Monday, March 10, 2014

Lesters Car - Ellison Bay Pontiac


The painting above was done for the Door County Plein Air Festival last summer. The car is an old Pontiac, that is missing the front bumper. The property is undergoing a restoration, but the building to the right of the car (that is being held up by stilts) will have to be tore down.

George Bentley, the owner of the car, shared some history. He wrote:

This is "Les Tour", Lester Bentley's car that was purchased new.  The car would carry a full size portrait frame from New York to CT through its pillarless window system. They would sit inside the frame while it rested on the window doorframes back to the studio where Les painted President Eisenhower at the pinnacle of his career. It will move into the grainery threshing floor to begin restoration this winter. Thanks for painting it!
                 -George Bentley.

Here is the portrait of Eisenhower, painted when Bentley was 44 at his studio in Connecticut.




2 comments:

Cheryl Stidwell Parker said...

Love this painting, of Georges car, and also learning a little more about Robert Bently history, kyle, your work is so very good, I will look at my calendar and your workshop schedule.

Kyle Martin said...

Thanks Cheryl, Let me know if you have any questions.
Kyle