Summer Recap!

Burgers

18 x 24 inches, acrylic on canvas

(exhibited at the Rhythm Cafe, Merrimac, MA until September 7)

What a crazy summer it has been!

It started off with a bunch of shows, continuing from my very busy spring season and including a bunch of new venues. Then a move to a new studio (more info coming on that soon). And a 2 month solo show locally at Rhythm Cafe in Merrimac, Massachusetts (the show continues until September 7th if you want to stop by for a great meal and fun art!).

I was also featured in a new local newspaper called "Haverhill Life". How fun it was to read what a local gallery owner had to say about my work - and the connections that people make to its nostalgic nature. Click on the picture below to see the article a little larger and more readable.

Fall season is starting to gear up with a couple of exhibits and shows - so be sure to follow me on Facebook (or check out the "Events" page on my website) to keep up with my current events. And don't forget to subscribe to my email newsletter to hear about new shows and to get the first peeks at my work as it comes off the easel!

Bill's Bar - Acrylic Painting of Iconic Boston Neon Sign

Bill's Bar

9 x 12  inches

acrylic on cradled panel

I noticed the sign for Bill's on Landsdowne while nearing Fenway Park for a Red Sox game. The sign combines neon and light bulbs - and the colors combined with the colors of the building made me certain I had to paint it! Maybe a larger version with a different crop will be in the works? I've never been "hip" enough to actually go inside, but it is known as quite the party spot!

Perhaps you've seen a musical group here? Or spent a festive New Years Eve? Or maybe just know someone named Bill - this painting would be a great addition to an art collection - especially for fans of old neon. Contact me if you are interested in more information!

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!

Clam Box Painting - Small Acrylic Painting of Iconic Clam Shack Ipswich, Massachusetts

Clam Box

(Ipswich, Massachusetts)

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

SOLD

The Iconic Clam Box in Ipswich, Massachusetts! An interesting building - shaped like a take-out box. Love the red and white accents - and of course, the fried clams. Stop by on a warm summer evening, and the line goes all the way around the building. A place not to be missed by visitors to the area.

It is a fun building to paint - I am always trying to find a slightly different angle or crop to it. This is a popular subject with my customers, so I do end up painting it a lot! If you are interested in a "Clam Box" painting of your own. please contact me!

Caffe Sicilia - Small Acrylic Painting of a Local Cafe Gloucester, Massachusetts

Caffe Sicilia

(Gloucester, Massachusetts)

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

available at Pop Gallery

This charming little cafe is across the street from one of the galleries that carries my work. Pop Gallery is an awesome boutique right on Main Street in downtown Gloucester. It has evolved from a mostly art pop-up shop into a charming and quirky shop with stuff you won't find elsewhere - really fun clothing and unique accessories including the work of some local artists. Anyways, I thought it would be fun to paint a few of the downtown businesses that locals would recognize for Pop to include on their pink wall and I have always loved the shape of this little corner building.

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!

Agawam Diner - Small Acrylic Painting of Classic Rowley Diner by Debbie Shirley

Agawam Diner

(Rowley, Massachusetts)

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

The Agawam Diner on Route 1 in Rowley, Massachusetts is quite the local institution. Whenever I have a painting of it at one of my shows, it seems like just about everyone comments on having eaten there. By the way, despite the name, I don't think this diner was ever in Agawam. I believe it was in Ipswich and Peabody before it was moved to Rowley in the 1960's.

This piece is currently available at Pop Gallery in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Interested in a similar piece? Contact me!

Cameron's - Small Painting of Gloucester Restaurant Sign by Debbie Shirley

Cameron's

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on cradled panel
SOLD

Once a downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts institution, Cameron's Restaurant has been closed for a number of years and is now slated for demolition to make way for an affordable housing project.

This painting SOLD at Pop Gallery in Gloucester. Interested in a similar piece? Contact me!

Farnhams Famous Clams - Small Acrylic Painting of Iconic Clam Shack

JT Farnhams

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

SOLD

Another iconic clam shack on the North Shore of Massachusetts. This one is in Essex - home to a lot of clams! I've driven by many times, however, this is one clam shack I haven't actually eaten at yet. Maybe next summer!

