city of electric light

I recently discovered the wonderful work of artist Chris Johanson,  a veteran of the Northern California punk/skate scene.  He has a beautiful book Please Listen I Have Something to Tell You About What Is and I particularly love his paintings of cities that often explode the frame, become sculptural, spontaneous, sprawling.

On Thursdays I teach painting and drawing to an amazing group of 6-8 year olds, and last week we made city pictures inspired by Johanson's work. The kids loved the details in his paintings: bright roadways, upside down vehicles, underground hide outs. They became architects of their own gorgeous cities.