Atomic Liquors is the oldest freestanding bar in Las Vegas, with liquor license #0001. Back in the day, folks would head up to the roof with a cocktail to watch the nukes go boom in the horizon about 50 miles away. That seems dangerous to me, but I carry a cell phone in my front pocket — so what do I know? This baby has been featured in scores of movies… and is flat out one of the best damn neon signs in the world.

Here is a snap of the glorious sign, lit-up beautifully, on a warm Vegas night.

Watch the sign bust the bad boogaloo. Yeah dude, you saw this in The Hangover.

Catharsis. A fresh 18″x18″ canvas on Fremont Street in April.

Drawing signs in the blazing sun can be challenging. It took about four rounds of drawing to nail it down properly.

Bang, the sky! Is the “L” drooping? Maybe. Is there a reason? Yes, but I won’t say why.

This is my plein air smile.

Dark, dark, darkened he. It’s time to play with some light.

Wrapping up the first day with a bathroom shot. I stuck around to drink some liquor at the bar where Pesci did this…

Note: Just say “thank you for the pen.”

Back at it for a second day…

Getting the neons going… I would repaint the sign three more times. A visual hat trick.

I went in there and repainted the sky. By the way, I was filming the process, but I pulled a Glenn and screwed up the files (I didn’t realize auto focus wasn’t on for camera mode).

My man JP stopped by to enjoy the process… alas, I would have to finish this baby back in Idaho.

And I did! Here it is… but wait, there’s more Vegas…

Love the El Cortez… classic Fremont.

Here is JP looking fresh in front of the Golden Gate marquee. You should have seen his shoes.

And the sign, standing alone.

The cowboy… did he expect to be under a canopy one day? Particularly one with a light show featuring songs by Billy Joel and Kid Rock?

Membership is crazy exclusive.

Getting abstract.

Ruben Sanchez‘s dope Hunter S. Thompson mural… I’m a fan.

A flashback to my Hunter S. Depp painting from 2011… notice the mushroom cloud.

Bordalo II, getting funky with a school bus.

Growing-up is hard, amiright?

The best kind of blues.

These painted-out windows look like the kind of windows I would paint.

Finally made time to get that tramp stamp I’ve been longing for.

Been working on the calves.

Mike Ross busted out the “Big Rig Jig” for Burning Man, and it landed in Vegas.

Apparently, Tony Hsieh lives up in here.

I’ve painted that sign a few times.

Digging this sign, it may require a paint job.

I have mixed drinks about feelings. Don’t we all. Until next time Vegas, you sexy fucker.

Thank you Erin and Jeanne for making this strip happen! Great to see you Shecky. Pleasure meeting you Joshua… keep cooking up the goodness. Thank you for dinner Demaris. Great seeing you Ryan, thank you for lunch, Life is Beautiful is going to kick ass! Thank you for the beer Jonathan.