The Giclees are made by Cloudwatchers of Phoenix Arizona, using the finest materials available to ensure lasting fidelity for your art investment. Cloudwatchers’ printmaking method uses brilliantly color, stable, UV-resistant inks, and archival, high quality, Arches watercolor paper, and coatings. The Giclees are carefully mastered from the original using the finest equipment and methods available in a collaborative effort between the artist and Cloudwatchers. The master, production techniques, proof, and this print were approved by the artist with her signature affixed to signify approval of this Giclee. The image on the master constitutes a high resolution, high fidelity color digital scan of the first image produced on a different medium, namely a watercolor created as an original work of art. Each Giclee Print is guaranteed to perfectly match the original art as possible.
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Freehand Fireworks

Twilight Iris

Evening Water Tulip

One O’Clock Jump

First Sigh of Spring

Morning Hello

Skylight Iris

Pots and Jars

Army Dock

Cat Woman

This special offer print is to remember Eddie’s/Garst’s Drive-in that gave us great food and service for decades at 20% off. It looks as though the owners are selling out and the drive-in will be demolished. Rise Up! Sedalia!
The printed image is approximately 11 inches high by 15 inches wide. This print Giclee is made by Cloudwatchers of Phoenix, Arizona using the finest materials available to ensure lasting fidelity for your art investment. Cloudwatchers’ printmaking method uses brilliant, color stable UV-resistant inks, and archival, high quality Arches watercolor paper, and coatings. The Giclees are carefully mastered from the original using the finest equipment and methods available in a collaborative effort between the artist and Cloudwatchers. Each print is hand signed by Shirley and is accompanied with a signed and sealed Certificate of Authenticity.

In 1932, Jesse D. Garst died in Sedalia, at the age of 50. My Grandfather Benjamin Roy Klein died in 1939 at 614 ½ S. Ohio at the age of 60. Times in Sedalia were very tough. Men with no jobs depended on their women and families to make money. These women were pioneer girls, learning how to cook, clean, and sew from an early age. Jesse Garst had married Fannie Winstead; Benjamin Roy Klein had married Mora Williams. Both women were self-sufficient, and most probably friends living only two blocks apart. Mora Klein owned and operated the ‘Klein Helpie Selfie Laundry’ out of the basement of 614 South Ohio.

After Jesse died, Fannie went to Illinois to help run her sisters’ root beer stand, cooking and baking pies for the patrons. They served steak burgers, soft drinks, and malts to the delight of everyone. The drive-in service was unique and cutting edge for this hip age. Although the Winstead family had originally lived in Smithton, as did Benjamin Roy, Fannie wanted to return to Missouri. They decide to come Sedalia and purchase a prime block in Sedalia at the southwest corner of Broadway and Ohio Streets. In the summer of 1937, my father, Benjamin Eads Klein, aged 19, and his sister, Joyce, aged 16, applied for a job at the new drive-in just two blocks from their apartment. No doubt, Grandman Klein was very protective of where her children worked and watched over them. Grandma must have been reassured by Fannie’s leadership to let them work at the drive-in. I have no idea how long my father and aunt worked there, but they had a great time.

Fast forward, Fannie past away on 1947, so her daughters, son, and long time employee decided to run the restaurant. Three families were supported by the drive-in that was open early and late with three shifts. Eddie Boysel, bought the drive-in and ran it until his death in 1989. George Goetz, who worked there as a teenager, was the manager. He tried closing the place this last of September, citing low customers and retirement. That totally backfired, as everyone called and flocked to the drive-in in total remorse! How could you do this??!! George had the drive-in open and flipping burgers! Go George. Unfortunately, the business was shut down and everything was sold. The drive-in is closed and only the memories are left. It looks as though the drive-in will be bulldozed, as the current owners are going to sell out. I wish the drive-in was on the national register of historic places. I do not want to see our wonderful hamburger and malt shops become a pile of rubble. Rise Up Everyone! Rise Up Sedalia!

Just a brief bio of the painting, just in case you are interested. While I was taking photos of the family apartments, I took photos of Eddie’s Drive-in before they took out the old counter service and stools. I had lived during all my years in Sedalia at the drive-in, waiting in line in front of the grill for the best made-to-order burger, BS or Before Sonic! to put onto my mouth. Remembering my dad and aunt, I loved the burger and experience. There was nothing like it anywhere, even today.

