At the heart of this piece is the dome of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The cornerstone of the building was set in 1882 and construction completed in 1883. At that time, it was the tallest building in Kansas City. The original copper dome had deteriorated and was replaced in 1960, covered in gleaming, 23-carat gold leaf. I love how it stands in elegant juxtaposition to the contemporary towers in the background.

This is one of my favorite neighborhoods, in the western part of downtown. Early one morning, I snapped several pictures that became the reference points for this studio painting. I was a bit frustrated that the car that featured so prominently was a padiddle… one with a burned-out headlight. I figured I’d just add the other headlight to the painting, but the painting had other plans for me.

I like to listen to music while I paint. My tastes are eclectic. One day its Bach, one day it’s the Beatles, and on another it might be Miles Davis or John Lee Hooker. This particular day, it was 1990s rock. The Wallflowers’ One Headlight came on, and Jakob Dylan’s lyrics spoke to me.

So the padiddle became a focal point, and One Headlight it is.

It sells in a black-stained wood box frame. Free shipping anywhere in the continental United States.