Hydrant #57

This is the 4th in my ongoing series of everyday object paintings presented as pop art. Every day, on walks or while driving, we pass by numerous fire hydrants without giving them a second thought. For some reason, I decided I should try painting one and it proved far more difficult than I anticipated. I create all my art by first sketching out the image on canvas. I was pretty happy with the rendition I created and began the painting. But the chain proved to be far more complicated than my sketch indicated. There is a chain that hangs down from the center, an S-shaped hook that attaches to the hydrant and the two side chains that are hooked together in the center. Plus, individual shapes of the actual links vary in their curvature. I was bamboozled! It may not be perfect. But neither am I and the net effect is quite startling as this is a 3-foot by 4-foot painting and a fitting partner to my everyday objects series! And ask yourself, "Is this perhaps the first painting you've ever seen of a fire hydrant?" No? I thought so!