The Marietta Motel signage, now replaced by the apartment signage it has be turned into, was demolished a few years back. It wasn't actually a very large sign, but in this composition with an ant's eye view it appears like it's looming over us. I really needed the cracking and peeling paint to work as if you could touch it. I did this piece as the main anchor to my solo exhibition at the Cultural Activities Center in Temple, Texas.

I've done this sign before, but this one was very ambitious. The largest canvas I've ever painted, there was a lot of detail to take care of. This is another one I had to edit what lines would stay, and what would be edited out, rearranged, or just changed. I enjoyed the contrast of colors and shadows. Getting a balance between the colors and values was more difficult than I originally thought would be. But, it all worked out and in fact, people that saw it upon entering the gallery thought it might be a photograph and commented that even walking up to it they felt like they could peel some of those letters right off the sign. For me, the most fun part to paint was the neon glass tubes. Concentrating on the distorted and almost liquid shapes of the colors and values in the glass can be tricky, but that's what I love especially adding the brightest highlights which is like adding the final touches to a spectacular cake. This piece is painted with a full wrap around the sides, top, and bottom.

This piece was chosen for a group show participating in the Spring Austin West Artist Studio Tour. Unfortunately, the event was put on hold indefinitely and now the tours are being put online for the Fall Studio Tour. In any case, having this piece get a bit of attention is not a bad thing.

Exhibition History: Signs of a Recent Past Solo Exhibition, Cultural Activities Center, Temple, TX, 2020. The 2020 Contemporary Texas Group Exhibition, Part of Austin West Citywide Event (postponed indefinitely), Ao5 Gallery, Austin, TX, 2020. Signs of a Recent Past Solo Exhibition, Vivé Les Arts Theatre, Killeen, TX, 2020.