Original 16 x 20 Oil Painting
Signed Certificate of Authenticity
Ready to hang
Painted April 2021
I’ve always been inspired by this view of downtown La Crosse. In 2021, the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman was undergoing renovation, and I felt the urge to mark the occasion. Buildings change. Streets change. Sometimes it’s worth painting the scaffolding too.
The cathedral is built of limestone, was designed by architect Edward J. Schulte, and was completed in 1962. In this view, the tower sits down the street between the older downtown buildings, with the renovation work clearly visible around it.
I liked the contrast between the pale stone of the cathedral and all the warmer reds and oranges of the brick buildings around it. The street is busy with cars, signs, storefronts and traffic lights, while the big blue sky opens everything up above. I kept the brushwork loose and direct rather than trying to turn downtown La Crosse into an architectural diagram.
For me, that’s the appeal of the scene. The cathedral is the landmark, but the city around it is doing what cities do — moving, changing and getting on with things.
Want a print instead? You can find prints of this piece here: The Renovation of the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman.
Original 16 x 20 Oil Painting
Signed Certificate of Authenticity
Ready to hang
Painted April 2021
I’ve always been inspired by this view of downtown La Crosse. In 2021, the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman was undergoing renovation, and I felt the urge to mark the occasion. Buildings change. Streets change. Sometimes it’s worth painting the scaffolding too.
The cathedral is built of limestone, was designed by architect Edward J. Schulte, and was completed in 1962. In this view, the tower sits down the street between the older downtown buildings, with the renovation work clearly visible around it.
I liked the contrast between the pale stone of the cathedral and all the warmer reds and oranges of the brick buildings around it. The street is busy with cars, signs, storefronts and traffic lights, while the big blue sky opens everything up above. I kept the brushwork loose and direct rather than trying to turn downtown La Crosse into an architectural diagram.
For me, that’s the appeal of the scene. The cathedral is the landmark, but the city around it is doing what cities do — moving, changing and getting on with things.
Want a print instead? You can find prints of this piece here: The Renovation of the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman.