands.”

Photo booth design by Dave Krueger + Ben Marcus

DOWNLOAD YOUR PHOTOS HERE! https://goo.gl/photos/jcnvjxyWV7GChjaX6

The North Shore Studio’s photo group proudly presents a new series of photographs for your viewing pleasure! Our latest endeavor was a group effort where the artists threw objects upwards and photograph them as they sailed through the sky!

Currently a student at Northwestern University, Rita Hirami is studying Sociology and Linguistics. She is serving as an Artist Mentor Intern at the North Shore studio this summer and with her kind, understanding demeanor has swiftly become an asset to the studio.

Elaine Cha is an Artist Mentor at the North Shore Studio. She has been with us for a few months and has blown us away with her rapport and observational drawing skills. She is currently a senior at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois studying Human Communication Sciences. She recently sat down with North Shore artist Rebecca Turner for our Volunteer Spotlight.

4th Annual Square Foot Show Recap

Thank you to all of you who participated and came out to support our 4th Annual Square Foot Show. This year's exhibition featured work from nearly 100 visual artists with and without developmental disabilities from across the country. North shore artist Rebecca Turner had a fantastic time at the event. "It was really nice. I did a painting. It sold.

Ben Marcus is Is an artist and DJ based in Chicago. Ben has been volunteering at the Chicago Studio as a mentor and collaborator with studio artist Dave Krueger. The two have been working as a pair to create unique comics that mesh both of their individuals styles into one. Recently we interviewed Ben to get his insight on his experience at the studio. 

The ever-industrious photography group at the North Shore Studio has been at it again! We have been studying different ways that the camera captures motion. The artists began by photographing one-another in motion and enjoyed it so much that they decided to expand on the project.

The North Shore studio's photo group presents their first photographic series! The series, commonly referred to as "squish", features objects that the artists selected to press between two pieces of glass. Each image was made as a collaborative effort between the photo group members. The artist took turns trying their hand at different aspects of each photo shoot. The jobs included: lighting and camera setup, object layout, photographer and clean-up crew. It is with pride that we present the resulting images to you!

It has been a busy summer for the Chicago Studio, from fairs and street fests, to solo shows, and the Annual Blow-Out Sale, but we didn’t do it alone. One outstanding volunteer was there through it all, Mia Fornoza. 

For the third summer in a row, The Arts of Life partnered with Chicago youth development program, After School Matters (ASM), to invite a group of teenage interns to share their time and talents with the studio

What’s up! I’m Hector Sketch Jones. I’m the sketch artist at the Glenview Studio. I’m starting a blog bout my rap andpoetry. My stuff of what I write is emontionally driven to the point that it is deep and dark. I’ve been doing this since I was very young, about five years old. I think you all will feel like you’ve been there if you read this. My stuff also comes from life experiences. I hope you like it. Check back with me every month for new rhymes and poetry yo. My quote for this month is: If honesty isn't in the cards then the truth isn't worth the telling. 

The Sketchbook Swap project is all about utilizing art to create a stronger sense of community at our  studios and also with the greater Chicago community.  Our primary purpose at The Arts of Life is supporting each other as professional artists in creating a thriving arts community based on cooperative decision-making and mutual respect.  We feel the Sketchbook Swap has done just that!

Ever wonder what life is like for one of our artists? Mike Marino was generous enough to share his day with us. Enjoy!