A History of Americana in Art
Fire Hose Reel Fire Station #2
Mishawaka, IN
Fire Station #2 in Mishawaka, Indiana is located on North Main Street. The antique Fire Hose Reel is on display just outside for everyone to see. Can you imagine having to pull that behind you, when many roads of that era were not paved and definitely were not smooth.
The painting was a 9 x 12 and was painted with acrylic paint on stretched canvas. The original painting was sold shortly after it was finished, many years ago.
The Fire Dog
While in the area of Gray, Georgia exhibiting at a show I called, “Little Beaver Creek”, because there were several shows with that name, I came across a fire hydrant that caught my eye, sitting on the side of the road. I was in the process of painting Fire Dept. related paintings, so I stopped and took a few pictures of it. When it came to painting it, I decided to add the dog since the Dalmatian was also Fire Department related. What better than a puppy.
The set of four, I completed, was the Fire Dog, a Fire Truck, Fire Hose reel, and Fire Station.
Copyright Larry Johnston
The 50s Diner.
Sarasota, Florida
While we were in Sarasota, Florida, we visited my cousin for few days. Since he is a car collector and exhibits his cars at the car shows in Florida, he was impressed with my Diner paintings. There was a local diner in Sarasota, called the 50s Diner and he asked if I would paint it with a couple of his cars in the painting. All four of the cars shown belonged to him at the time.
This painting added to the classic car inventory of the available prints.
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)
24” x 36” Original Painting on canvas Not Available.
Ferris Wheel Toy
Many of us remember the metal toys where the tabs fit into slots and bent over to hold them together. I was in an old hardware store/soda shop where the owner collected antique toys. He had them all over the walls, on shelves and even in the basement. It was a toy collector’s paradise. I decided to paint some paintings of the toys. The first toy that I chose was a familiar one to many of us, but to stay away from infringement problems, I changed all the characters on the Ferris Wheel to my own design of clowns.
While in Florida, one of my favorite places for painting was, Markham Park, in Weston, Florida. It was a beautiful day, as I pulled out my 30″ x 40″ canvas and started to paint. I set my easel in a shaded area beneath some palm trees. The sounds of the birds chirping made it so relaxing… that I didn’t have a care in the world. As I worked on the painting, it came together beautifully over the next few perfect days. I was almost finished with the painting, when I noticed the birds getting louder, then all of a sudden……”.SPLAT!”, right in the middle of the painting. You guessed it… Doo–Do everywhere! It took me about a month to make adjustments and corrections, but, to this day, if you look closely, (Only on the original painting), you can tell where that bird made his mark.. I’m not sure whether it was the clowns, or the Ferris Wheel he didn’t like.
Links to other covered bridge paintings I have done can be found here:
Euharlee Covered Bridge-Spring
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.
Columbia Street Roastery
Champaign, Illinois
The Covered Bridge Festival, held in Parke County, Indiana draws people from all over the country. While at the festival, I met a gentleman from Champaign, Illinois, who owned a coffee roastery. He wanted an illustration of the Columbia Street Roastery, as it would have looked years ago. He was interested in putting the image on his coffee bags and literature. About a year or so later, when I was traveling through Illinois, I stopped in to visit them. There’s nothing like the smell of freshly ground coffee. We were given the tour. I was impressed by all of the coffee bags stamped with images from all over the world. We even got to see how they roasted, ground and bagged the coffee.
Bubba’s Roadhouse & Saloon
Cape Coral, Florida
If you have not visited Bubba’s, you need to put it on your bucket list. Located just east of Burnt Store Road, you can find it at 2121 SW Pine Island Road, in Cape Coral, Florida.
The steakhouse was constructed from 90% recycled parts from old warehouses that were demolished. When you check out the decor in Bubba’s Roadhouse & Saloon, you will find all kinds of memorabilia, including an extensive Beer Can collection and license plates from all 50 States.
You can get in on the fun with their Karaoke and live entertainment. Call for times and dates.
While exhibiting at the Cape Coral Street Arts Festival, the owner approached me to paint a picture of his Steakhouse. I had a lot of fun, because there was neon everywhere and a parking lot full of cars. I put some special cars in the painting for him, including “Elvis”. The Cape Coral Festival was one of my favorites.
The Roanoke Weiner Stand
Roanoke, Virginia
While exhibiting in a show in Roanoke, Virginia, we found this unique weiner stand. Come to find out, it is Roanoke’s oldest restaurant and one of the most popular. It opened in 1916. Since I painted this picture, which was at 110 Market Square, across from the City Market, they have moved into the Market at 1 Market Square and opened another at 3601 Brandon. They’re known for their grilled hot dogs and chili dogs.
The prints of the painting were very popular, along with the set of four places in Roanoke. (Texas Tavern, Roanoke Weiner Stand, Billy’s Ritz and Agnew Seed Store)
I love Roanoke and could live there! It is such a cool town. Here are a few of my favorite places around town…
Agnew Seed Store
Roanoke, Virginia.
One of my favorite Art Festivals took place in the park in Roanoke, Virginia. As I returned for the annual festival, I brought new paintings of the area. One of the paintings was, at the time, the oldest seed store in the state of Virginia. The store was handed down through family since its opening in 1897.
The store was located at 301 Market Street, in Roanoke and sold Seeds & Bulbs for wholesale and retail growers. The inside of the store, had shelves, drawers and displays that took you back in time. Bird seed was a popular item along with feeders for the bird lovers.
After the owners death in 2009, business closed and the building was sold to a couple who owned several other businesses in the area.
The other paintings that I painted over the years from Roanoke, were the Texas Tavern, Roanoke Weiner Stand and Billy’s, located in the Market District. I eventually sold them as a print set of 4, I called my Roanoke Set.
I love Roanoke and could live there! It is such a cool town. Here are a few of my favorite places around town…
Billy’s Ritz,
Roanoke, VA.
For several years, in late 1980s and early 1990s, I exhibited at the Arts Festival, in Roanoke, Virginia. I might add, they put on a great event, especially the entertainment for the public. Since it was downtown, Roanoke, we were able to visit several restaurants, during our visit.
One of the restaurants, was “Billy’s Ritz”, located adjacent to the Roanoke City Market. It was housed in the previous site of the 60 room “Ames Hotel”, which was built in 1910, according to records. Billy’s Ritz, was an upscale American, Steakhouse, which operated for 27 years, before selling in 2008.
Several other paintings from Roanoke, that I painted, was “Texas Tavern”, “The Roanoke Wiener Stand” and “Agnew Seed Store”.
I love Roanoke and could live there! It is such a cool town. Here are a few of my favorite places around town…