Diamond Jim's

"Diamond Jim's"

11"x 14", oil on panel

This is a road side painting I did a while back.  Done in the comfort of my car.

Diamond Jim's liquor and gifts, is on your way out of town... heading down the Seward Highway, just outside of Anchorage, Alaska.  

Super cool sign!

This sign at night, is lit up, and that's another painting waiting to happen.

This is the warm up to that painting.

I love neon and really ....any lit sign at night...glowing in the dark.

(My 'Vegas' background shinning through)

If I was a bug... I'd get zapped. 

 On that note, goodnight.....it's late.

Thank you for looking and reading!

Bar and Lounge

"Bar and Lounge"

30" x 40"  oil

I reworked a painting from last year.

I like this version much...much...better.

The painting hidden underneath was the same sign, but during daylight hours...

hmm......what's the point.  I really only enjoy neon when it's glowing at night,

so this feels like a big improvement.

Thank you for looking.

Neon signs

"One Hour Cleaning"

30"x40"  oil 

This is a neon sign here in Anchorage, Alaska.

Gotta love neon.  It always inspires me!  

There's a bowling alley sign that's been calling to me lately.

  But now we have so much daylight, I don't get to see

it glowing in the dark.  I'll need to wait until September.

Night painting

Again..... I was sitting in the parking lot, at the gas station, 

painting this one a few nights ago.

Lighting my pallet and painting at night was my challenge.

More abstract looking.....loose.  I like it.  

Maybe a bright head lamp would do the trick next time.

Thank you for looking!

Tavern

"Tavern"

16" x 20"  oil

I think it would be fun to drive across America, looking for old signs, abandoned

gas stations, roadside attractions, diners.....and paint along the way.  

I love old signs...neon the most!  Every town has a few great Motel signs.

Along the California coast......Highway 1, there's so much along that road to paint,  it would be a fun start.  The colors....that 50's aqua color is everywhere.  Old motels, sun-bleached signs and flowers crawling up everything!  The history in small towns is fun too...buildings...cars...the occasional vintage city bus... too cool.  I always enjoy looking at city paintings done by artists that live in San Francisco.  

Trolley cars, hills and ocean....I'm on vacation just day dreaming about it.

The sign in this painting is in Langley, Washington....I think......or was it Coupeville, Washington....hmmmm.  A trip to the area for a painting workshop about 3 years ago, that's when I feel like my paintings really started to take a new direction.  That first workshop, what a big step outside my comfort zone that was.  Painting with other people around...painting faster than I normally paint......painting people.......all very uncomfortable.  But... I'm so glad I had faith in myself and the courage to try something new.  I'm so happy with the progress I've made over the past 3 years.....my daydream from the past has become my life now.  It's powerful to allow yourself to dream....to mentally visualize the future you wish for.  I believe what we think about and daydream about will come true some day.

Think of things you love.....imagine yourself in your perfect world...then start

 walking in that direction, it will happen. 

"You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step"

 Martin Luther King Jr

Bar and Lounge

"Bar and Lounge"

30" x 40"  oil

Another neon sign.......even in daylight, they still fascinate me.



Club 25

"Club 25"

24" x 48"  oil

I have a thing for neon signs......

Tavern sign

"Tavern"

20" x 16"  oil