The original watercolor was painted on a stretched 15” by 22” half-sheet of Arches hot pressed watercolor paper with Winsor Newton pigments and Kolinsky sable brushes. It was completed in 1986.

The first exhibition the painting was accepted into was “The San Diego Watercolor Society International Exhibition,” Grossmont College Art Gallery, El Cajon, California, September 2-29, 1986, Jury of Selection: William D. Gorman and Katherine Chang Lu; Juror of Awards: Joan Irving Brandt. In its second exhibition, the painting won “The John Elliott Award” at “The National Arts Club 87th Open Exhibition,” New York, NY, November 14-30, 1986. Jury of Selection: Alan Stine, Carolyn Brady, and Ranulph Bye. Jury of Awards: Kathleen Zimmerman, Janet Walsh, and Ed Brennan.The third exhibition was in the “Arizona Artists’ Guild Spring Membership Juried Exhibition,” Valley Bank Center, Phoenix, Arizona, April 26-May2, 1987. Jurors: Stephen Delair and Jason Williamson.The fourth exhibition was “The Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s 9th Juried Exhibition,” Port of History Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 1-October 1, 1987. Juror of Selection: Don Andrews. Juror of Awards: Michael Rocco. The painting’s last exhibition was “The Arizona Watercolor Association’s Spring Show,” Shemer Art Center, Phoenix, Arizona, May 1-21,1988. Juror: Gerald Brommer. The painting was unfortunately purchased and left the state, I think.

This prompted me to look at my whole career in watercolor. Here’s what I found in “The Best of Show.”

1990 “13th Annual Non-Member Salmagundi Art Exhibition”
The Salmagundi Club, New York City, NY
May 7-18, 1990
Jury: A. Jon Prusmack, VP, Harriet Alter, Fran Dudine, Lorraine Grace,
Diana Willis, Carol Brody, Dorothy R. Myers
“The Thomas Moran Memorial Award for a Watercolor,”
their top award for watercolor, “Pots and Jars”

Since we are talking only watercolor here, I thought this would show would apply since this was only top award given in the watercolor category, as there was no Best of Show.

1990 “15th Annual Exhibition of the Western Federation of
Watercolor Societies”
East County Performing Arts Center, El Cajon, California
November 1- December 2, 1990
Juror of Selection: Rolland Golden
Juror of Awards: Sylvia Glass
Best Of Show, “Pots and Jars”
This clinched that this was a great painting!

Julies Friedman Gallery – Louisville, Kentucky
1995 “Kentucky Watercolor Society’s Annual National Exhibition”
October 6- November 18, 1995
Juror of Selection and Awards: Marilyn Hughey Phillis
Best of Show: National City Bank Award
“Breathless Reds and Phantom Blues”

1995 “Arizona Watercolor Association, 1995 Fall Exhibition”
Glendale Municipal Gallery – Glendale, Arizona
November 5-17, 1995
Juror of Selection and Awards: Marilyn Hughey Phillis
Best of Show, “The Mysterious Red Roach Motel”

2012 “Spring 2012 AWA Membership Exhibition”
Burton Barr Library, Phoenix, Arizona
April 2-28, 2012
Juror: Kim Johnson
Best of Show, “Electric Blue Vibrations”

Getting into a show is great, but Best of Show is “The Best!” You never know what a juror has on their mind, but always give it your best shot. Even if it is not accepted into one show, your painting can always win big in another!

Like most of my experimental watercolor, I challenged myself to simplify a complex arrangement of flowers and leaves. The watercolor is a stylized orchid tree using outline and powdered mother-of-pearl in the application. There was just no way to put in each leaf and petal to make this an interesting piece. I concentrated on whole areas as one and subdivided the areas with line work. The background shows how you can use controlled washes with back runs to make the composition exciting. It was difficult to work with the mother-of-pearl as the powder wouldn’t always set smoothly. It was like trying to make a four year old do exactly as she was told to do! There is a lot of rebellion here in this diagonally placed composition, yet it is successful. Come on over to the library on April 19 for the reception and awards!

Steve enjoys a beer on the beach!

You can even rent a pool at the beach!

You can even buy sunglasses!