A bold watercolor portrait of the vintage sign at the Rapid River Motel, where glowing red panels and looping neon tubes evoke the optimism of mid-century roadside travel. The worn lettering and softened light capture a sense of pause along the highway, honoring the quiet nostalgia of small-town motels and the journeys that once passed through northern Michigan.
Original painting- 10" x 10" Arches Cold Press watercolor paper. Mixed media- watercolor, gouache, and pen.
Reproduction- 8" x 8" Premium Hot Press paper. Limited run of 100.
This piece received second place at the Hendricks Live Art Exhibition, Plainfield, Indiana on April 16, 2026 and won a Merit Award at the 38th Annual Juried Annual Art Exhibit at the Heartland Art Center, Plymouth, Indiana on October 30, 2026.
