No. 404: Salt Springs Road

No. 404: Salt Springs Road, watercolor and ink, by Tom Wills, February 2018.

Trains make a lonesome sound. That's because they're so damned loud that they scare most everything else away.

These hammerheads are heading across the Salt Springs Road railroad bridge, just off of Interstate 680 on Youngstown's West Side. They were photographed in February 2018 by my neighbor and work colleague, journalist Joe Gorman, who is unafraid of noise and bad weather.
I had been looking for something else to paint, and got his blessing to interpret his photograph in watercolors and ink.

Joe Gorman's photo, and the first wash of watercolors.

Actually these are General Electric AC4400CW diesel locomotives, among the most powerful in the world, built between 1995 and 2004.  Union Pacific had the most at 1,338 followed by CSX Transportation at 615.  This particular bridge over the Mahoning River is a CSX rail line.

India ink on the bridge, roughing in the locomotives and fog.

The painting is rather bleak because February is itself yucky. There was fog over the water, the sky was overcast and all of the water plants along the banks had gone dormant for the winter.  The big challenge with this piece was to recreate that fog over the flowing Mahoning River.
It's alive in the middle but dormant all around.

Before the final details and highlights.

As to why two locomotives from the western United States would be on another railroad's bridge in Ohio in February, there are a couple theories: They could be on loan because CSX and Union Pacific share similar power plants, and CSX may be changing its fleet.
Or, they simply could be in between places, having hauled freight here and awaiting their ticket to ride back home.

This painting is available for $220. Contact willstom01@gmail.com

No. 402: Marilyn Karalyn

No. 402, Marilyn Karalyn, February 2018. SOLD

Here we go again. My second round with Marilyn Monroe, who seemed to favor blacks and whites -- so she's a natural for the graphites and pencils.

I am not the Marilyn obsessive, but my oldest daughter Kara Lyn definitely is. And that's why there are now two Norma Jean drawings.

No. 359, Marilyn's Big Brim, February 2017. SOLD

The first, No. 359 -- ironically from exactly a year ago today -- changed hands a few times. Kara wanted it, she got it.  A cousin wanted it, Kara sold it.  Cousin loved it but gifted it.  Recipient loved it.
But Kara had an empty spot on her wall, and maybe a little regret.  And I may have been a little upset.

So she wanted another one.
Who's she gonna call?
Right.

This one had to have a bitchier look, tighter clothes, more sass.
I set about her on  Friday night, after the worst day I'd had in years, and rounded her off on Saturday night after a fourth-of-a-bottle of Dewars.*  I was conveying the bitchiness.
I ground down three pencils to nubs with all of that black.

I call this one "Marilyn Karalyn." Because it rhymes.
And because I'm a little baked.
And you can't buy her.
Kara already did.

*Thank you, Marie, wherever you are, for mixing them strong.

No. 401: Frankencrime (For a Quickie)

No. 401: "Frankencrime." Frank Sinatra by Tom Wills, February 2018. Pencil/graphite.

Estates are kind of particular when it comes to images of dead but lucrative stars. But they can't own a police mug shot.

This is a young Frank Sinatra, 11-27-38, staring into a flashbulb at the Bergen County Sheriff's office,  New Jersey. A lady said Frank -- not yet a star -- besmirched her reputation by climbing on for a quick ride. Twice.

 The FBI reported: "On the second and ninth days of November 1938 at the Borough of Lodi" and "under the promise of marriage" Sinatra "did then and there have sexual intercourse with the said complainant, who was then and there a single female of good repute." This, the charge stated, was "contrary and in violation of the revised statute of 1937."

At the time this was quite serious, and Frank took the rap until it came out that the woman was married and, well, you know, Frank had those damned blue eyes!

It's the eyes that make this picture, and for a while I was just going to draw young blue Frank and leave it there. But the jailhouse placard is so central to the image that I had to keep it. Oh young Frank, what was your little head thinking?

This drawing was started and completed in seven hours. Sometimes they happen easily. The eyes and the lettering took the most time.  The hair is a mess by design (because his hair is a mess in the mugshot).  I smeared the background with my palm to convey the essential grime of a county lockup.

But Frank was still cool. I don't think he even wrinkled his suit jacket.

This illustration is available. willstom01@gmail.com