Westport was settled in 1831 and in the 1850s became the outpost for traders and emigrants heading west on the Oregon and Santa Fe trails. Following the Battle of Westport during the Civil War, the area suffered, and was annexed by Kansas City in 1899.

Several of the 1800s era buildings remain, and have been restored and refurbished over the years. It’s one of my favorite places to relax, sit and sketch outdoors while sipping a cold beer or hot coffee. This painting captures the blending of old and new, as the old trading outpost is now a destination hub of commercial and residential activity. I had stopped for lunch one late winter day, and as I walked up Pennsylvania Avenue, rainy conditions had given way to an unseasonably warm afternoon.

The natural light literally danced off of the brick buildings and pavement, but the earlier darkness had luminated the streetlamps, which produced contrasting lighting effects. There wasn’t time to gather my supplies and paint onsite, as the light and conditions were changing rapidly. So, I snapped a few pictures and rushed back to the studio to capture the feeling of it all while it was fresh in my mind.

This painting was done in a very loose style, using only palette knives and thick applications of paint. The result is impressionistic, with some intentionally abstract elements.

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