Sadie and Herb – True Fans. The newest addition to my Women’s Series : Social Observation and Commentary

The Nighthawk restaurant known as the Frisco Shop has long been a part of my life, beginning when I was a freshman at UT.  At that time, there was a Nighthawk location on Guadalupe at 20th, which was the one I frequented.  Their hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate shavings got me through many a cold night.  My all-time favorite meal there was a chicken salad stuffed tomato.  Through the years, they've remained in my top ten as their locations grew, moved and then began closing.  Today the only one that's still open is the Frisco Shop on Burnet Road, which moved from its original location at Burnet Rd and Koenig about three years ago.  While they have expanded their selections, the old familiar menu items remain.  Their expansion allows larger groups and families to dine there.  Anyone for a 'Down South'...?

Nighthawk's Frisco Shop is literally a sea of burnt orange on game day.  People have been going there for fifty years or more, which is visually apparent as you observe the regular clientele.  Many of these 'old-timers' wouldn't hear of attending a UT football game without lunch at the Frisco first.  One couple in particular, whom I named 'Sadie and Herb', stood out by their devotion to one another and the spirit they radiated.  On the day that is depicted here, I was intently observing them...certainly not to be rude, but simply because I found them charming and fascinating.  I left the restaurant at about the same time they did, and when 'Herb' realized that I was watching them, he lifted his hand in the 'Hook 'em Horns' salute.  The spontaneity and openness of the gesture really touched my heart.  He was making an effort to connect with a total stranger...a simple gesture that spans the generations and shares common experiences, in this case around years spent at UT and what it means to be a part of 'The Eyes of Texas' tradition.

I felt totally compelled to capture this on paper, so I took my reference photos of the signs of this iconic Austin landmark, and set to work, keeping it simple.  I wanted the spirit of this couple, as well as that of the place, to be represented succinctly by 'Sadie and Herb' and the neons.  I did a drawing from memory in my little sketchbook of the couple, and later checked it for accuracy when I saw them there again.

...and here's the first sketch on Arches CP 300-lb watercolor paper...

I began by applying the burnt orange of his cap, shorts, the burger bun and the restaurant wall, then adding the green of the grass and the lettuce of the sign.  Lastly, I added the lettering on the marquee.  As you can see from the message, the Frisco Shop has stayed up with the times...

The shadow play of the neon signs was very interesting to me, as well as being an integral part of their design.  I worked hard to capture the essence of the moving image.



I let it dry, basically for a week, then added the roof and the blue sky...

'Sadie' came to life with my last painting session, along with more details such as shoes, socks, shades, shadows on the facia board, and I more clearly defined the base of the free-standing sign.  To finish, I 'grounded' them with a patch of asphalt.

May I present to you Sadie and Herb – True Fans...

Some might wonder why I would choose to depict this wonderful couple in an almost cartoon-like manner.  It's certainly not done with any lack of respect.  The style allows more leeway for my own 'editorial' expression than something done more 'realistically'.  A 'photographic' result would not allow me to convey what I see as the ageless lighthearted spirit that radiates from these two.