Bada Bing!

Diane Mannion, Bada Bing! 8x10" oil on linen

Neon Light

BADA BING!  Benny's Italian restaurant in Venice!  While waiting for friends to arrive, I snapped a few reference photos.  Loved the neon glow, colors and light.

Complicated subject, the thumbnail helped me visualize a plan of attack.  Wanted to have a figure walking into the restaurant but settled for the cat, instead.

Toned the panel with ultramarine blue and sketched by removing paint with a Color Shaper.  This allowed me to make lots of changes without adding any paint at all.

"Erased" the lights with Gamsol, brushes, tissues, and rags.  Added darks.

 Blocked in colors in background and the neon glow on the ceiling.

Worked on furniture trying to keep it simple.  Added cat, which helped to break up the diagonal line below the window, also made a great transition point between the floor and wall.  I liked how the tail echoed the arms of the chairs.  Yes, I think about stuff like this!  

Finished the flag, added a few indications of letters on the window and signs.  Painted the neon with the brightest colors I could find.  And Bada Bing, Bada Bang, it's done!

Dinner, by the way, was fantastic!