Once these sturdy factories were a hive of activity in the Midtown section of St. Louis city, close to the bustling Mississippi River. Immigrant workers flocked to find work so as to provide a future for their growing families. History tells us that this was the very site of the first gas station in the entire world. Liquid Carbonics, known and for their superior soda fountains followed along with Sciales Wholesale Grocery. