The locals said it was beautiful, but warned us not to go a block past the uncovered part because it gets kind of sketchy.  After walking up and down the street three times we decided on a view focused on the legendary El Cortez Hotel & Casino.  It is precariously located two blocks passed the covered portion right on the edge of town.   A peaceful Saturday morning on the streets, but this tranquility did not last for long.

We set up our easels across the street from the El Cortez.  The security crew came out to ask us the normal questions.  Their presence was appreciated on this one.  We quickly saw why locals warned us.  After eleven o’clock the characters began to emerge from the shadows.  Unpredictability hung in the air.   While I painted I had several impromptu Las Vegas history lessons involving The El Cortez.  While i’m sure they weren’t as thorough and accurate as wikipedia, they were a lot more entertaining and peppered with personal accounts.

To set the scene on day 1:  It was hot and dry.  We had a cooler of ice.  A street festival was starting a block away featuring a concert with the Kottonmouth Kings and Everlast.  The line to get into the stage area took place behind us for about 45 minutes during the middle of the day.  We watched many malt liquor drinks infused with caffeine get consumed.  A general festive energy was in the air.  The passersby were some of the most colorful people I have ever met.  From our position the music was three hours of noise.

This is the birth of the El Cortez Hotel, 600 Fremont Street painting…

While checking my phone in the morning before leaving for Fremont I came across this photo of Prince from his concert the night before in Los Angeles.  It reminded me of my studio in NYC where I have the Purple Rain record hanging on the wall.

On location and laying a primary red to anchor the composition towards the bottom of the canvas.

Realizing just how complicated the composition is I decide to lay down a quick proportional sketch.  The El Cortez view beat out the Golden Nugget and a view with a giant neon martini glass.

Time to rock and roll with some more primary colors.

Filling up the sky and adding a dash of one of my favorite colors, pink.

I’m liking the way the Silver Slipper looms overhead in the composition, balanced by a more dainty bikini clad woman neon sign on the left side.

An action shot of me in front of Mamita’s.  I’m in the zone listening to a live stream of a Flyers playoff game.  I started yelling and jumping around during big moments.  I managed to startle some of the regular loiterers.  I explained to them that everything was cool and I was just listening to a playoff game.  Who knew my second Vegas initiation would be inspired by the Flyers.

Adding some of the features of the ranch-themed facade and starting to add some of the letters on the marquee.

Adding the pole on the left side.  By this time, we had spent most of the day getting to know the locals who seemed to love art and artist’s.  Shout out to all the lovers on Fremont Street.

More signage as I cover the entire canvas.  The painting is starting to have a life of its own now.  A paintings life source helps guide me to know when a painting is finished.

Towards the end of the day a security guard was surprised that we were still out there.  We asked “Why, because of the heat?” he replied, “No, because the locals haven’t taken your stuff.”

A parting shot with the lights on.  What a crazy day on location!

Evening festivities were highlighted by Borbay winning big on the slots.

A few minutes later the machine is still counting up his winnings.

Everyone passed out, but I needed a haircut.  So after a slice of pizza I went to work.

To set the scene on day 2:  It was hot and dry.  We had a cooler of ice.  It’s Easter Sunday and people were dressed to impress.  Mamita’s decided it would be a good idea to play the same 5 Santana songs from Supernatural on repeat for 6 hours.  This is what I imagine waterboarding to be like.  The active bike police were eager to see our paintings progress.  No crazy concert goers, but a lot of repeat visitors who were eager to be heard.  I will never forget the woman in the pink nightgown who came up close to the canvas and spoke in tongue.

On day two I started with the shoe.  When the lights turn on at night the shoe rotates.  Notice in the next picture the shoe has been redone in its current position.  An unforeseen difficulty of painting on location in a foreign place.

Working on the shadows of the facade and adding the palms to the second tree.

Painting action shot.  I had an extra sock and a pair of underwear I was using as a rag tied around my legs.  Two different girls stopped to compliment me on my outfit.  First girl approximately 18 years old, “Nice hat, nice glasses, nice look!…. you must be a real artist.”  Second girl approximately 25, “Man, you doing it, you rocking that gear. It’s like you don’t care what you look like, but you don’t care what people think, that’s hot!”

Burn shot, hence the leg gear.

Borbay in the zone blocking out the letters of his painting.

Lightening up the front of the building, getting that sandy color.  An elderly gentleman who was immaculately dressed in clothes from the 70′s walked by and said, “those paintings are good, and I should know, I’m a millionaire.”  So that’s the secret to being a good art critic.

There were some big fluffy clouds that I couldn’t pass up including as they drifted by.

Everything is coming into focus.  One stopped to tell me she was the last person to win a $50,000 slot jackpot at the Stardust.  She looked like she hadn’t left a casino since that night.

Some work on the signs adds that Las Vegas sparkle.

It was too windy to add the lightbulbs outside, so I snapped this pic as a visual reference.

And that wraps up one of the most memorable location paintings to date.  Now that I survived I can say it was a great experience hanging out on the streets of uncovered Fremont.  If you go there, make sure you walk past the covered portion and check out The El Cortez Hotel.  Great memories.  To relive the magic cross the street towards Mamita’s, buy yourself a cold one, and just hang out on the street for about twenty hours.

Below is Borbay’s eye catching El Cortez painting, follow this link for the full recap.

View my other Las Vegas paintings: 

Welcome To Las Vegas Sign

Welcome to Las Vegas, 24 x 24 inches, acrylic on canvas, 2011.

The Sahara Hotel & Casino

Broadway Bare: 2 Hot, Live Painting