Starting a piece is always the hardest part...and sometimes just getting a few marks down, no matter how it will work into the final piece, is the best way to go.
For the new Milwaukee piece, in cooperation with the Shepherd Express' Best of Milwaukee party, I decided to start with the name and move from there. Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin, was built through blue-collar hard work and industry, and has become a symbol of midwest hospitality and fun. Though our population pales in comparison to nearby Chicago, Milwaukee manages to get national attention through a variety of recent creative enterprises and a vibrant, outspoken community.
Not only am I hoping to represent our city through its ever-growing skyline, using it's iconic buildings and landmarks, but I hope to show the life, energy and excitement of the people that live here.
What results may not be a true-to-life representation...it may not be immediately and obviously the known Milwaukee cityscape...It might hit you with it's movement, color and energy far before you see the specific landmarks that define it as Milwaukee...but I think that's exactly what we should hope for.
We don't want a city defined by concrete, steel and glass, no matter how good the buildings look...we want a city defined by its people, its pursuits and its attitude...we want a city that stands out for what it does and who it fights for...
I'm just a few hours into the new piece and there's a long list of things that still need to be addressed...but, much like the city itself, it'll come together through some hard work, a positive outlook, and a strong desire to improve the world around us.
Keep checking in as I move forward with the piece and, if you can't wait for the end result, take a look at a previous commission of the Chicago skyline, the inspiration for the current, closer-to-home project.
No comments:
Post a Comment