January 2015 – Page 3 – Larry Johnston, Nostalgic Artist

Wicker Guest House

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

Wicker Guest House

Key West, Florida

While exhibiting in the Florida Keys, we took some time for picture taking in Key West. We found a Bed and Breakfast and Inn, located 913 Duval Street, located in historic Old Town. To me, it gave the feeling that you can identify with the Key West atmosphere. Later I painted the acrylic painting of the entrance to the Guest House.

The best part of this painting, was during an Art Festival on the east coast of Florida, a young couple approached me with a unique story. The young man advised me that he grew up in that house as a child. They not only purchased the painting, but they asked if I would change the sign above the door.

The name “Wicker” was changed to his last name and the word “Guesthouse” remained the same. I think we not only made their day, but it sure made mine!

White Castle

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

White Castle

Chicago, Illinois

The White Castle Restaurants started in 1927, as the first one opened in Cincinnati, Ohio. The first White Castle in Chicago was located at Wabash and Cermak, in 1930. The restaurant chain offered small hamburgers that sold for 5 cents until the 1940s. The American term for a small sandwich 3 inches across or smaller was called a “Slider”, which became a common term for a White Castle Burger.

The original Chicago building has become a landmark, as the building has been restored to the original design but is no longer a White Castle restaurant.

The painting was done in my early years, when I started exhibiting at the Chicago area shows. It was a popular item, especially in the Midwest area. It was also included in my set of 4 Chicago prints, along with Billy Goat Tavern, Superdawg and Hot Diggity Dogs, which were horizontal paintings. I added the Chicago Cubs panting later, but it was a vertical painting.

Shell Gas Pump

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

Shell Gas Pump

Lula, Georgia

When you look at the gas stations of today, with their fancy buildings, and huge canopies over the pumps, you forget what it was like, less than 30 years ago. While driving down the back roads of north Georgia, we went through the community of Lula.

In my early years of painting nostalgia, while gathering information on future paintings, I came upon a Shell station, that was located in Lula. It had the old-fashioned look of years gone by, so I stopped and took a few photos of the gas pumps.

I eventually painted a painting of those pumps, which also became part of my gas pump set of 4 different brands. Some of the others were, Gulf, Texaco, Marathon and Sinclair.

Gas Pumps are pretty popular! Here are the ones I have painted so far…

Marathon Gas Pump

Mobile Gas Pump

Sinclair Gas Pump

Pure Gas Pump

Steak n Shake

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

Nostalgia Painting Larry Johnston

“Steak and Shake”

St. Louis, MO.

While exhibiting in the area of St. Louis, I decided to see what they had in their area that was nostalgic. After some discussion with area locals, we found that the oldest Steak and Shake still in existence, was just off of Hwy 55, in St. Louis. Of course I had to check it out, along with some other possible places.

The Steak and Shake painting drew attention wherever I went. I put the cars into the painting to add to the time period of the building. Many people bought prints, some of the building and others for the classic cars.

I managed to do some of my painting at the shows, but customers kept me busy with questions. I liked the questions. The painting just drew the attention.

around the sides of the wood.

Hot Diggity Dog’s

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

“Hot Diggity Dogs”

Chicago, Illinois

When you go to Chicago, everybody knows where North Michigan Street is located. Next to the Chicago River is the Wrigley Building, a Chicago landmark in itself, but across the street to the north and one level down stood a landmark of its own. Hot Diggity Dogs was a small building that sat in the midst of a huge parking area at 251 E. Ohio Street near the corner of Ohio St and Fairbanks. I am not sure when the business opened, but they had one of the best Chicago Hot Dogs around.

While exhibiting at a show across from the Wrigley Building at street level, I went down to the small building and took photos of it, front and back. Later I was at Navy Pier, just a short walk away and found the old Pepsi truck, where I couldn’t help but take photos of it. I used the back of the building as a subject and added the Pepsi truck.

“Hot Diggity Dogs” has since been torn down, but I heard that on the last day it was open, they had a line of people several blocks long waiting to be served their last famous hot dog.

Rumor has it, they since opened at a different location..

Mustard & Ketchup

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

The year was 2003 and the Number One Art Festival in the Country was the Coconut Grove Arts Festival in Miami, Florida. I had exhibited there once before. When I was accepted for this show, I was asked if I wanted to demonstrate my work at one of the schools in the Miami area.

