What Drew Me to Neon Americana (and Why I Kept Going)

An introduction to the Neon Americana collection

Doc Tavern - Neon Americana collection - watercolor on paper by Sheryl Brake

Neon Americana: Where This Collection Began

One of the first paintings in what eventually became my Neon Americana collection was Doc Tavern.

It’s in Glenwood Springs, which is my hometown, so it wasn’t something I had to go looking for. It was just therefamiliar, a little worn, easy to pass without really studying it. But once I stopped to pay attention, I realized how much was actually happening on the surface.

The peeling paint. The way the light hit the sign. The shadows shifting across it throughout the day. None of it was dramatic on its own, but together it held more than I expected.

That painting ended up setting the direction for everything that followed in this collection.

What Draws Me to These Subjects

From Landscape to Realism and Nostalgia

Originally, I thought I would be painting landscapes.

But as my work developed, I found myself drawn toward something more specific - realism, yes, but especially subjects that carried a sense of history and familiarity. Rather than grand scenes, I became more interested in smaller, often overlooked places and objects that had been around long enough to show their age.

Neon signs became a natural extension of that focus.

Explore the Neon Americana Collection → 

Why Detail Matters

What keeps me coming back to these subjects is the level of detail they hold.

There’s a lot to observe if you slow down: layers of paint, small imperfections, reflections, the way sunlight or shadow moves across a surface. These are the kinds of things that can easily go unnoticed in real life. But when they’re brought into a painting, people tend to stop and spend more time with them.

That’s been one of the most consistent responses I’ve seen.

People get close to the work. They notice the texture, the edges, and the subtle shifts in color and light. Details like peeling paint or sun-cast shadows—things that might have been missed entirely—become the reason they pause.

That matters to me, because it means the painting is doing more than representing a subject. It’s helping someone see it more clearly than they might have otherwise.

This interest in detail and quiet history isn’t limited to Neon Americana—it’s something that has shown up in other bodies of work as well, including the Cabled History collection.

Detail from Last Light at the Rustic Resort

What Neon Adds to the Work

Neon itself adds another layer to that experience.

It’s not just a bright element—it interacts with everything around it. It highlights wear instead of hiding it. It creates contrast. It draws your eye in but also directs you to the quieter parts of the piece.

From a painting perspective, that balance between precision and atmosphere is what keeps it interesting.

How the Work Lives Beyond the Studio

The Places These Signs Belong To

As this collection has grown, I’ve realized that it’s less about neon in isolation and more about the kinds of places it belongs to.

There’s a sense of longevity in these subjects - even when that continuity is fragile. Some of these signs are still attached to active places, while others are closer to being the last visible trace of something that once stood behind them.

That contrast has become part of what draws me in.

Even when the surroundings change - or disappear entirely - there can still be something left that holds the memory of it. Not in an obvious or sentimental way, but in a quieter, more matter-of-fact sense.

That idea - of something continuing to show up, even after everything around it has shifted - is something I find myself returning to.

How the Work Lives in a Space

When these paintings move into someone’s home or space, they tend to settle in rather than stand out in a loud way. One example from the collection is Ole's Big Game Bar.

They hold attention, but they don’t demand it. They give people something to come back to—something they can keep noticing over time, not just at first glance.

That’s ultimately what I’m aiming for in this work. Not just accuracy, but depth of observation. Something that rewards a second look.

This collection started with one familiar place that I finally slowed down enough to really see.

And it’s continued as I’ve kept following that same instinct - paying attention to what’s already there and finding the value in the details.

I’ll be sharing more from Neon Americana soon, including a closer look at individual pieces and what drew me to each one.

Explore the Neon Americana Collection →