In the late 1960s, at age 10 or so, I joined friends on an unauthorized bike ride out of the neighborhood, through the woods, past a spooky abandoned house, onto tree-lined paved roads, and eventually to a train station an unimaginable 3 miles from home. We rewarded ourselves with 15-cent sodas dispensed from a machine with a vertical glass door on the side that allowed view of and access to the bottles. Adjacent to the train station was a creepy Victorian structure that housed a used bookstore. Memory is tricky, thus my use of B&W, which also characterized the most photography and TV shows of the decade. For the final all-acrylic painting, I used a sponge to apply some white background areas with a twisted look, simplified shapes from the sketches (attached), and limited text. However, that soda machine door was a “must keep.” The single-speed 20” bike takes center stage because of the freedom it afforded, and more importantly, my recognition of its potential to liberate.
Comments
Great painting! I can feel the excitement of that trip and also how memory works in that case. Great job
Wow, TheLandscapePainter, this is so lovely. What a wonderful memory of childhood that will forever be with you. I love the black and white feel its gives it a puzzled feel but still comfortable.
Tanisha, it's not my painting!!! 😉
Just Fabulous! I agree about the soda machine!
Excellent capture of a great memory!
Thanks, Helen, Tanisha, Felix, Tomi, and Stephanie; glad you saw something to like! After further review, it occurred to me that the sponged-on background could suggest treetops (of suburban Pennsylvania) below a "soaring" bike (ET, phone home?!) A fun and educational exercise!
@jlstutz98, I am sorry I mistake your work for TheLandscapePainter painting. I still love it.
Very painterly! I love it!
Yes, the treetops were the first thing I noticed. It was a great way to showcase those in the painting. It was just your overall choice of colour, black and white, that I would never have guessed, as you say, relating to black and white photography and TV of the 60s, I remember it well, kodak126 and Bill and Ben the flowerpot men.
Tanisha: Thanks again and no worries!
Thanks, Bob!
Helen: my first camera was a Kodak Instamatic that used Magicubes and 126 cartridges. No Bill and Ben in the US; where I grew up in PA, children watched (egad) Pixanne, Sally Starr, and Captain Kangaroo.
Great story and fantastic interpretation! Reminds me of "stand by me + ET" . I also love the black and white and I did see it the same way you meant it!
Thanks, Pam!
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Ah, I think I'm beginning to get it now, before reading your words or viewing your sketches I got the idea it was about a bike ride through trees by railway lines. I was puzzled by the rest of it, the 15c and the other shapes. But now it makes perfect sense. I never would have guessed the significance of the black and white, I guess that's part of the mystery of abstract art. I'm really impressed and inspired ✨️ 👏