I’ve always been fairly obsessed with neon signage… hence my numerous trips to Las Vegas. In downtown Jackson Hole, you can spot several glowing gems, such as the oft-painted Cowboy Bar… and the Antler Inn. There is something about a dramatic sign in the night sky.

I took the source image for this painting just before twilight, and let my imagination do the darkening.

Here’s the entire process captured in time lapse, sound track courtesy of The Bergamot.

As always, beginning with a simplified form to block out the composition… warm palette, natch.

I decided to indulge myself a bit and dive right into the sign. This step was all about the negative space.

That daytime blue gradient… I decided to give the native lightening scenario a shot… but instantly knew twilight was the answer (not the vampire kind).

Blocking out the rest of the shadows (typically something I do earlier on). Began finessing the arrow (similar to the NJ Devils, as friend and collector Michelle Kenneth pointed out).

And night falls over the Antler… Motel sign.

Sexy time… adding the neons, beginning with Antler. You can see my new running shoes in the background… getting back into modest shape… the gut has been taking a beating over the past four months.

Neons painted… up next? The hotel to the left, adding a tree to the right, and graining the wood — for good measure.

Boom! My second Jackson Hole neon canvas… completed. Up next? Rawhide. And now, a journey through my two earlier Jackson Hole inspired works…

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