Process of a Painting...Who Am I?

I thought it would be fun to post a "WIP" or work in progress so that you can see the stages of a painting and how it develops.  Now I realize that this is a "risky" proposition since at this point one doesn't know exactly how a painting will turn out!  Let's hope it's good.  I really feel strongly about this reference photo and have a good feeling about its composition.  In planning this I decided to force the perspective to give the viewer a sense of awe in looking up at the beautiful terra cotta frieze work above the entrance to this famous Tulsa Art Deco Landmark.  Inclusion of some diagonal lines in the scene also adds to the energy - appropriate for this structure.

At this point I've begun using a prepped piece of mdf that's 11 x 14".  I lightly sketched some of the main lines with pencil but didn't go into a lot of detail as that can hinder the development of major forms in the design.  Given the unusual composition I feel it's important to keep those big forms somewhat abstracted with the main focus up on that decorative frieze.  So, once the main outlines were established, I just used a heavy Burnt Sienna wash and removed light areas.  Next I worked back in some of the darker areas with the Burnt Sienna as well as just some very light freehand references of the detail in the frieze.  This will likely be adjusted and corrected along the way as I constantly look at how all the shapes and their sizes relate to one another.  Stay tuned as I post future phases.  Hopefully I'll remember to stop and take photos along the way!

So, at this point, can you tell "who I am" (that is what is this building?)

Tulsa Brick x Brick Update

Thought those following the "Tulsa Brick x Brick" series might enjoy a quick update of the pieces completed since December 2009.  Above is a collage of the 14 paintings of these historic and interesting Tulsa buildings.

So far I've painted the following (not necessarily in this order):

1. Atlas Life Sign
2. Claud's Hamburgers
3. Phoenix Cleaners
4. Fairgrounds Pavilion
5. Guaranty Laundry Building (Page Moving and Storage)
6. Boulder on the Park
7. Bill White Chevrolet (4th and Elgin)
8. 320 South Boston Building
9. Philtower Entrance
10. Tulsa Monument Company Building (Benchmark Monument Company)
11. Will Rogers High School
12. The Brook
13. City Veterinary Hospital
14. Warehouse Market Building

I must say I know I've barely scratched the surface, but I feel happy with what's been accomplished so far in the last two months!  Many more are on the list to paint...meanwhile, I'd love to hear your stories about the buildings listed above or others of interest to you.  Have you lived in Tulsa a long time?  Did you or do you now work downtown?  Or, has it been awhile since you've driven through downtown?  What do you think has changed the most?  Would love to hear from you!

Will Rogers High School - An Example of PWA Art Deco Architecture - SOLD

"PWA Art Deco".  What in the world is that?  If you read my previous post, you'd have learned that it stands for Public Works Administration.   It was a government program to employ workers during the Depression to help construct public buildings.  Will Rogers High School and Webster High School are examples of such constructions during that time.  Emphasis was on more horizontal lines rather than the skyscraper designs of its predecessor ZigZag style.

Will Rogers High School was designed by Leon B. Senter and Joseph R. Koberling, Jr. and built in 1938 according to their Tulsa Preservation Commission page.   The school was listed in the National Register in 2007.  It amazes me that when it opened in 1938/1939 they had well over 1,000 students enrolled!

When I saw this building and read about the horizontal emphasis of these PWA buildings, I couldn't help but think of the correlation between the earth and trees with the building's lines.  Therefore, when I outlined the compositional plan for this painting, the dramatic tower was meant to parallel the lone conifer to the right and the low horizon with the repeated horizontal lines in the building.  All the colors were kept rather subdued so as to suggest a harmony with nature as well as the age of this learning institution that's graced our city for over 70 years.  The painting is acrylic on 11 x 14" prepped mdf.

A Lesson on Tulsa Art Deco

So yesterday I spent the day away from the studio. Among the errands, I made time in the day to visit the Tulsa Historical Society.  Having just completed the painting of The Brook, I especially wanted to see their exhibit of Tulsa's old theaters like the Ritz and the Orpheum.  On display are some of the statues from these grand theaters.  You will not believe that Tulsa once had such spectacular venues!  Of particular interest to me were the historical photos of downtown Tulsa during the early decades of the 20th Century.  Many old aerial photos are fun to study to try to get ones bearings based on structures still standing today.  To see the steel framework of the 320 South Boston building was really cool.

