Recreating scenes from famous paintings on layouts

[Dr. John]

There are a few model railroads out there with recreations of famous paintings incorporated into their layouts.

The late John Armstrong incorporated the late night diner scene from "Night Hawks" (?) I know it was "Night something . . ." This weekend I was thumbing through a back issue of MR and saw a 4x8 HO layout that was beautifully sceniced and had several vignettes from famous paintings. One was the somber husband and wife farmers from "American Gothic". He even incorporated the artist at his easel!

I may try this on my new layout. I've always admired the realism of Norman Rockwell's work. One painting I liked featured a traveling salesamn that pulled over by a creek to cool off. All you see of him is his smiling, bald head in the water and his clothes strewn on the bank. His car is parked on a stone bridge with a large sample case strapped to the back.

Are there any scenes from the art world you would incorporate? (Sorry, Elvis on black velvet doe not count! [;)] )

[Anonymous]

I've been thinking of finding one of O. Winston Link's photograhs and recreating the scene. Several were taken in the area where I live.

It would be neat to try and model one of the pictures, and then put a print of it on a nearby wall. I like the idea of putting the photographer in the picture, sort of a "capture the moment" diarama.

[cnw1995]

What? No Elvis? You're right - it was Night Hawks by Edward Hopper -see http://www.artic.edu/artaccess/AA_Modern/pages/MOD_7.shtml - there was an article in MR about how he did it. In fact, I may go over to the Art Institute after lunch to have a peek at it.

[FJ and G]

Dr. John,

I recall the somber wife/husband painting with pitchfork. I think it was used for Kelloggs Corn flakes for an ad at one time, but it may have been another product. And I recall that scene being duplicated on a scale (HO?) layout, with a painter sitting in front of the couple painting that scene.

I'm a van Gogh admirer. Would give my right ear for his mural for my backdrop.

[Anonymous]

The title of one of the pictiures you are talking about, "American Gothic". It is by Grant Woods. Interesting trivia, the model for the "wife" is Woods sister and the "farmer" is his Dentist.

I would like to se someone try some surrealism or Heronimous Bosch. A real challenge would be some Jackson Pollack action paintings.

[espeefoamer]

I would like to see a model of something by M.C.Escher(sp?).

[Dr. John]

I like Escher, but if I look at his work too long my brain starts to hurt!

[FJ and G]

Dr. John,

One other idea. I've spent a number of years in Asia and have always like the Chinese and Japanese brush paintings (minimalist-looking). One of these would be pretty sweet for a backdrop.

Another idea is one I proposed recently, using lighted poster. Recently, I visited the big mall in Pentagon City and noticed that there are some lighted billboards that have different scenes flash on.

This would allow one to have multiple backdrop designs.

[lionelsoni]

How about a helix based on this one:

http://www.cs.umd.edu/class/fall2002/cmsc838s/tichi/escher.JPG

[FJ and G]

Bob,

I've seen a spiral track based on an obviously fictional castle, complete with moat and drawbridge.

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Another idea:

This backdrop painting is more than 100 feet wide and has been placed over a swimming pool in Crystal City, Va.

[pbjwilson]

Maxfield Parrish did alot of illustrations - theres one very famous one "Daybreak" - anyway his use of color is something to study. Warm and cool colors and using complimetary colrs( blue/orange, yellow/purple, red/green). His illustrations have an illuminated look because of the sharp contrasting colors.



Found another good one

[pbjwilson]

Dali

[Dr. John]

I also like some of the old Art-Deco posters that the NYC and PRR used back in the 30s to advertise their big-time passenger trains - impressionistic paintings of streamlined trains traveling at high speed. Someone recreated one of these scenes in O gauge once. I saw it in the photo section of CTT a few years back. I'll have to find the issue.

[cnw1995]

I've seen some layout backdrops in magazines that look like monster caricatures of Lionel advertising and catalog images - Dr. John, I saw a Woodland Scenic's 'scene' on their website yesterday of a man taking a dip in a pond just like you were describing in that Rockwell poster - the man looks like more of a hobo than a salesman, but that could be easily fixed up.

