Hilltop Steak House - Small Acrylic Painting Vintage Neon Sign

"Wish You Were Here"

Hilltop Steak House

Saugus, Massachusetts

6 x 4 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper\

Yes, I am kinda obsessed with this sign.....

House Commission - Custom Painting by Debbie Shirley

House Commission

6 x 8 inches

acrylic on canvas

Isn't this the cutest house? Made me want to live there!
Anyways, this was a commission for a special gift.
I paint quite a number of "house portraits" as gifts - sometimes it is a childhood home full of memories, a departing gift for someone moving away, or a congratulations for finally buying that dream home.
Interested in more information for a custom piece of your own? Contact me!

Country Side - Small Acrylic Painting of Vintage Neon Motel Sign

"Wish You Were Here"

Country Side

West Peabody, Massachusetts

demolished

6 x 4 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper

Another great motel sign from along Rt. 1 in Massachusetts. I'm glad I got a chance to take pictures of so many of them - most of them are now gone.

Clam Box - Small Acrylic Painting of building in Ipswich. Massachusetts

"Wish You Were Here"

Clam Box

Ipswich, Massachusetts, 6 x 4 inches, acrylic on watercolor paper

A little touch of summer during this super cold weather and 100+ inches of snow....the iconic Clam Box in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

The details are starting to come together for the Fun-A-Day Boston group exhibition - more information soon....

Small Acrylic Mini Painting, Ornament Painting of VIntage Hilltop Sign

How is this for a great idea?!!

This was a commission - a tiny ornament painting of the Hilltop Steakhouse sign.
I had a client who contacted me, having seen my previous Hilltop paintings. She said that each year, she buys her husband a special ornament. And she that the Hilltop had a lot of special memories for him and that he was upset about its closing. So she thought a Hilltop ornament would be just the ticket. I love it when my customers come up with such great ideas!

Looking on the Bright Side - Small Acrylic Painting for #Twitterartexhibit

Looking on the Bright Side

4 x 6 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper

Ugh. I'm thinking my computer has had enough of the crazy snow here in New England as well as the rest of us...one problem after another.  But at least I am up and running for now....

The painting above is my entry for this year's Twitter Art Exhibit. The exhibit is being held in Norway this year as a fundraiser for Home-Start, Moss. For the exhibit, hundred of artists all over the world donate a postcard-size piece of their work to be sold during the exhibition for $35. It is run by volunteers and all money goes to the charity. It's great fun to follow all the art and exhibition happenings on Twitter by following the hashtag #Twitterartexhibit

Slightly Crunchy - Acrylic Painting Still Life of Celery

Slightly Crunchy

12 x 16 inches

acrylic on canvas

This is the second piece that was accepted into the Newburyport Art Association Winter Members Juried Show. I had such a good time painting celery a few months ago for a commission, I decided to give it a go a little larger! The exhibition runs through the end of the month.

JA - Original Acrylic Painting of Neon Sign by Debbie Shirley

JA

Beverly, Massachusetts

20 x 16 inches

acrylic on canvas

So honored to find out that both of my entries were accepted into the Newburyport Art Association's Winter Members Juried Exhibition! And then to find out that "JA" won an award in acrylics - so excited! This is from the juror's comments:
"I love how this painting spoofs our culture’s over-saturation with advertising iconography by truncating — and thereby undermining — a commercial sign. The composition confidently fulfills the first two mandates of a good painting: engage the eye; stimulate the imagination."

From looking at the acceptance list,it looks like a great show - hope to make it out to see it if the snow ever slows down around here (more than 70" in just the last few weeks!). The show will be at the Newburyport Art Association through February 28.

Whittier - Small Acrylic Painting of Neon Motel Sign

"Wish You Were Here"

Whittier

Ipswich, Massachusetts

6 x 4 inches, acrylic on watercolor paper

This is number 15 (I think!)  in my Fun-A-Day Project - still a ways to go until they are all posted!

The sign for the Whittier Motel is one of my favorite motel signs to paint. Alas the sign has been recently replaced - the new version isn't nearly as visually interesting. Something about the composition of this one... it is making me think that I may need to do a large version of it.......

Arcade - Acrylic Painting of Neon Sign in Salem for Fun-A-Day Project

"Wish You Were Here"

Arcade

Salem, Massachusetts

6 x 4 inches, acrylic on watercolor paper

I am still working on my Fun-A-Day Project, despite the fact I haven't been posting much. I have also been finishing a few larger pieces for an upcoming show - pictures soon!

In the meanwhile,. here is "Arcade" for the "Wish You Were Here" Project. Even though January is over, I will keep posting these until I have all 31 up.