Peggy, a local gallery owner and artist, told me about an old diner in Buellton that I needed to check out... so I ventured down the road to look for it. A couple of miles from the busy intersection of Hwy 101 and Rt. 246, there it stood. It sits along the old highway 101 (now just a simple two lane road) facing out to the new freeway. It's weathered facade all wrapped in plywood and fencing -- the owner is looking for a buyer to move it to a new destination.
I loved it's quirky proportions and great vintage signage with peeling paint and broken neon tubing.
The cheery red roofs of the dining cars with curved glass window fronts were covered in various pieces of lace and sheets to obscure the interior. They are actual dining rail cars with a roof overhead and a center structure joining them. What a great re-use for old rail cars. This must have been one happening place!
As I sketched and painted I thought about all the motorists who had pulled off the road from their travels to sit and dine. How welcoming this place must have looked to them. All the people who went through those doors and found chicken dinners and breakfast being served. No munching on fast food on your lap behind the wheel!
I went back the next day and did another painting of it with morning sunlight washing over the front of the diner.
Now, forgotten and boarded up, it sits facing the new freeway (that was its demise) with no opportunity for motorists to pull off and have a bite to eat. I hope it finds a new home... and can, once again, serve chicken dinners.
1 comment:
This old diner not in use any more and forgotten... comes to life once again in this piece. I love all the colors, shapes & line work you used here. Great piece.
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