Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting & Writing

Erik Dohner’s Fantastic Debute in GREASE February 17, 2012

Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting & Writing — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:07:40 +0000

Erik Dohner's Debute in Grease as Danny, 2-17- 2012 at Lane Tech.

I’m sharing the stage this week with Erik Dohner as he debuted in Grease this week at Lane Tech College Prep High School. Erik, my son is graduating this year from Lane, and will be pursuing a career in Vocal Performance! The performance was spectacular from all the Grease characters! Enjoy the Pics… Here’s a link to a short video of Erik and cast in Grease. The videos a little jumpy at the beginning but improves and is fun to watch! Markus Dohner, Erik’s dad filmed it on his I-phone: Erik Grease Clip CDquality.mov

Danny & Rizzo Hand Jive.

Danny & Sandy.

Danny and Sandy Big Kiss.

Danny and the Boys.

Danny, Rizzo, Kenickie, Marty and cast dancing.

Danny & Rizzo Hand Jive.

Danny, Rizzo, Kenickie & Marty.

Danny Standing.

Kenickie on Grease Lightning.

Marty and the girls.

Marty and Vince.

Marty singing Freddie My Love.

Sandra and the girls.

Danny and Sandy at the Drive-In

Danny Singing with Kenickie and Rizzo in Grease

Danny singing at the Drive-In

Danny and Sandy Dancing

Danny and Sandy in closing scene, Grease

Curtain call Danny and Sandy

Tagged: debute, dohner, Erik Dohner, Grease, grease 2, kenickie, Lane Tech, Musical Theatre, rizzo, Theatre, vocal performance

IF: Forward, Looking Forward to an Early Spring!

Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting & Writing — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:28:54 +0000

Groundhog Looking Forward. Watercolor, watercolor pencil and Photoshop

“Gee, I was looking forward to an early spring…”
Me too, thought the groundhog.

This weeks Illustration Friday topic is Forward, suggested by Becky Caldwell. Thanks Becky and IF, great topic! Hope you enjoy the critter, and by the way did Phil see his Shadow today…

Tagged: becky, caldwell, early spring, illustration, watercolor pencil, watercolor watercolor

Illustration Friday: “Prepare”

Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting & Writing — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:25:43 +0000

Prepare for Painting. . .

Prepare for Painting. Watercolor, watercolor pencil and Photoshop.

This week’s Illustration Friday Topic is “Prepare” submitted by Susan Sorrell, and here’s the accompanying quote:
An artist must possess Nature. He must identify himself with her rhythm, by efforts that will prepare the mastery which will later enable him to express himself in his own language. ~ Henri Matisse

My illustration was started over the summer for an earlier IF Topic: Disguise. I did a quick pencil drawing that I liked and knew I wanted to revisit at a future time. Serendipitously, I just happened to be working on a color version when the IF topic came up. Thanks for the Great Topics!

Tagged: Art, Brilliant Color, Children's Illustration, disguise, future time, henri matisse, Painting, Prepare, sorrell, Watercolor, watercolor pencil

Pics from Chicago’s First Snowfall in 2012

Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting & Writing — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:43:01 +0000

What a treat, We had to wait till Jan. 12th this year for our first snowfall! It is beautiful! the pics are from around Rogers Park in Chicago. In the first three photos of the pumpkin, yes it is a pumpkin on a table, I documented the snow accumulating over a 5 hour period. In the last three photos I was interested in capturing the snow as it was falling. I would like to do some drawings of falling snow…

Tagged: 2012, chicago, coneflower, drawings, first snow, first snowfall, indian Boundry, pumpkin, rogers park, snow gallery

Michelle Kogan 2012 Winter Art Classes

Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting & Writing — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:34:41 +0000

Hope you can join Michelle for a 2012 Winter Art Class

And Register soon…

Evanston Art Center Classes start Next week Jan. 10th
Chicago Botanic Garden in
2 weeks on Jan. 19th

For class descriptions click on Classes on my blog or my website at: http://www.michellekogan.com
Email Michelle with any questions at: mkogan@mdandmk.com

Evanston Art Center
Click on link to register or call: (847) 475-5300
http://www.evanstonartcenter.org/catalog.aspx?did=5

Multilevel Figure Painting (01767)
Start Date: January 10 Tuesday (Ten weeks) 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
$295 Regular Member Rate/$285 Discounted (Resident) Rate

