Wesley Willis Art

Rock Island, 2002

Here's another really great piece from Derek Erdman. It is from 2002, and we can see that Wesley has returned to the intense detail and renderings that he did before the music career. The subject matter and composition are classic Wesley. I love the placement of the Sears Tower at the end of the train, as if it were going right into it.

Here's what Derek has to say about it:

"Purchased August 2002 from Wesley in Pilsen. He was sitting in the garden of the Podmajersky art district surrounded by snobby art patrons. He was alone and listening to headphones. I was surprised that he remembered my name when I approached him."

Click here to see it in larger fromat.

Buckingham Fountain, 1998

Here's an interesting later Welsey Willis piece that has a little different feeling to most of the stuff from this time period. The subject matter is the same-- Buckingham Fountain/ tourist favorites/ skyline-- but it seems to have been done really quickly, which makes it have a little more verve to it. The lines in the buildings extend past the builiding outline, and he uses multiple cross-hatching on alot of the elements.

This piece is owned by Derek Erdman. Here's a look at it in larger format. Here's what Derek had to say about the piece:

"Purchased June 1998 from Wesley in Lincoln Park at the corners of Fullerton, Halsted & Lincoln. It was the first time that I ever met him and I was surprised at how cheap he was selling his art for. He said I could have a drawing for $20, but he was particular about which I could have. Then I bought him a cheeseburger."