There's also an exhibit of the history of Zebco Fishing Reel business - okay so secretly that didn't really interest me, but how it came from the "Zero Bomb" company who built explosives for oil well fracturing into a revolutionary fishing reel business is actually pretty remarkable as were the photos of who manufactured these reels.

Currently on display too is a narrated exhibit of Sidenbach's Clothing Business.  Lots of vintage women's suits, gowns, shoes, hats, and other paraphernalia along with the history of how the Sidenbach's came to Tulsa, photos of the couple and just a brief lesson in what life was like in downtown way back then.  Very different.

Little did I know what a treasure I carried away from my visit in the form of a newspaper called the "Tulsa Days A History of Success" printed by the Tulsa World.  Inside is a two page article entitled "Tulsa Art Deco".  It's a lesson on how Tulsa ended up with so much Art Deco, what Art Deco is and a definition of some of its distinct styles and how they developed.  Here are some excerpts from the article:

"When oil was discovered just to the west and south of Tulsa, common men quickly turned into wealthy oil tycoons...Tulsa began building the 'Oil Capital of the World'.  They were determined to prove to everyone that Tulsa had class and culture.  They wanted what was most modern, what was tallest and what reflected speed and motion...that vision succeeded in making Tulsa one of America's top five showcase cities for Art Deco architecture."

So just when did "Art Deco" architecture develop?  Between the two World Wars.  "The design characteristics were influenced by the culture at the time: the Jazz Age, the Roaring 20s, Prohibition, suffragettes and gangsters.  Design elements were borrowed from popular art and contemporary events like the opening of King Tut's Tomb...'Art Deco' was coined later, in the 1960s and was derived from the 1923 Exposition of the Decorative Arts in Paris."

Three Art Deco styles include Zigzag, PWA and Streamline.  Zigzag emphasizes "repeated symbols and shapes, vertical lines, natural elements portrayed in bas-relief and consistent decoration on everything inside and out."  Some examples of Zigzag in Tulsa include Boston Avenue Church, Philcade and the PSO Building.

PWA stands for Public Works Administration.  Following the "Stock Market Crash of the 1920s and the ensuing Depression" buildings with elaborate design elements were a thing of the past.  Emphasis now was on simpler, horizontal lines.  Many public buildings were constructed by workers during the Depression.  Examples of these structures include the Fairgrounds Pavilion, Union Bus Depot and Will Rogers High School.

"As the Depression continued, Art Deco became more and more simplistic and design elements were flattened.  Buildings had concrete walls, curved facades and utilized glass bricks...construction methods allowed more design flexibility as corners were no longer load bearing...other changes during this time was urban sprawl and design based on the new dependence on the automobile.  Signage and standardized design became important to help patrons identify businesses."  Examples of this style include some of my paintings, Phoenix Cleaners, The Brook and City Veterinary Hospital.


With this information in hand, I determined to visit a specific example of PWA architecture...I'm embarrassed to say for the first time ever.  Will Rogers High School.  I have a fairly strong visual memory.  So, when I meandered my way over to the 3900 block of 5th Place through an old neighborhood, nothing looked familiar.  And then out of the clearing arose this incredible structure.  As I drove closer there was a stillness and quiet.  Class was in session in the middle of the afternoon, but no one bothered me as I pulled into the circle drive to take photos.  Just me and the building.  I asked myself, how could I have lived here so long and never seen this beautiful building?  I thought how fortunate those teachers and students are to learn in such an inspiring place.  Watch for it to be included in the series.

Why not take a Saturday afternoon soon and visit this most interesting place located in the historic Travis Home on Peoria: the Tulsa Historical Society.  You won't be sorry.  Oh, and by the way, you can also make an appointment to view their thousands of historical photos in the archives.

Phoenix Cleaners - SOLD

I worked at the gallery the other day and wanted to paint a familiar building.  So naturally I chose Phoenix Cleaners again.  I find the building and signage irresistible you know, not to mention the affinity I feel for its story.  It's pretty remarkable these days for a family run business to survive for long - how about 4 generations?  Amazing.