Intermediate Painting (0181)
Start Date: January 11 Wednesday (Ten weeks) 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
$265 Regular Member Rate/$255 Discounted (Resident) Rate

Basic Drawing (0282)
Start Date: January 11 Wednesday (Ten weeks) 12:30 am – 3:00 pm
$265 Regular Member Rate/$255 Discounted (Resident) Rate

Transparent Watercolor (0261)
Start Date January 13 Friday (Ten Weeks) 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
$265 Regular Member Rate/$255 Discounted (Resident) Rate

Chicago Botanic Garden
Click on link to register and Search Kogan or call 847-835-8261
http://www.chicagobotanic.org/school

Watercolor In the Greenhouse
Start Date: January 19 Thursday (Eight Weeks) 9:30 am –12:30 pm
$299 member/$374 non-member

Tagged: Chicago Botanic Garden, Evanston Art Center, member rate, transparent watercolor, watercolor pencil, winter art

“Chicken Licken” Illustration for the 2011 SCBWI Tomie dePaola Challenge

Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting & Writing — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:01:17 +0000

Michelle Kogan "Chicken Licken" Illustration, 2011. Watercolor and watercolor pencil.

The above illustration is from Tomie dePaola’s challenge to illustrate an excerpt by P.C. Asbjörnsen’s Chicken Licken story. What Fun! I was indeed challenged and appreciate the inspiration by both Tomie dePaola and the SCBWI to get all of our creative juices flowing…

Here’s the excerpt:

So they went along and went along until they met Turkey Lurkey
“Good morning, Goosey Loosey, Ducky Daddles, Cocky Locky, Henny Penny,
and Chicken Licken,” said Turkey Lurkey, “where are you going?”
“Oh, Turkey Lurkey, the sky is falling and we are going to tell the King!”
“How do you know the sky is falling?” asked Turkey Lurkey.
“Ducky Daddles told me,” said Goosey Loosey.
“Cocky Locky told me,” said Ducky Daddles.
“Henny Penny told me,” said Cocky Locky.
“Chicken Licken told me,” said Henny Penny
“I saw it with my own eyes, I heard it with my own ears,
and a piece of it fell on my tail!” said Chicken Licken.
“Then I will go with you,” said Turkey Lurkey, “and we will tell the King!”

Tagged: chicken licken, tomie depaola, watercolor pencil

Animals Around the World: Steve Jenkins Picture Book Art at the Art Institute of Chicago

Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting & Writing — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:09:46 +0000

Here are a few photos from the Steve Jenkins Exhibit, of his original cut-paper collage picture books at the Art Institute of Chicago. He combines interesting animal facts along with his colorful collage images.

The Exhibit runs through April 22, 2012 , in the Ryan Education Center.

Fine Art Cards at Evanston Art Center Winter Arts & Crafts Expo and Chicago Cultural Center

Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting & Writing — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:53:36 +0000

Michelle Kogan’s Fine Art Cards & Gyclee Prints are Featured in the
Evanston Art Center’s Winter Arts & Crafts Expo
Through Dec. 18, 2011
Monday – Saturday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday 12- 4:00 pm
2603 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL

AND

This Saturday only, December 3rd her cards will be at the:
Chicago Cultural Center
78 East Washington Street, Chicago
Here’s a sampling of her works:

Tagged: Chicago Cultural Center, Evanston Art Center, Fine Art Cards, Greeting Cards & Gyclee Prints, Watercolor, Watercolor Painting, Winter Art & Crafts Expo

THANKU Thanksgiving Haiku

Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting & Writing — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:37:38 +0000

Here’s a THANKU Thanksgiving Haiku spurred on by Carmela Martino and Esther Hershenhorn, first mentioned on their Teaching Authors blog:http://bit.ly/sNtYYs

Happy Thanksgiving!

feathers harbinger
crimson appreciations
fruitful winter days

Views of Nature: Michelle Kogan and Students Reviewed in the Highland Park News.

Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting & Writing — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:42:51 +0000

Here’s a review of the Exhibit: Views of Nature: Michelle Kogan and Students, and photos from the opening both from the Highland Park News.

The Exhibit continues through December 2, 2011
At the Heller Nature Center 2821 Ridge Road, Highland Park, IL 847-433-690
Heller Hours: Monday- Friday 8:30 am- 5:00 pm Saturday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm