Skips - Small Acrylic Painting of Neon Sign

Wish You Were Here Project

"Skip's"

6 x 4 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper

Just a small part of a wonderful sign at Skip's Hamburgers in Merrimac, Massachusetts. I've tried a few different crops of the sign, trying to decide on some ideas for another larger piece.

Joes - Small Postcard Painting at Salisbury Beach by Debbie Shirley

"Wish You Were Here"

Joes

Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts

6 x 4 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper

The clown was too much fun to resist.....and the building has such a dated quality with the primary colored panels. I assume they are covering windows? I may have to do a little research to see if I can find old pictures of the building to see if it always looked that way. I was just down at Salisbury Beach last week for a show and took more pictures, so hopefully more paintings from there soon!

The Fun-A-Day Boston exhibit where these paintings were shown is now over. I should have them back int he studio soon and they will be available for sale.

Tripoli - Small Acrylic Painting of Neon Sign Salisbury Beach

"Wish You Were Here"

Tripoli

Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts

6 x 4 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper

Love the letters on this colorful sign at Salisbury Beach. Once again, I feel like there must be a better crop, so I am sure I will be playing with this sign again.

These pieces from my Fun-A-Day project will be on exhibit for one more week at the Aviary Gallery in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.

Skips - Small Acrylic Painting of Vintage Neon Sign

"Wish You Were Here"

Skip's

Merrimac, Massachusetts

6 x 4 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper

Another painting of the Skip Hamburgers sign in Merrimac, Massachusetts. I love the arrow on the sign,  but decided to try a crop of more of the left edge. Still not exactly working the way that I want it to, so I am sure I will be painting the sign again sometime.

This piece is now hanging along with 18 other little paintings of mine as well as the very clever projects from other members of Fun-a-Day Boston. More information about the exhibition here.

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.

Kowloon - Small Acrylic Painting of Neon Sign in Saugus, Massachusetts

"Wish You Were Here"

Kowloon

Saugus, Massachusetts

6 x 4 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper

Got to love the kitschy architecture in Route 1 in Saugus! A lot of the older buildings and signs are disappearing quickly - and the spaces are being taken over by big box stores. The Kowloon still stands - still busy, and definitely a throwback to an earlier time. I'm thinking I need to paint the actual building as well....

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.....

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....

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.

Theo's Restaurant - Small Acrylic Painting Local Diner Vintage Sign

"Wish You Were Here"

Theo's

Georgetown, Massachusetts

6 x 4 inches, acrylic on watercolor paper

Another piece for the 30 Day Painting Challenge as well as my "Wish You Were Here" Postcard-Painting-a-Day Project as a part of Fun-a-Day Boston.

No neon here. Just a REALLY big cup of coffee.

32 Lanes - Small Painting of Neon Sign Sunnyside Danvers

"Wish You Were Here"

32 Lanes

Danvers, Massachusetts

6 x 4 inches, acrylic on watercolor paper

More neon for my Fun-A-Day Project and also the 30 Day Painting Challenge.

This is a small part of the sign for the Sunnyside bowling alley in Danvers, Massachusetts. I have had more people tell me that they have driven by it, but never noticed this sign! It is making me think I may need to find some more old-school bowling alleys.....

Pat's Diner - Small Acrylic Painting of a Vintage Diner

"Wish You Were Here"

Pat's Diner

Salisbury, Massachusetts

6 x 4 inches, acrylic on watercolor paper

More than 1/3 of the way through my Fun-A-Day Project and also the 30 Day Painting Challenge.

I am starting to feel a need to get out there and take as many pictures of these old places and signs as quickly as I can and paint them all....it seems like everyday I hear of another place that I have painted has closed. Pat's is still open as far as I know, but almost half of the ones I have painted so far this year are no longer in business....

While I am often drawn by the neon, the old-time signs, the dated architecture, I love how other people are connected to many of these places by their memories - I hear some really wonderful stories from people who recognize places in my work - thank you for sharing with me!

Haverhill Appliance - Small Acrylic Painting of Vintage Store Signs

"Wish You Were Here"

Haverhill Appliance

Haverhill, Massachusetts

6 x 4 inches, acrylic on watercolor paper

Moving forward on my Fun-A-Day Project and also the 30 Day Painting Challenge.

This isn't the prettiest building....but something about the old brick and the very dated look of the sign always captures my eye. Right after the first time I painted this sign a few years ago, I found out that the owner of the business had just passed away. I am not sure what the fate of the business will be, but the signs still remain.

Agawam Diner - Small Painting of Retro Diner

"Wish You Were Here"

Agawam Diner

Rowley, Massachusetts

6 x 4 inches, acrylic on watercolor paper

I think this the the 9th piece from my Fun-A-Day Project and also the 30 Day Painting Challenge. Great place to go for homemade pie.

Joe's - Postcard Painting for Wish You Were Here Fun-A-Day Project

"Wish You Were Here"

Joe's

Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts

6 x 4 inches, acrylic on watercolor paper

Getting back to my Fun-A-Day Project and also the 30 Day Painting Challenge.

This year, my project for Fun-A-Day January is a Postcard Painting-A-Day "Wish You Were Here" - a little retro road trip visiting some of my favorite signs and structures.

No neon on Joe's Playland, but I loved the primary colors  ;-)

Plaza Motel - Neon Sign Painting Fun-A-Day Project

Wish You Were Here

Plaza Motel 

Peabody, Massachusetts

6 x 4 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper

Day 7 of my "Wish You Were Here" postcard painting-a-day project. This is s pretty cool sign (although a pretty seedy motel!). I think I need to go back and take pictures of it when the neon isn't lit...I;m not sure how I feel about the pink!

Supinos - Neon Sign Painting Fun-A-Day Project Postcard Painting a Day

"Wish You Were Here"

Supinos

Danvers, Massachusetts

6 x 4 inches, acrylic on watercolor paper

Day 6 of my Fun-A-Day Project and also the 30 Day Painting Challenge.

Skip's - Day 4 of 30 Day Painting Challenge and Fun-A-Day Postcard Project

"Wish You Were Here"

Skip's Hamburgers

Merrimac, Massachusetts

6 x 4 inches, acrylic on watercolor paper

Great sign - a fairly unexpected find in little Merrimac, Massachusetts! I am working on a larger version - 18 x 18 inches! - of a different part of this sign for an upcoming exhibition.