This piece was available at Pop Gallery in Gloucester, Massachusetts, but sold very quickly. I am guessing that there will be more Farnham's paintings coming up soon since it is a favorite place of many people. Let me know if you are interested in a piece of Cape Ann summer for 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.

Clam Box - Small Acrylic Painting of New England Clam Shack

Clam Box

(Ipswich, Massachusetts)

7 x 5 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

One of my favorite clam shacks to paint - and not a bad place to get fried clams, either ;-)

Just a reminder - I am happy to paint custom versions of these little paintings if you want a different size, or perhaps a painting of YOUR favorite clam shack!

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.

Tripoli Pizza - Small Acrylic Painting of Neon Sign from Salisbury Beach

Tripoli

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

I seem to be meeting a lot of people from Salisbury lately. And have been talking a lot about Salisbury Beach. Can't talk about Salisbury Beach without mentioning Tripoli Pizza! And while they have other locations, I am pretty sure that the Salisbury one is the only one with the great neon sign. One of my favorite signs - that I keep coming back to.....

Skips - Small Acrylic Painting of a Classic Neon Sign

Skips

6x6 inches

acrylic on cradled board

Finally a different part of the Skips neon sign! I love the part of the sign that says "The Best" - great words, shapes and colors. It has taken me a while to find another part of the sign that I wanted to paint. Some time I may have to do a larger version of the entire sign - it really is one of my favorites!

Working on a couple of these smaller pieces simultaneously with a few larger paintings that I hope will be ready to post soon. I think I start working on multiple projects at once when I am feeling a bit restless....

Agawam Diner - Small Acrylic Painting of Retro Diner

Agawam Diner

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

Lots more sign paintings coming up! Some are places I have painted before, and some are new. gotta keep up with the shows and shops! This piece is at the brand new venue in Topsfield, Massachusetts - the North Shore Makers Mart.

And even cooler - it is in the local newspaper in the article about the Mart's opening!

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.

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):

George's - Small Acrylic Painting of Coffee House, Retro Sign

George's

7 x 5 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

available at Pop Gallery

Switching back and forth a bit with my posts since I still have a number of paintings left to catch up on.
This is part of the series of small paintings of local signs and buildings that are now available at Pop Gallery in Gloucester, Massachusetts. George's is a great little corner coffee shop in Gloucester. Soon after I took the picture for this painting, they replaced their sign. The new on ehas a lot less character - I am glad that I was able to capture the old one!

"The Best" - Happy New Year!

The Best

8 x 6 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

available at Pop Gallery

Happy New Year! Here's hoping that 2016 will be "The Best" for you!

Hard to believe that 2015 is over. I'm trying to think of 2016 as a clean slate - I've got lots of big things planned!

2015 was a pretty big year - I was hoping to have the chance to put together a retrospective post about all the things that happened (or a great video like my friend Linda Germain!), however 2016 is really starting off with a bang and I am not sure that I will get a chance to do it in detail.....

But in a nutshell -
-October of 2015 was the end of over 18 straight months of small venue solo exhibitions. I exhibited in libraries, banks, community centers, stores and the like for over 18 months, one show right after the next. I painted larger than I have for a long time. And I learned a lot about exhibiting, hanging, and promoting these little shows - so it was really a great experience for me. And hopefully good preparation for bigger things.
-I also won awards - 3 in juried shows at the Newburyport Art Association, 1 in a Greater Haverhill Arts Association show, and a ribbon in the Professional Art Division at the Topsfield Fair,
-I did 2 online interviews and a published magazine interview (with pictures!) - kind of a big deal for a total introvert like me!
-I helped (with 4 other local artists) start up a new monthly venue for artists on the northshore of Massachusetts - the Haverhill Art Market
-I did more exhibitions, shows and markets then I care to count right now  ;-)
-And I painted more than 150 paintings! Being that many of them were much larger than the 6x6 (and smaller) pieces I had been doing in the past, I am quite pleased with that number!

And many sincere thanks to YOU for following me and keeping up with the craziness! You all are truly "The Best" and I wish for a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year for everyone. Here's to a wonderful 2016!