Hilltop - Small Acrylic Painting of Iconic Hillltop Steak House Sign.

Hilltop

7 x 5 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

SOLD

Why so many Hilltop paintings? The Hilltop Steakhouse was such a popular restaurant - with such an iconic sign. The sign is fun to paint - and is recognizable instantly by anyone who had ever lived or visited the North Shore. Since the restaurant was just demolished recently, the place and its memories are still fresh in people's minds. I think people really want to remember this place - and there is unlikely to be anything quite like it again. Generations of local families celebrated their special occasions there - I love hearing people's stories when they see on of my Hilltop paintings at a show.

This painting has sold  - but if you are interested in a small Hilltop painting for your own home (or office) - please contact me for more information!

Final Season - Acrylic Painting of Neon Miniature Golf Sign Route 1, Saugus, Massachusetts

Final Season

18 x 18 inches

acrylic on canvas

A beloved site on Route One in Saugus, Massachusetts was demolished this fall. Know as the "mini golf place with the big orange dinosaur", Route One Miniature Golf was torn down to make way for condominiums and retail shops. Due to popular demand, they left the orange dinosaur standing - which looks a bit funny now on the edge of a vacant lot. Not sure how they will utilize him in the new development, but we will have to see.

While a painting of the orange dinosaur will probably occur in the future, I had to paint the sign first, while it was still standing. A colorful combination of neon and light bulbs, the sign had some great shapes. I know this place holds memories for many people on the north shore and I hope sharing this glimpse of the sign will help capture thoughts of those past fun times and special occasions.

Prince Pizza Painting and a Winter Tropical Paint-In

Prince Restaurant

12 x 6 inches

acrylic on cradled board

SOLD

This was a new sign for me - the "leaning tower of pizza" on Route 1 - Prince Restaurant. The painting was a commission piece for someone whose family was involved in the making of the original sign. I have since done a smaller version of the sign - contact me for availability if you are interested!

Today was the first Sunday of this year's "Paint-In" at Nunan Florist and Greenhouses in Georgetown, Mass. What fun to paint in a tropical environment in the middle of winter - especially after last night's snowstorm! Artists from the Greater Haverhill Arts Association will be painting there on Sundays throughout January - and we will hold an exhibition on the last Sunday of the month. I will be sure to post my finished pieces - maybe my first florals since last year's Paint-In!

Hilltop Steakhouse - Small Original Acrylic PaInting SOLD

Hilltop (Frank Giuffrida)

5 x 7  inches

acrylic on cradled panel

SOLD

This was a little commission - from a slightly different angle /cropping than my previous Hilltop Restaurant. My collector made a special request for me to include the name. Don't forget you can contact me to make a special request of  your own!

Kowloon - Small Acrylic Painting of Neon Sign Roadtrip

Kowloon

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on cradled board

Another crop of the iconic Kowloon sign. One of the few neon signs still left on Route 1! This painting will be available through my studio for the next week or so - and then it will be heading to a local shop.

Hilltop - Small Acrylic Painting of Iconic Hilltop Sign Route 1

Hilltop

(Saugus, Massachusetts)

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

It always seems like it is time to do another Hilltop painting!

The Hilltop seems to be one of my most in-demand images. I suspect that is because it was such a well-loved place that was around for so long - and then fairly recently closed their doors for good. At every show I attend with one of my Hilltop pieces, I hear so many stories about the special family get-togethers that were held there....the special dinners, birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, rehearsal dinners, etc.  - everyone seems to have a Hilltop memory. Not too many restaurants have such a long history of making memories for so many people!

This is also why I love this series of local signs and buildings that I have been working on. Not only are they fun to paint, but I really enjoy hearing the stories that people share, their memories connected to these places, the connections that people have to these places.

I do these pieces by commission as well- so let me know if there is a special place you would like me to memorialize in a painting.

Miniature - Small Acrylic Painting of Rt.1 Neon Sign

Miniature (Golf)

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

Another new favorite sign to play with! I am actually working on a much larger version of another part of this sign for an upcoming show. This sign is on Rt. 1 in Saugus, Massachusetts - new to the famous orange dinosaur. The property has sold, and originally the sign and orange dinosaur were supposed to come right down. Due to public outcry, the developers decided to give the mini golf course and orange dinosaur one last season. So quick - make it over to Rt 1 for a round of mini golf before the orange dinosaur becomes only part of North Shore's history......

Kowloon - Small Acrylic Painting Neon Sign Route 1 Saugus, Massachusetts

Kowloon

8 x 6 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

It's the Kowloon!
Another great neon sign on Route 1 in Saugus, Massachusetts. Gone are the days of neon sign after neon sign on Route 1. Only a few are left! And I am trying to capture as many as I can while they still stand.
It always amazes me how I can paint just one letter from this sign and people immediately recognize it as the Kowloon!

This painting is also available at the North Shore Makers Mart in Topsfield, Massachusetts.

Golf - Small Acrylic Painting Mini Golf Neon Sign Route 1 Saugus, Massachusetts

Golf

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

How about a little mini golf??
Can't believe it has taken me so long to get around to painting this great neon sign in Saugus, Massachusetts. Yes, this is on Route 1 - site of the famous orange dinosaur. I had to get this painting dome - this is the last season for the dinosaur. The  whole complex is due to be demolished this fall to make room for more developments.

