fire truck – Larry Johnston, Nostalgic Artist

Cassopolis Fire Department

Cassopolis, Michigan

I have painted several fire related paintings, which make up my fireman set. In choosing a fire station, my first choice was my most familiar. I grew up in Cassopolis, Michigan until was 10 years old. Living in an upstairs apartment less than one block from the volunteer fire department, I became familiar to the sound of the siren that alerts everyone when they are needed. It was not much of a fancy fire station, but it was ours. As a young boy, I was always fascinated by the water tower that sat behind the station. This painting was one of my early paintings, so you can see the difference in my artistic talents from then.

As part of the Fireman’s set, it became a big seller all over the country. Other paintings included: The Fire Dog; Fire Truck; Miami fire station and the Fire Hose Reel.

“The Fire Truck”

Ripley, West Virginia

While traveling around the country exhibiting at hundreds of Art shows and festivals, One of the best in the Country was the Mountain State Arts & Crafts Festival, in Ripley, West Virginia. It was rated #1 in the Country by Sunshine Artist Magazine a number of years ago.

As I returned to this show in July of each year with new paintings, I kept seeing this old fire truck just sitting out in a field. You might say that it’s days of fighting fires were over and it was put out to pasture. (Pun intended). Eventually, I stopped and took pictures of the truck and painted the acrylic painting on canvas.

Every year since, I sold quite a few prints, especially to the local residents. I was told by the property owners, that the fire truck had been used in parades since its retirement. That’s where the Stroh’s sign on the truck came from. It was put on after retirement.

Other Fire Department related paintings include: Fire Dog; Fire Station #2 Hose Reel; Miami Fire Station #6 and Cassopolis Fire Station.