The biggest blizzard in NYC History dumped a record 26.9″ of snow on Central Park. That day, I set out to walk across the park from the Upper East, to the Upper West and back.

Upon my return, I was taken aback by the Neil’s Coffee Shop sign, glowing majestically in the snow. At that moment, I knew I had to capture it… which I did, collage-style in 2006.

Fast forward to the new Back to the Futurism series… revisiting Neil’s became more and more appealing. And, so, I did just that.

Negative space. Warm under painting.

I always find identifying the beams in the sky the best way to kick things off. That, and spending a ridiculous amount of time drawing.

Shadows bring the pop.

I really had to work through the sky on this one… it went through many iterations.

Dumping snow everywhere. Or, on the signs.

The first round of metal painting… all blacks and greys in this painting are made from Red, Green, Blue and titanium White. Painting has greatly assisted in my understanding of the digital color spectrum.

Even a window gets the blues.

At first I went for a salmon on the bright side of the building… but that was not feeling right. Suppose I wasn’t in the mood for fish.

Oh yes, that blue/green gradation is more like it… the beams are a bit too orange right here, Erin suggested I throw down some pink — it was a great call.

Working the letters… I had to resist adding the neon.

Getting in there and polishing gun metal.

Neon pink and fluffy snow. Oh, and there’s that pink beam.

Neil’s Coffee Shop Redux. 36″X36″. Acrylic on Canvas. 2013.

A few snaps taken inside Central Park during the Blizzard of 06′.

He was determined to forge his own path.