We are still inspired by the sights we saw in Chicago back in July this week, but for a change of pace I did not try to emulate the work of Edward Hopper for this mixed media study.

Based on a very blurry photo I took from an L platform in the Loop, this was created using pastel crayons on black illustration board, then after a week or so, I went back and painted over much of it with thick acrylics.  I deliberately avoided using Hopper’s painting techniques, going for a slightly more expressionistic style that’s closer to my natural way of painting (at the moment).

The idea was to capture the colors of the flag, which stood out to me because of the way the sunlight was selectively piercing the clouds on an overcast day, creating a bit of a juxtaposition of color and gray. I was happy enough with the result to share it here.

To see it bigger try clicking HERE.

Over in radioland, Monday at 2 PM on The AIR, we bring you a brand-new episode of Psychedelic Shack, and then at 3 PM a brand-new edition of Herman Linte’s weekly showcase of the Progressive Rock of the past half-century, Prognosis.  You can listen to The AIR at the website, or on the embedded radio player elsewhere on this page.

Happily, I have playlists for these shows.  At 2 PM Nigel Pye brings you an hour of Psychedelic Shack, and this week he has some more contemporary mind-expanding aura chex mix for you, along with some vintage goodies. Check out the playlist…

Psychedelic Shack 081

Nektar “The Nine Lifeless Daughters of the Sun”
Eloy “Dillus Roady”
Fanny Adams “Ain’t No Loving Left”
Farmyard “All In Your Mind”
Freedom “Dusty Track”
Fuzzy Duck “In Our Time”
Gong “Fohat Digs Holes In Space”
Kraayeveld “Hound is on the Run”
Juicy Lucy “Slow Down”
Light of Darkness “Freedom Fight”

Psychedelic Shack can be heard every Monday at 2 PM, with replays Tuesday at 9 AM, Wednesday at 10 PM, Friday at 1 PM,  and Saturday at 9 AM.

At 3 PM Herman Linte takes over with a two-hour mixtape edition of Prognosis.  This episode puts the lie to the idea that Progressive Rock died off in the 1980s. It’s two solid hours of prog-rock from the Me Decade.  You’ll hear bands that formed in the 80s, supergroups that sprung from the ashes of prog’s greatest bands and prog-rock warriors who revitalized their sound and kept marching forward.  Check out the playlist…

Prognosis 108

Marillion “Incubus
Pallas “Crown of Thorns”
Jon and Vangelis “The Friends of Mr. Cairo”
Pink Floyd “Not Now John”
PFM “Josephine Baker”
Jethro Tull “Budapest”
Genesis “Mama”
YES “Owner of a Lonely Heart”
Dream Theater “A Vision”
Emerson Lake and Powell “Learning To Fly”
Kate Bush “Leave It Open”
King Crimson “Three of a Perfect Pair”
Mike Batt “Whispering Fools”
ASIA “Wildest Dreams”
GTR “Sketches In The Sun”
Frank Zappa “Baby Snakes”
Eddie Jobson’s ZINC “Through The Glass”
3 “Chains”
ABWH “Brother Of Mine”

You can hear Prognosis on The AIR Monday at 3 PM, with replays Tuesday at 7 AM, Wednesday at 8 PM, Thursday at Noon, and Saturday at 10 AM. You can hear two classic episodes of the show Sunday at 2 PM.

At 8 PM you can hear an encore of last Wednesday’s episode of The Comedy Vault, which featured Stand Up Comedy from Steve Harvey.

Monday at 9 PM the Monday Marathon presents ten more hours of funny damn stuff from The Comedy Vault .

We are still working out some bugs with our stream at The AIR, so please let me know in the comments if the station is not playing smoothly for you.