Belmar Fishing Club - Belmar, New Jersey

As I wait for the initial underlayer of sky to dry on the Pizza Town painting, I was able to stretch, sketch and underpaint most of this historical place in Belmar.

I plan on taking the Pizza Town painting all the way to completion, it's too tempting not to.  I am going to blast this one with artificial light against the deep blue twilight sky.  I think this could be one of my best paintings to date. 

I have been making a lot of starts on paintings, but not finishing any up and now I have 11 going at the same time.  So, I think that it's time to start wrapping some of these babies up.

I also plan on starting up my ebay auctions again soon.  I am going to approach these little ones in a more sketchy, loose and impressionistic way.  I think that they will still have the power of the gallery pieces, yet be more painterly and true to nature. 

 

I'm very excited about this and I have to thank Stephen Magsig for the inspiration his little gems have given me.  They are even better in person. (I own 3 so far....)  His gallery pieces are stunning, but these little ones are so powerful. 

Stay tuned.........

 

Pizza Town - Elmwood Park, New Jersey

This is the legendary Pizza Town restaurant located on route 46 in Elmwood Park, N.J. 

This place has been at this location for 50 years.  At one time there were a total of 7 of these places all over Northern N.J., but now this is the only one left. 

I remember going to one in Hackensack when I was a little kid, and being totally fascinated by the way the fluorescent light from inside would shine through the corrugated awning, creating a weird translucent glow on the outside of red, white and blue.  I also loved the neon sign.

The interior signs, which have yet to be underpainted, are the originals from 1958, which I also remember vividly.  I can't believe that I was so attracted to this colorful place as a child, and now I get the opportunity to immortalize it in paint and canvas for future generations to see and enjoy.