Painting the Bar at Spider House

Jessica Cleans the Chandelier at the Spider House

This is one of the only interior paintings that I have done at the Spider House. I need to paint more! Spider House Coffee is located in an old, clapboard house on a rise opposite Hemphill Park . The walls are of exposed long-leaf pine; the wall paper was torn off years ago. It is not modern. Light tries to peak in from old casement windows with rusty, cat-scratched screens. The hardwood floors are patched and worn into footpath rivets. There is a confused arrangement of liquor, coffee, what-knots and clutter behind the bar.

I painted Jessica, one of the wait staff of the Spider House, as she was standing on the bar, cleaning an old crystal chandelier. It turned out to be a charming little painting. I hope that this painting captures the atmosphere of the Spider House.

As I have mentioned before, I keep an art journal entry on every painting that I do from life. This painting has a great story…later.

Comments? Have you been at a place like this? ~Lavanna

6 Comments

meli

Posted October 16, 2008 at 7:51 pm | Permalink

I looooved the spider house when I visited Austin few years ago!!!
–
lovely piece lavanna!!

Lavanna Martin

Posted October 16, 2008 at 9:30 pm | Permalink

Hi, Meli.

Thank, you. The real proof: Does it remind you of the Spider House? 🙂

michellesolange

Posted October 17, 2008 at 12:02 am | Permalink

I love your descriptions almost as much as the paintings!

Owen

Posted October 17, 2008 at 3:09 pm | Permalink

Wow, an art journal on every painting – ambitious. Good on you.

trickylittleimp

Posted October 20, 2008 at 10:44 am | Permalink

What a great visual vignette!

Lavanna Martin

Posted October 21, 2008 at 6:07 pm | Permalink

Hi, Imp.

Thank you. This one sold very quickly. I am really not sure why people like it so much, as I did not think it was my best. Maybe it is all of the clutter, can’t say!

Thank you and stop by again,

~Lavanna Martin