The Grand Theater of Rocky Ford: Yesterday and Today

Oil on linen, 27″ x 54″, 2024, commission

This commissioned painting draws inspiration from the Grand Theater of Rocky Ford, Colorado. With a history dating back to the early 1900s, the theater closed in 1985 due to declining business. In 1990, the community united to restore it, reopening the theater as a community-owned facility. The painting depicts the theater and its surroundings in both the present day and the 1950s, highlighting the contrast and continuity between the two eras.

Compositionally, the painting is divided into two equal parts. The left side, in vibrant color, represents the present day, while the right side, in sepia tones, evokes the 1950s. The perspective is drawn from the second floor of a building across the street, inspired by a vintage photograph of the theater.

Here is a time-lapse video showing the painting process: Painting “The Grand Theater of Rocky Ford: Yesterday and Today”