Next Window Please - The Northside Dairy Bar

​On the way out of Edwardsville, on the North side of town, there stands Northside Dairy Haven. I've called it Northside Dairy Bar since I was a a kid, and that's what my kids call it today. 

There, you can get a shake, a malt, a twisty cone, a burger, hotdog and fried thingies. Not at all spectacular, but every bit of local charm makes your experience there better than expected. ​This is a slice of the Americana landscape that is slowly disappearing, but lingers on because of the few that still believe. 

This painting, Northside Dairy Bar, pairs well with my painting, Litchfield in the genre of capturing the Midwest Americana experience that surrounds me. If you'd like to learn a little more about this place and what I get to see everyday, read more about it on the Sauce Magazine blog.

Northside Dairy Bar

$937.50

Northside Dairy Bar
oil on canvas
40 x 30 inches

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Trinity – a Triptych

The triptych comes from the Middle Ages and was the preferred painting format for Christian church alters. The title of this piece, Trinity, was purposeful, but probably subconsciously connected to my Catholic past. In culinary terms, the trinity refers mainly to three standard ingredients from a chef's mis en place - celery, carrots and onions (which gives me an idea for another triptych painting) generally used at the start of many dishes.

I simply chose the title Trinity for the power of threes – the knife-fork-spoon trio, the three canvas triptych, and the title of Trinity. While I agree that it could go way deeper than that, I'll leave that up to the art historians. What do you think?

Trinity sold to a collector in Wyoming in June of 2013.

Trinity Giclée Prints Triptych (set of three 13 x 19 inches)

$187.50

You are purchasing a set of three (3) signed Giclée prints of the painting Trinity by Steve Hartman.

Orders will print and ship in the order they are received. Expect delivery within 2-3 weeks of online purchase. 

It is printed on high quality, museum-grade, archival paper with archival inks that will last 200 years.

Each unframed print measured 13" x 19" with the image bordered by about 3" of white space.

Display together as intended, or separate. Prints are shipped unframed. 

Prints are personally signed and carefully shipped to you in a protective clear sleeve and sturdy mailer.

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Stagger Inn

​Stagger Inn
​oil on canvas
​30" x 30"
​

Stagger Inn is the fourth painting I created in 2013. It's the first of my images that represents one of my passions...food! This still life is a place setting at a little bar and grill in Edwardsville, IL, named, what else, Stagger Inn. "Stagger," as we locals call it, is a long-standing bar, more known for their bands and beers. May family knows it as one of our favorite Saturday afternoon lunchtime haunts.

For an Edwardsvillian, this painting is instantly recognizable by their blue tablecloths and flatware loaded mugs and re-filled Heinz ketchup (not catsup, that's in Collinsville). 

The paint is applied rather loosely and very thick. Not with a palette knife, but with the brush. Color is mixed loosely, as not to appear even. What I try to do, and not always successfully, is create mini abstractions of color and texture, if you were to look at a small detail area. Its been years since my painting courses, but I will never forget the lessons learned from Walter Sorge on the value of layering in applying paint. A painting should have thick areas, thin areas and should overlap and intertwine.  

​A detail of the straw in the lower right corner of Stagger Inn

I would say that the subject matter should tell one story, but the application and craft should convey another. I try to keep a playful attitude in both. 

This is also, the first painting of mine to sell from the 2013 Collection. First painting to sell, ever, actually. To view my other paintings for sale, visit my gallery shop.

- Steve

Stagger Inn Giclée Print

from $20.00

You are purchasing a signed Giclée print of the painting Stagger Inn by Steve Hartman. The original painting is no longer for sale, this is the only availability to purchase this image.

Orders will print and ship in the order they are received. Expect delivery within 2-3 weeks of online purchase. 

It is printed on high quality, museum-grade, archival paper with archival inks that will last 200 years.

This unframed print measured 12" x 12" 
The image measures 11" x 11" with a 1/2” inch border.

An 8” × 8” is available with a 1/2” white border and 7” x 7” image.

Print is personally signed and carefully shipped to you in a protective clear sleeve and sturdy mailer.

size:

Select size 12 x 12 8 x 8

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Litchfield

Litchfield is a painting of the back side of a favorite destination for our family in the summertime, The Skyview Drive-in movie theater in Litchfield, IL. 

Each summer, our family makes weekend treks north from Edwardsville to watch late-run family movies. The scene is out of the 50s with not much having changed, even the prices. What strikes me as interesting are the simple colors, shapes, patterns created by the white washed buildings and fences. In the background are the grain elevators, same as many others that dot the Illinois landscape. 

The white fences and screens not only present the movie being projected, but the colors of the sun and sky as it changes during the dusk hours. Many pinks and oranges against the blues of the sky and greens of the playground in front of the screen.​

Litchfield shows the blockaded entrance of a repetitive ​metal fence with the large movie screen escaping over the top of the fence. Its a simple site as you await your entrance into the throwback attraction. Can you hear the crunch of the gravel drive under the tires as you approach? Or, the sound of 50s era music broadcasting and children playing from over the fence. 

I usually paint things that move me one way or another. Color, shape, memory. Each motivate me to paint something. Litchfield has all three.​

Why did I start painting?

Over twenty years ago, in 1992, I graduated with a BA in Graphic Design from Eastern Illinois University. During those years studying art and design, I found graphic design a very fulfilling creative career opportunity. More of a career opportunity that would garner a full-time job over painting or other arts. However, I found that the painting courses I took interested me equally as much as my design courses - sometime even more. 

Graduating with a job waiting for me in St. Louis at Falk Harrison (The Falk Design Group), painting was about to take a back seat to my career. In the mid- to late-nineties, I dabbled in abstract watercolors that didn't amount much. I really dug deep into design, all the time thinking that someday I would dabble again. ​

In 2004, I joined the board of our local arts center, The Edwardsville Arts Center. Surrounded by amazing artists, was inspirational. But, nine more years of encouraging others to dabble in the arts while working a different career - I finally put my money where my mouth was. Maybe it was a new year's resolution, or maybe the spark finally struck, but I produced my first oil painting since those days at Eastern in January, 2013. 

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​Connor Ice Skating
​oil on canvas
​​30" x 30"

That first painting was an Instagram screen capture of my son ice skating at Steinberg Ice Rink in Forest Park. Two more, quick oils later, I was hooked. And, I'm so glad that I did.  

I gave myself a goal of 20 oil paintings this year. I should make it, but after I achieve that, my next milestone is to never stop painting. ​

I truly hope you enjoy my work. I'm having a wonderful time creating it.​

Steve