While I like this building in all sorts of light and all sorts of seasons, it's truly fun for a colorist like me to see it in a damp, darkish setting with the glowing colors dancing around the building's curved facade.  Given the foggy setting, I chose to keep it nice and soft with patches of color brushed lightly all over.  The painting is acrylic on 9 x 12" prepped mdf panel.

The building was built in 1947 according to the Tulsa Preservation Commission page.  I don't know who the architect was.  Anyone know?  If you haven't seen this building - be sure to drive by.  It's located just west of Cincinnati on 18th Street near downtown Tulsa.

The Brook - SOLD

Here's the latest addition to the "Tulsa Brick x Brick" series.  I've been enjoying touring Brookside - lots of great architecture there.  I love all the "Art Moderne" style in Brookside, it gives it such a hip feel.  Seeing the newer structures reflect that same feeling is really nice.

Who can resist neon I ask?  Those curving neon lights lead the eye to the marquee and up to that fantastic sign with its super cool lettering (which was extra fun to paint).  There's no question that The Brook holds a strong place in the series.  It just feels happy.  I can remember going to see Eddie and the Ecclectics back in the late 80s - what a fun show!

According to the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture website, The Brook was originally built in 1949 as Brook Theater and was designed by William Henry Cameron Calderwood, an architect who was born in Ireland in 1899.  You can read more about Mr. Calderwood here.  Now The Brook is a restaurant and it's a pleasure to enjoy sitting in a place with such history enjoying a meal with friends.

I know that this painting is apt to spark lots of wonderful stories from the past and the present!  I chose a wonderful, bright palette with vivid greens to showcase that signage and neon.  The transparent  greens just worked so well even in the shadows.  Juxtaposing complimentary reds against all that green in the focal area really makes the greens pop even more.  Just what one would expect of such luminous signage.  This painting was a complete joy to paint from start to finish.  It's acrylic on 9 x 12" panel like the others in the series.

Carless in Tulsa

I happened upon a story about a couple in Tulsa, Kristin and Nate, who've challenged themselves to live without use of their car for 30 days......................in January.  In an effort to get more exercise and be fiscally responsible they chose this goal for themselves.  Here's a funny quote from their blog carlessintulsa.blogspot.com  in which they're chronicling their daily adventures (great fun to read).  Explaining how they chose bicycling vs. joining a gym Nate says:

"I began reading my favorite weekly email from Planetizen. Everyone who loves cities should subscribe to their weekly email. They sent me an article titled 'The Absurdity of Stationary Bikes.' It was making fun of all those people with gym memberships who drive around the parking lot four times to find the closest spot to the gym and then go in and ride on a stationary bike. I am also reminded of a picture I saw once showing an outdoor escalator going right up to the door of a gym while the view inside the windows was of people on step machines."

They've talked about their concerns from being hit by a car to showing up to work with helmet head as well as their adventures like being chased by a mob of dogs and lessons learned on how to cope should such a fate befall another cyclist.

They're up to day 12 now, nearly half way through their adventure and have coped with single digit temps.  So far this week the weather's given them a reprieve, well at least temperature-wise.  Why not follow along on their journey with them?  They're letting us share in it via the comfort of our homes, or cars; but I bet they won't mind if we wanted to hop on our bikes too!

Is the Green Building at 4th and Elgin the home of Bill White Chevrolet?

I've always liked the  building at 4th and Elgin.  I like green - so that's one reason I like the building - it's a minty green, really stands out I think.  Plus it's got rows of cool windows along the top.  It just appeals to me for some reason.  However, I'm in need of your help with any information about the history about this building.  Anyone able to shed some light on when it was built, who was the architect and who has occupied the premises over the years?  An Oklahoma photographer said that he thinks it was occupied by the Bill White Chevrolet Dealership...can anyone confirm that?  Any stories about this place and/or the dealership?  It's an example of a cool building in downtown Tulsa that might not always be around.  Wouldn't that be a shame?  I also think it's an example of a building that might be taken for granted.  So, if you have some info or stories, please share it on this form.

One day last week we experienced what I think is called "snow fog" - freezing fog.  It made for a perfect photo of the pink glow around the street lights reflecting and illuminating the far end of the building.  Really nice colors mixed with the rough look and textures of the building...all my favorite elements.

My portrayal of the atmosphere used lots of soft edges again since it was foggy.  I wanted to show that tired  but "tenacious" spirit of this rugged old place, withstanding the elements.  The painting is acrylic on 8 x 10" prepped panel.