[pbjwilson]

Always liked this one by the O. man. It would be great to recreate with a small tv or dvd player.

[pbjwilson]

http://www.cruisingoods.com/new/nothingbg.jpg

Found this surfin the web - an old John Deere ad. Like the lighting. could be a simple farm scene to model.

[ChiefEagles]

pb, ever been to the O. Winston Link Museum in Roanoke VA? Outstanding!!! A must see is the video in the theater. Anyone traveling up and down I 77 msut "hook over" and visit.

[Dr. John]

Paul, thanks for sharing the O. Winston and J. Deere pics. I like the lighting in the Deere ad too. It would be a challenge to model but very worthwhile.

[pbjwilson]

No Chief I have'nt been, but sounds great. Photography has always been an interest and O's work is outstanding.

Dr. J - That ad reminds me of an illuminated barn I had on an n gauge layout. the whole barn "glowed" when it was lit. Not very realistic but it had an interesting quality to it.

[FJ and G]

Great ideas, guys,

I ate for the first time at a seafood restaurant that I've never heard of before called "Fish Bone."

On the way was a huge mural of a tropical looking place made out of 3-dimensional brass. Islands, trees, and clouds protruded from the scene and were backlit with tube lights.

Sorry didn't get a picture but the place was crowded and it would have been awkward pointing the camera towards the people sitting there.

But the effect was really stunning. I may give it a try later on.

The waitress told me that Fish Bone is an East Coast chain and that the decor is similar.

[pbjwilson]

Dave looks like your backdrop

[cnw1995]

I went over to the Art Institute today to check out the Nighthawks painting and I found another hung right next to it - Dawn in Pennsylvania which looks like a toy train layout, complete with flats. See what I'm talking about at: http://www.terraamericanart.org/collections/code/emuseum.asp?newaction=advsearch&rawsearch=id/,/is/,/40/,/false/,/false&newstyle=single

This made me more curious about his style - so I also found another layout inspirer... Approaching the City - see http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/PD--10044384/Approaching_a_City_1946.htm?sOrig=CRT&sOrigId=50&ui=9E905F79BF1547DBB7F943874DE2B74D

and House by the Railroad: http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/PD--10041454/House_by_the_Railroad_1925.htm?sOrig=CRT&sOrigId=50&ui=9E905F79BF1547DBB7F943874DE2B74D

[pbjwilson]

Doug,
Great stuff! Especially like the "Approaching the City".

And is that the Norman Bates house!?

[cnw1995]

It sure looks like it, Paul. Just for fun, I looked up in the Walthers online catalog and found a kit that looks just like it - so between that painting and the Pennsy one, the artistic connections go on and on...

[Anonymous]

The "House by the Railroad" is in the collection of the Whitney American Art Museum in NYC. They have a nice room of Hopper paintings on the top floor. Including some others with a railroad theme(one of a switchhouse). Yes the answer to the "Bates" thing that painting is often recognized to be an inspiration to the design of Hitchcocks Psycho House.

[BigJim]

Chief,
I'm glad you liked the O.W.L. Museum. Those folks did an outstanding job. I'm so glad Roanoke finally did sopmething right. But for those that don't know, the OWLM is located a short drive down I-581off of I-81. It's a lot farther (approx. 80mi.) to I-77.

[FJ and G]

Doug,

That House by the Railroad Tracks is great. Reminds me of that book about the House of the 7 gables, written by the dude that wrote Scarlet Letters. He's a buddy of Melville. Just can't recall his name.

[FJ and G]

oh, think it may be Nathaniel Hawthorne

[pbjwilson]

Here's my favorite. Actually had a framed print of this hanging over my bed when I was a kid.

[pbjwilson]

The Canadian Pacific did some great advertising posters. Here's one whos background could inspire. The mountain is depicted in just a few colors - "posterized". A great technique for model railroad backdrops.