Whenever I return to Manhattan, I find myself wandering the streets… memories, flowing like wine. In November, I met good friend, Tony Black, for a pint of the dark stuff at Old Town. Before leaving, I told the owner, Fitz, “I’m going to paint your sign.”

They say, “do what you say you’re going to do,” so I did… and here was my source image.

My legally issued artistic license allows for interpretation. If you’d like to see the entire process in one minute in time lapse, narrated by yours truly… view this video… more of a photo and commentary person? Read on dear friend.

It begins with a form, some warm colors and a dream. Separate thought… when someone writes ‘colours’ — does it bother you?

Just me, my writing implement and a whole lot of time. Also shadows.

Dark, dark, darkened he. Establishing contrast requires the darkness.

While working at night, the colors are greatly skewed… one of the many reasons I keep normal business hours. That, and children.

Now we are getting somewhere… tubes radiating light, background darkened. Here, I asked myself, “what would the light do to the rest of the building?”

That red light would permeate… spread gloriously… illuminating all in its path.

Same with building number two… the light would be present, but less so… more faded, but still making a mark.

The red neons throw a rather strange red reflection… I wanted to capture this. I also began playing with the awnings, and included a lit-up window, which I later removed.

And with a few (thousand) more strokes of the brush, Old Town has been completed! One of the many reasons I love my work… a painting can transport you to a different place…. whenever I miss NYC, I paint a piece of it… and it’s as if I’m back on the streets, NY Post in hand… gazing toward the sky, absorbing the energy of millions chasing the dream.

Before I go, here is a photo of the painting in context with Mindscape Guggenheim. No matter how strong the camera and how beautiful the light… it’s almost impossible to accurately capture these neon paintings.

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