Artist of the Month: July

Each month, a member of the Chicago Studio curatorial committee selects a peer to feature as Artist of the Month. Their work greets visitors from our front room gallery. For the month of July, Kris Schenkel (KKS) chose to highlight new work by Bill Lilly (WL). With the gallery looking electric, Studio Manager, Catherine Norcott (CN), sat down with both of them to discuss the show.

CN: Bill, what can people expect when they look at your work?
WL: Lots of tornadoes, thunderstorms, and snowstorms. I just like them! I’m into metal.

CN: So Kris, why did you choose Bill as Artist of the Month?
KKS: Bill’s been here a while, and he’s made a lot of art, but until now, nothing really stood out to me. He’s a good friend of mine and a good worker. He has a unique way of doing art. He is definitely putting forth effort to learn new things too.

CN: How do you feel about being Artist of the Month?
WL: It makes me feel awesome! It makes me happy too, to see all my tornado drawings up there.

[Image: Bill pointing to a drawing of tornadoes]

CN: What do you think about Bill’s imagery?
KKS: I like the thunder and lightning storms that he does. We both have gone through storms and then we brainstormed together.

CN: What stood out to you about Bill’s artwork?
KKS: His designs, especially the lightning and the clouds. He uses color and contrast, with yellow for the lightning and then the dark black clouds. He is very focused on his composition.

CN: What are you working on now?
WL: I’m sketching a new tornado. It’s called an elephant trunk tornado.

[Image: Bill sitting at desk doing image research of tornadoes]

CN: What would you say to someone reading this blog?
KKS: Everyone should get to know the art that he does. Come check it out! The gallery is open all week and on Saturdays.

CN: Anything else happening this month?
WL: Well, I had my birthday. Frances and I are going to have a party together this week! And with the band, we have a gig. We’ll be at the HideOut on the 22nd. Kris and I will both be there rocking out! We’ll have our new record to sell. Everyone should buy one!

Rock On!