Original sketch for The Outsider

"Outsider" in Stir-Fry Cafe

The manager wanted me to take charge of my paintings that they brought down after the new ones went up since there wasn't a safe spot to store them. Stir-Fry cafe is an hour plus drive from home and I wanted to be there during off business hours so that the customers wouldn't be disturbed, but time was of essence, and so here I am, on Valentine's Day evening, the busiest night for the restaurant, waiting to pick up my paintings, among everyone else waiting for a table.

The wait-staff and maitre d' were extremely cooperative and took the pictures that I wanted, since I couldn't have gone inside without being obtrusive (and to add it all I was in sari and all!)

So here it is: The Outsider, looking on an outdoor cafe, while being housed in an indoor one! Wait, Stir-Fry cafe does have an outdoor section, except it's hard to think of it now when it is so cold.

Three stages of a painting and giving it a title: The Outsider

The IBM doublespread ad in the Wall Street Journal had me sufficiently fascinated to want to do something.. First of all I wanted to be in that spot, Park Guell Barcelona, with a laptop, like that dude. I got my laptop, and I have now acted upon the inspiration from that picture.

Here you can see the first stage of my painting, ,when I drew just the balcony and the girl. Then I drew a pelican diagonally across from the girl, but somehow the proportions were wrong.

So I got rid of the pelican and added a dreamy seascape in the background.Again, the realistic notes of the background, and the fantasy elements of the foreground didn't match. The sea and mountains had to be changed, the background had seemed cut off from the rest of the picture, so I connected them all with the patterned river and the Arc de Triomphe-like structures across the hills.

Carried it squished in my van (the piece is 57" x 57") and hung it at Stir-Fry in Turkey Creek.

Imagine my delight to note that the distance between the crown molding and the top of the booths is exactly that much.

Will post pictures of how it looks in the restaurant soon.

Should have taken one instantly after it went up. Anyway.