I’ve driven by this burger joint several times in South Lake Tahoe and finally last summer, I got around to painting it. It really helps to have a painting partner who likes to do similar subject matter. We both agreed that the lighting was best on this one in the morning, and an added bonus was an empty parking lot early in the day. Good plan, because I had to return a second day to complete it and had no problem setting up in the same spot again. The things that attracted me to the scene: a geometric stair step composition against soft pine boughs and how the red in the building looked great against the green pines. Then the fun stuff: The shadow of the fence, the signage, umbrellas and flag and a few people (finally at noon). I like that there was a peek-a-boo mountain so you know “we aren’t in Kansas any more”, we are in a mountain town!

What made this painting tough was it wasn’t exactly peaceful- there was loud road construction right in front of me. That actually is another reason I was drawn to paint it: they are updating South Lake Tahoe and I wanted to preserve this place in the event that it too is renovated. This painting is looking for a good home. But until then, I’m happy to see it in my studio and remember the good old days when people went out to eat!

This is as far as I got on the first day I painted this. I came back the next day to finish it up. All the signage lettering I did in my studio, where I have better hand control

My painting partner, Randall Stauss’s block in of the road construction that noisily accompanied us while we worked!