City Veterinary Hospital - SOLD

Here is my completed painting of the City Veterinary Hospital - the painting that I was working on during the interview by Rick Wells.  As I mentioned in the interview, my goal here was to create a warm, inviting view of a place where folks take their beloved family members to make them "all better".  It was dusk when I shot the photo on which this painting was based.  It allowed me to see the building in silhouette and I thought that was a fitting way to portray the simple, lovely deco streamline form of the building.  All the glass blocks were illuminated from within further creating that haven atmosphere.  I chose a simple complimentary palette to create the warmth.  The painting process began with a Burnt Sienna value map on the canvas in which I removed paint to reveal the main light and dark shapes.  I really liked allowing the warmth of that Burnt Sienna to show through and kept most of the edges soft except around the glass blocks to create an overall soft appearance.  This 18 x 24" painting on stretched canvas was built up in layers of heavy body acrylics. 

So, what's the history of this building?  Well, what I've found out so far is that it was built in 1942 and designed by architect Joseph R. Koberling, Jr. AIA.   It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.  You can see a photo of the building and read a little of its history on its Tulsa Preservation Commission page.  And what about Mr. Koberling?  From the Tulsa Foundation for Architects site I've learned that he was born in 1900 in Budapest, Hungary and lived until the ripe old age of 91.  His architecture practice in Tulsa spanned some 66 years!  Amazing.  What were some other buildings he had a hand in designing?  Many are no longer here, but some that remain and that we enjoy everyday include the Central Library at 4th & Denver, the PSO (Transok Pipeline) Building at 600 S. Main, and Will Rogers High School to name just a few.  You can read more about Mr. Koberling on the Tulsa Foundation for Architects site.

If you can't already tell, I'm quite fond of the Deco Streamline style of architecture - the City Veterinary Hospital is a great example of the simple lines of this style of architecture.  I guess that's why I like Brookside so much - lots of this type of structures.

So now I'm looking for any other information folks can share about this historic Tulsa place.  Please add your comments here, or fill out the brief form on my website. I'd like to add those to the "Your Stories" page on the website.

Your Stories

Now that stories are starting to come in regarding Tulsa places, a page has been dedicated on my website to start posting some of them. 

You may feel that your story is insignificant.  However, it's the little nuggets that all add up to create a rich storehouse of interesting details.  Here's an example of what I'm after to include in the collection:

Regarding the 320 South Boston Building: "I've made many a client call in the 320 S. Boston building, and stood on top of the Bank of Oklahoma tower shortly after it was topped out in 1976, I believe. We all stood in disbelief as a plumb bob softly swayed on its mount, signaling the building was actually moving back and forth in the wind! This is great to see. It takes me there." L. Clingman, Bixby, Oklahoma

Take a look at some of the paintings already completed, if you have any stories, no matter how small about those buildings, or any others, feel free to share them on the online form on my website.

Online Version of Rick Wells' story on "Tulsa Brick x Brick" Series

For those who didn't get a chance to see Rick Wells' segment on my "Tulsa Brick x Brick" project, here's a link to the story on the News on 6 website with some photos from the interview.  Thank you Rick for doing such a wonderful job on the story.

"Tulsa Brick x Brick" at Pearl Gallery

New pieces from my "Tulsa Brick x Brick" series will be on display at Pearl Gallery at 1201 East 3rd Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma and can be seen Tuesday - Friday 11-5, Thursdays til 7 and other times by appointment. More details on their website.

"Tulsa Brick x Brick" Series on Oklahoma's News on 6

It was a privilege to visit with Rick Wells of Oklahoma's "News on 6" about my "Tulsa Brick x Brick" series and the events that led to the inspiration to do the project.  Be sure to watch the 6 p.m. news tonight for the piece!  Stay tuned for more details.

A New Twist for the "Tulsa Brick x Brick" Series

I was driving early one morning listening to NPR when their "StoryCorps" segment came on - something I always enjoy.  You know - it's the project that's recording little clips of everyday people and their lives - really heartwarming to hear.  Anyway, that got me to thinking - people like to know about the lives of others and their experiences.  It helps us relate to one another and even evaluate our own lives.  Nowadays it seems life paces at such a pace that we often find little time for such reflection.  But sharing just a clip, a story, a memory, however brief can enrich our lives and those who listen.

