Lincoln Highway mural number 5 . . . Genoa, IL

[Jay Allen]

Not much to add . . . this one speaks to the Good Roads Movement . . . and this guy had his own rogue idea of how to smooth a road . . .!!

Slideshow:

http://s442.photobucket.com/albums/qq14 ... =slideshow



Closeup:



Next up . . . Dixon, IL - the birthplace of Ronald Reagan . . .

[Robare M. Novou]

Excellent Work Bill and Jay!

Love the matte and gloss combinations on the boarder work.

[Mark Summers]

Very interesting Jay and Bill. A black and white against a sepia tone.
Can't say that I have ever seen that before. This really is a treat
seeing all the 'old timey' pictorials.

Mark

[Jay Allen]

Mark,

Brent Logan asked Bill a question about mixing his greys on one of these murals we're doing - and the answer Bill sent to Brent explains a lot about his thoughts on colors - and your comment on B/W over a sepia tone might be best addressed by reading Bill's thoughts:

*************
Jay mentioned that you had some questions on the mixing of greys and if I am using drier in my base mix.

I am using drier in my base mix which has not changed for about 30 years. That mix, if you recall is equal parts of linseed oil and Smith's Cream, a teaspoon of drier per quart of above mix and thin with mineral spirts to desired thickness. I personally like the base to go on a bit heavier than a commercial stain.

The grey colors that you heve been seeing on this project are all over the place. The grey colors and values on the Genoa mural carry a greenish cast in the foreground to compliment the reddish tones of the background. I am using left over paint from the previous mural to create the grey colors for the next one. As Mark Baty taught, the most pleasing grey colors come from complimentary colors. None of the murals to date have used black and white as the main ingredients. Some have used Untramarine Blue, Burnt Umber and white. If you want a warmer grey, add more Burnt Umber than blue. The sepia tones on the Cortland mural consisted of Burnt Umber, white and Raw Sienna added to the two lightest values. As you know, anything a painter creates that needs to have a feeling of depth, a combination of warm and cool colors needs to be interchanged with one another.
***************

Hope this helps . . .!!

[erik winkler]

No Van Dyck Brown? Bob Ross eat your heart out!

Jay and Bill it looks great, the details in them a looking terrific.

Erik

[Mark Summers]

I'm curious Bill. I thought I heard Jay say you were using Dana
Colors but your reference to colors are with the artist colors
i.e. ultramarine blue, burnt umber etc. I guess I thought the
Dana Colors were in the graphic mode i.e bright red, dark green,
etc. Maybe you just mix your colors to a burnt umber and other
artist colors?

Mark

[Mike Jackson]

Hi Jay,
Thanks for taking the time to post all the photos and keeping us informed on the progress of the project. Everything looks great, of course. Kudos to you and everyone helping on the project!

You may have said earlier, but how far West do the murals go? All in Illinois? The Lincoln Highway runs across the southern portion of Wyoming. I love taking my time off the main highway to go down some of the remaining stretches. I'd also like to follow it West out of Salt Lake and into California someday.

When I lived in Oklahoma City, I liked to do the same thing with historic Route 66 that ran through the middle of the state.

I look forward to additional panels.

Mike Jackson

[Jay Allen]

Mark . . . Bill is using 3 different types of pictorial oils . . . yes, the Danacolor - but also Chromatic's and Classic . . .

Perhaps Danacolors only makes those now . . . Bill bought up all the pictorial oils he could long ago figuring he'd never run out . . .

Unfortunately he didn't see this project coming . . .!!

Mike . . . you're welcome. It takes a lot to keep everyone updated - but it seems like a project many could learn from.

In answer to your question, yep, they are only in Illinois - from the Indiana border to the Mississippi River . . . in 40 different towns. Yesterday we put up Joliet's mural (yes, THAT Joliet - as in the Blue Brother's)

Here's Eddie Weiber's new article (with a brief history) that will be in next month's SignBusiness:
http://sdgmag.com/news/historic-murals-lincoln-highway

We cross (and even run congruent with) Rte. 66 near Plainfield, IL - and intersect with the Dixie Highway in Chicago Heights, IL . . . this state got its Federal Scenic Byways status in the last 10 years (1/2 the source of this grant) - and those intersections were part of the lynchpin of that approval. We're truly here in the 'middle' of the country - first place south of the Great Lakes to go due west . . . so it isn't a surprise that other roads came through this state.

The LH ran from 42nd Street in NYC - all the way to San Francisco . . . and they say it was 'paved with ink' since it was mostly 'hype' and the reality of the 'road' really being just connected dirt paths in the more rural areas.

I just know I'm destined to be a Lincoln Highway Historian geek when this is all done . . . speaking to lunch groups of the DAR, etc. when I'm ancient and my earlobes start hanging to my shoulders . . . I am learning how transportation truly made this country grow . . . maybe the single greatest source of that growth since it connected communities and small businesses . . .

It's an honor to work on it . . . and I still feel like I'm riding Bill's coattails. He's making my designs look even better with such amazing quality in his pictorials. Poor me . . .

[Kent Smith]

Smartly done as always. Maybe the idea will catch on across the whole route. About 30 years ago, I restored a wall sign and added Historic Lincoln Highway data on the wall in Cheyenne, no idea where my photo might be. That one was funded by the Union Pacific Railroad as it advertised their original Overland Route. They later raised that building and the preservation group was not interested in doing anything further.

[Tony Segale]

Jay and Bill,

thanks for posting every image...
the continued education is appreciated.