Fox Theatre Detroit

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

The FOX Theatre

Detroit, MI

Theatres have always been a fascination to me, because of all the decorated lights on the marquee. I guess it reminds me of going to the carnival, with all the rides brightly lit up with various colors. It makes it even more interesting when it had been raining, causing the reflections in the street and sidewalks.

I have been in several festivals in the downtown area of Detroit, including the Greek Festival. I just had to have prints of the FOX in Detroit, so I took photos and painted it for the following year. As always, I try to recreate the scenes as if it were in its early existence, such as 1929.

I love the old brick streets, the way they looked after a rain. It became an instant attention-getter.

Other Theatres I have painted are: The Palace in South Bend, IN; The Reese in Plymouth, IN; Atlanta’s Fox, Fox #2 in Atlanta; The Chicago Theatre; The Los Angeles Theatre; Loew’s Theatre in Jersey City, NJ, Warner Theatre, Elkhart and the Lerner Sign in Elkhart, Indiana.

Prints

ALL PRINTS are printed on canvas and stretched on wooden stretcher bars and prices vary according to size ordered. Most are 2:3 proportion

Options:

wrapped print- part of the image is wrapped around the sides of the wood

Non-wrapped print- The full image is on the face, with white or black edges

(frames and hardware are not included)

8″ x 12″ White Edge………. $109.17

8″ x 12″ Wrapped Edge………. $109.17

12” x 18” White Edge ………. $168.07

12” x 18” Wrapped Edge ………. $168.07

16” x 24” White Edge ………. $226.14 (Most popular)

16” x 24” Wrapped Edge ………. $226.14 (Most popular)

20” x 30” White Edge………. $314.34

20” x 30” Wrapped Edge………. $314.34

24” x 36”Black Edge ………. $335.65

24” x 36”White Edge ………. $335.65

24” x 36” Original Painting on canvas Not Available

Gulf Gas Pump

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

Gulf Gas Pump

Somewhere in rural Georgia

There was a period, when I was taking photos of old gas pumps to use in paintings. The Gas station here was somewhere in Georgia, but the pumps were missing, so I put the pump in my painting and restored the building to match the era.

This was one of the first paintings, where I started adding things, to match the time period. Many of my paintings have cars and trucks added to the landscape, such as many of my 1950 type Diners and Restaurants. This was a 9″ x 12″ acrylic painting on canvas.

I used to also sell photo prints of the paintings, as well as framed sets at many of the shows I attended.

Gas Pumps are pretty popular! Here are the ones I have painted so far…

Marathon Gas Pump

Mobile Gas Pump

Sinclair Gas Pump

Pure Gas Pump

Gov. Joe Frank Harris’ Home

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

Joe Frank Harris, Former Governor’s Home

Cartersville, Georgia

When we first moved to the State of Georgia, we moved to Cartersville, north of Atlanta. I had painted several homes on commission for several years. When I found out that the current Governor’s personal home was located, in Cartersville, I thought it to be a nice gesture to paint his home and present it to him.

I did not know that it would be such a big event at the time. It was on the front page of the local paper with a photograph of the presentation at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta.

Prints:

Germantown Depot

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

Germantown Train Depot

Germantown, Ohio

While on my way from an Art Festival in Ripley, West Virginia to another in downtown, Detroit, Michigan, we had some extra time, so we started sightseeing some of the back roads to find some great subject matter to paint.

During that time, Train Depots were on my to do list, when we came upon the one in Germantown, Ohio. I took several photos of the building and later painted it. There were four Railroad Depots that were in my “Depot Set”, with Germantown being one of them. The other three were, the depot in Whistle Stop Depot, Juliette, GA, Cartersville, GA and the Depot in Hope Arkansas. I have since painted the Elkhart, IN Depot.

around the sides of the wood.

11″ x 14″Black Edge………. $148.82

11″ x 14″ White Edge………. $148.82

11″ x 14″ Wrapped Edge………. $148.82

16″ x 20″ Black Edge ………. $204.72

16″ x 20″ White Edge………. $204.72

16″ x 20″ Wrapped Edge………. $204.72

16″ x 20″ ………. $375.00 original painting on stretched canvas not available.