With that in mind, it gave me the idea to further enhance the interest of the "Tulsa Brick x Brick" series by inviting others to share their memories and experiences involving Tulsa places.  If you're fond of a particular building or place in Tulsa, have a story to share or just want to say what the building/place means to you and why you like it, please take a few minutes to fill out this brief online form from my website.  I've enjoyed hearing many of your stories already.  Why not share yours? Who knows, yours might just be the inspiration for the next painting in the series!

Guaranty Laundry Building

I'm a sucker for cool old signs.  The faded aqua metal sign on the Guaranty Laundry Building at 2036 E. 11th Street along with the "ark-like" mass of the deco building made it a required building for the series.   I was driving around early one morning this week and took my camera along.  Even though it was a dreary day, and the snow that's now been on the ground for three weeks is now a lovely shade of gray, I thought it made for some moody, atmospheric shots.  Seemed appropriate for some of the historic buildings that have seen their better days.

I did a little research on this building - and although the sign reads "PAGE MOVING AND STORAGE", the building is the Guaranty Laundry Building.  It was designed by the famous Tulsa architect, Bruce Goff.  It was built in 1928 and at one time included fur storage facilities.  You can read a little more about the design here.  Notice the faded traces of the diamond design in the brickwork.

Mr. Goff was born in Kansas in 1904, just ten years before the Great War.  He obtained his Architect License in 1930 in Tulsa.  Two of his other well-known prominent Tulsa landmarks include the world-renowned Boston Avenue Methodist Church, one of the finest examples of deco architecture ever built and Riverside Studio (Spotlight Theater).  You can read more about his history and accomplishments on the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture site.

With such low lighting conditions, it was quite clear that the approach to the painting would be with a limited palette.  Colors included in my 10 x 8" acrylic painting were cobalt, ultramarine, raw umber, titanium white, alizarin crimson, yellow ochre and an underpainting of transparent red oxide to allow all those cool colors to be nicely accentuated.  Focus was kept on that sign and inviting yellow door.

"Tulsa Brick x Brick" gets blogged

A special thanks to Amanda DeCort of the Tulsa Preservation Commission for her lovely blog post about my "Tulsa Brick x Brick" series!  As I've commented before, we're abundantly blessed with most interesting architecture in Tulsa, in part thanks to our legacy as once being the Oil Capitol of the World no doubt.  Sadly, many of these places have fallen into disrepair.  I hope that through my paintings, Tulsans can make a personal connection to these treasured places.

Also, a very warm thank you to Michael Bates, Tulsa writer of www.batesline.com for his post about the series.  I really appreciate you sharing your comments about the paintings.

I think that art is a wonderful way to educate folks about our lovely city.

320 South Boston Building

I knew when I took the photo of this view of the 320 South Boston Building (one of my favorites of our skyline), that the distortions of perspective due to the camera lens would lend itself to a fun abstracted view of this scene.  It seemed appropriate to break away from the smaller scale paintings and do this one fairly large at 24 x 18".  I also chose to do this painting on canvas rather than the prepped panels I've been using.  It was nice to have the soft "springy" feel for a change, but also called for a light touch.  This painting too was done with heavy body acrylics, a bit more challenging on a larger scale.  I began with blocking in the large geometric shapes and then just selecting some areas of detail to establish the context without being too tedious.  I also kept the values range fairly close to create a brighter feeling with lots of "air".  Also the brushwork was intentionally blurred into the periphery to force the eye up the towers and create that childlike wonder of visiting the "big city" for the first time.

The 320 South Boston Building was originally built in 1917 as a 10 story building and was expanded to its present dimensions of 22 stories in 1929.  It was the tallest building in Oklahoma until 1931.

Atlas Life Sign - SOLD

The Atlas Life Sign is a striking aspect of Boston Avenue in downtown Tulsa.  It's a four-story neon sign - quite dramatic.  The Atlas Life Building was completed in 1922 and added to the National Register in 2009.

I finished this acrylic painting on 12 x 9" mdf panel today.  I found simplifying this scene to be challenging and keeping the focus on the sign while keeping it a part of the overall view my main task.  So many verticals needed to be offset by a grounding horizontal - the beam of light on the roadway in between blocks allowed this.