This was Market Street in 1941 just prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. I created it with a single frame from a talented home movie cinematographer by the name of John H Summers and more than 140 photographs from the San Francisco Public Library and my home movies from a trip we took to California in 1957. It is not the way it actually was, but rather the way my mind's eye perceived and remembered it. The proportions in the painting are completely different than any image resource I used. I have often stated in lectures and demonstrations something I realized in 1984. That is the mind perfects what the eye sees. The most notable difference from any of my photo resources that I used is that the Ferry Terminal Tower is about two stories higher than in any of the resource photos I used. The painting is proportioned as if it were viewed through a telephoto lens. This gives the scene a friendlier more inviting quality than if it were seen through a wide angle lens. A wide angle lens will obscure detail and the reduces the detail the brain receives making it much more difficult for the viewer to orient himself and get a sense of place. What the observer sees in this painting is the image that would be remembered had he or she stood at the vantage point, walked away from the scene and thought back to that observed moment in time in the mind's eye. I accomplished this by doing a free hand sketch and drew it as I unraveled the elements of this immensely complex scene and saw it develop as a natural extension of my observations of all the various images I used of San Francisco's Market Street as it looked in 1941, right down to the movies playing at the theaters. For those of you who expressed an interest in seeing the completed painting, I hope it was worth the wait.
28 Comments
Gail Caduff-Nash 16 Mar 2012
I'm so impressed by your level of skill and PATIENCE! And in watercolor, not the easiest medium around. Fantastic to see a modern day artist do this kind of work. Thanks!Joanie Holliday 02 Aug 2011
What beautiful work you do Stanton.. I choose this one because as I looked through your portfolio, this one jumped out at me "because" I once had a dream and here is exactly were I was standing.. Da ja vo.. I was in San. Cal. once to visit my brother who was in dry docked in the Navy.. on the USS Ranger.. Joanie Hollidaypa fredrik 23 Mar 2009
good water colorClaire Wilson 23 Mar 2009
Your street scenes are absolutely brilliant, and specially the wording on the street signs - so precise and accurate...I know all too well how difficult that can truly be...brilliant work as always Stanton - I am one of your Biggest Fans!Anonymous Guest 24 Dec 2008
I lived in SF back in 1956-62 and it sure as heck remindes me of when I was there! Fantastic work!!!KC CHANG 07 Jun 2008
GREAT WORK!joan warburton 14 Dec 2007
The detail, scale and colors in your work are absolutely incredible. Thank you for your comments and just wanted to stop by to tell you that I think you're one of the most talented people up here!Deborah Ingram 01 Jul 2007
amazing!!! Very cool.. incredible talent for sure.Laurie Rawdon 04 Apr 2007
you are an incredible talent...this piece is remarkablebaljeet singh 02 Apr 2007
teach me sumthing pleaseLeigh Karchner 20 Mar 2007
I can't wait to see this piece when you have it completed and transferred as you described Stanton..... it's a very lovely piece of Americano history.Jerry 13 Mar 2007
Superb or most excellent!Anne Vis 13 Mar 2007
Stunning work, Stanton, another masterpiece!helen tyralik 13 Mar 2007
wonderful detail , lovely workMrs.David Jobes(Dee) Jobes 12 Mar 2007
Wow!!!This is amazing watercolor artistry!!!A Masterpiece of Fine Art!!!Brilliant art Stanton!!!Ruth Kauffman 12 Mar 2007
Stanton...you are a master at watercolor!! It's hard for me to even fathom that this could be done in watercolor!! It's brilliant work...totally amazing!!!linda duffy 12 Mar 2007
brilliant work stanton super job xxxxxxxxxxAnneke Hut 12 Mar 2007
Stanton, this is fantastic! What a great watercolour painting! I love the description too.bianca 12 Mar 2007
great job stanton....Reba McDonald 12 Mar 2007
An awesome masterpiece Stanton.Jean M. Laffitau 12 Mar 2007
For sure it was worth the wait!! You created a MASTERPIECE!!! Outstanding, inspiring and marvellous!! The details and the perspective make you feal like being there....breathtaking!!Kevin Lambeth 12 Mar 2007
Such detail, WOW!Julie Mayser 12 Mar 2007
A marvelous work! So many details and yet the edges are soft enough to avoid the "cut-out " look . You have done a tremendous lot of research on this painting.Kudos!Anthony Billings 12 Mar 2007
Amazing!Lucia Stewart 12 Mar 2007
Wow, excellent and stunning piece Stanton!bert cortes 12 Mar 2007
This is another masterpiece from the master, what I call real painting. Incredible! Happy to see your gorgeous paintings again. Stanton. Top 10.Emily Reed 12 Mar 2007
WHAT A WONDERFUL PAINTING, STANTON! MASTERFUL!Jarka Drechslerová 12 Mar 2007
Over and over... excellent work... I dont find words, only... my evegreen compliments!!