Recreating scenes from famous paintings on layouts

[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.

[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.

[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! [;)] )