Farmers Cooperative

The Farmers Co-op is located in a Quonset hut structure on Wheeler Avenue and uses the blue buggies to transport fertilizer and seed. I was aware of this building because my former business partner used to pick up a buggy of fertilizer for his farm on the way home from work at our downtown office.

Barbershop

Hard to find, this small building houses a barber shop with no name and is nestled in between used car lots and lots of signage. The strong shadow cast by the roof on both the south wall and the ground caught my eye. I also like the positive-negative effect that the chain link fence has against the building in the background.

Budget Tire and Auto

The shadows cast by the curved roof overhang and the stacked tires drew my attention to this tire and repair shop located on Towson Avenue. I had made it a goal to learn to paint cars this year since I had shied away from painting them in the past, so that was also a factor in choosing this building as a subject.

Ed Walker’s Drive-In

Signs, signs, everywhere are signs! Located on Towson Avenue this restaurant is famous for French dipped sandwiches, a 5 pound hamburger, and curb service beer. I was drawn to all the signs proclaiming the Ed Walker name and the abundance of red. This was one in a series of paintings that I did that had this same bright red color in it.

O K Feed Mills

Wheeler Avenue on the west side of town is home to many industrial businesses like O K Feed Mills which need access to highways for truck access and railroads for rail cars. You can see the rail car access on the left side of the tower. With both the structures and the truck being either white or gray, red rail cars, orange traffic cones, and red tail lights really popped out at me in this one.

Juan’s Mexican Restaurant

Juan’s Mexican Restaurant located on Towson Avenue was one of the first Mexican Restaurants in Fort Smith. The iconic sign has survived the test of time when many other eye-catching signs for businesses such as motels and motor lodges along Highway 71B have disappeared.

Arkansas Seat Cover

Arkansas seat cover is one of many auto related repair shops located along Towson Avenue. While the building itself doesn’t stand out, the shadow pattern on the wall created by the roof overhang was very interesting. I also liked the red siding and red lettering on the signage.

See’s Seafood Market

The light blue and pink color scheme of See’s Seafood Market catches your eye as you drive past this small building located on Towson Avenue located between a storage facility and a church.

Immaculate Conception School

This clay tile roof and golden brick structure is an elementary school located in downtown Fort Smith. It would look just as appropriate in many Italian towns.

Immaculate Conception Church

Located at the head of Garrison Avenue in downtown Fort Smith, I had always painted this building from the south side due to the morning light. While attending an evening wedding during the summer I found the shadows and evening sun on the west facade to be quite striking.

Savoy Tea Room

Located at the corner of Garrison Avenue and North 10th Street, the now-closed tea room had the voyeuristic feel of a .Hopper painting at twilight. There used to be a long corridor on the other side of this space where you lined up to go into the old Malco Theater from the Garrison Avenue Entry.

Next Step Day Room / Sack Lunch Program

Served out of a Dutch door facing North B Street at the Next Step Day Room, the sack lunch program provides a free meal to homeless. So much red and the strong shadow cast by the awning made this irresistible to paint.

The Professional Building

A look down the alley between North 6th and North 7th Streets from R. Landry’s Restaurant. The building on the left had now been demolished. One of my favorite buildings downtown because of the limestone accents at the window heads.

First National Bank / First Federal Savings and Loan

The intersection of Garrison Avenue and 6th Street feels like the most urban corner in town. With First National Bank on one corner, the First Federal Savings and Loan Building on another, and the old Ward Hotel on the third corner, this corner feels like you are in a bigger city. I had my first passbook savings account at First Federal Savings and Loan back in the 1960’s when savings and loans were a thing. There also used to be a great happy hour in a bar called Rooster Cogburn’s on the first floor of the Ward Hotel back in the 1980’s. I think it was 3 for 1 on Thursday nights.

The Rib Room

The Rib Room is located at 5th and Garrison. The building is the old Continental Trailways Bus Terminal that became a realty office and then an Italian restaurant before becoming a the best place to get ribs downtown. There’s a nice fenced in patio where you see the umbrellas.

Roosters on the Avenue

A fixture on Garrison Avenue. Open until 5:00 AM. How can you not love a neon rooster playing a saxophone with sunglasses on?

Brunwick Place

The flatiron brick building on the right and Rolando’s Nuevo Latino Restaurante on the left frame a view of the original Central Presbyterian Church. The building now houses Covenant Presbyterian Church.

The Unexpected

The Unexpected Project is held every year in Fort Smith and brings international artists to town to create public art. Bryan Alexis, professor of Art at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith has created several murals with his students to contribute to the project. This is a sketch of Bryan working on the Gutenberg Mural at Weldon Williams and Lick.

Midtown Apartments and R&R Curry Express

The Old St. Edward Hospital was replaced in the 1970’s and was converted to apartments. The large brown brick structure forms the back drop for the Finish Line Convenience Store which is home to R&R Curry Express, the only Indian restaurant in the City

Pho Vietnam Restaurant

Pho Vietnam Restaurant is located in a repurposed gas station. The original gas pump canopy remains in front and the restaurant accepts only cash - no credit cards. My wife’s favorite place in town to eat.