Love this sign - I am already sketching out a larger painting with a similar composition. this small painting is available at the brand new North Shore Makers Mart in Topsfield, Massachusetts. Stop by their Grand Opening on April 30th and see all kids of fun things from local artists. And it is in the middle of a vintage shop and consignment boutique - so much fun shopping in one place!

Free HBO - Small Acrylic Painting of a Vintage Motel Sign by Debbie SHirley

Free HBO

(Saugus, Mass.)

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

Back to more of my sign paintings. I need more for local shops - and then with show/festival season getting underway, I will need some for my own inventory as well! I find signs fun to paint - sometimes I keep going back to some of my favorites, playing with composition and color and dimensions. After years in the printing industry and a resulting love for typography, it was inevitable that I would be drawn to signs - the lettering, the shapes, the graphic nature. Then tie in the nostalgic factor - and they are an irresistible subject for me!

STAU - Acrylic Painting of a Neon Sign, Chinese Restaurant Sign Painting

STAU

20 x 10 inches

acrylic on canvas

I enjoyed going bigger again with a sign painting - and the larger than normal difference in the dimensions of this one really appealed to me - it was a good challenge to go so vertical! And - best of all - I am excited that "STAU" was accepted into the Newburyport Art Association's Winter Juried Show. This wonderful show will be at the Newburyport Art Association through March 5th. Be sure to check it out!

Work in progress shot (after sketching it out, I started out painting by blocking sections of all the colors to see how the colors and shapes would work together):

I'm Back! And Kowloon Sign Painting

Kowloon

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

(available at Pop Gallery, Gloucester)

Wow!  I can't believe it has been a whole month since I last posted!
Things had gotten super crazy, and something had to give - unfortunately it was my blog.
But, now I am back, and hope to get caught up on posting most of the art that I did during December, plus maybe a little recap of some of the exciting things that were happening.

I painted a boatload of ornaments this year. Don't worry, I won't bore you by posting them all. But I may put up a little sampling - I did some different ones this year - and they were kind of fun!

The painting above - of the Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus, Massachusetts - is part of a grouping of small paintings on cradled panels that I created for Pop Gallery in Gloucester, Massachusetts. These little pieces (most are around 6x6" or 5x7") are a lot of fun to paint, really affordable to buy, and they look great in small spaces (or a few of them grouped together in a larger space). If you are interested in a similar piece, contact me to create one just for you!

Ferns - Small Acrylic Painting of a Retro Hotel Sign, Original Small Format Art

Ferns

6x6 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

Another painting of one of my favorite signs. I keep playing with different sizes and crops and compositions, trying to find what I like best. These little versions are a great way to try things out - and they also make great gifts (hint, hint)!

Room - Small Acrylic Painting of a Vintage Motel Sign

Room

6 x 4 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

available here

Playing with different parts of signs - these little panels give me an opportunity to play with colors and compositions - and they give me some smaller pieces to make available at lower prices. I have a few favorite signs that I seem to paint a lot! Sometimes the colors and graphics just come together for me, and I enjoy trying different crops and layouts, trying to find what is really attracting me to the sign.

I hope you like these little pieces. Judging by how quickly they are being snapped up by my collectors, there seems to be a market for these little guys. And with the holidays coming up - remember original art makes a great gift, too!!

Motel - Original Acrylic Painting of Retro Neon Sign

Motel

11 x 14 inches

acrylic on canvas

Another painting from Fern's on Route 1. Love playing with the different crops and angles.

This painting will be exhibited at Coolidge Hall during the Topsfield Fair October 2-12.

Hilltop - Acrylic Painting of a Classic Sign

Hilltop

16 x 12 inches

acrylic on canvas

I just had to paint a  Hilltop sign for the displays at Farley's of Newburyport. I need to stop by this week to see just how that used it. It is so  much fun to take part in a collaboration with a different kind of business - I'd love to see more art in all kinds of venues!

Ferns - Acrylic Painting of Old Motel Sign

Ferns

16 x 12 inches

acrylic on canvas

There is a graphic quality about this sign that I really like, I am considering doing a "flat" version in gouache just to emphasize that quality without an shading or background distraction. Gouache would be a new medium for me, so we will have to see how it goes!

Hilltop House - Acrylic Painting of the Hilltop Steakhouse Neon Sign

Hilltop House

12 x 12 inches

acrylic on canvas

SOLD

One of my favorite signs to paint, this is the largest one I have painted of the Hilltop cactus yet.

The actual restaurant was demolished about a month or so ago, but the sign still stands.
This painting sold at the first night of the Art in the Barn at the Cox Reservation in Essex, Massachusetts.

Mai Tai - Acrylic Painting of Kowloon Sign by Debbie Shirley

Mai Tai

8 x 6 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

Getting back to doing some of the signs on small panels for local shops. This one is available at Zenobia in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

I am using some of my "postcard" paintings from my Fun-A-Day project for ideas. I will probably be re-working some of these, changing compositions slightly and cropping differently as I eventually make my way to some larger paintings of these signs.

Ferns - Small Acrylic Painting of Motel Sign by Debbie Shirley

"Wish You Were Here"

Ferns

Saugus, Massachusetts

6 x 4 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper

I believe this is the 20th piece that I did for the Fun-A-Day Project. The Boston area show is coming up in the next few weeks and I will have a number of these pieces in the exhibit. Some have them have already sold, but the rest will be available through the Aviary Gallery in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts for the duration of the show.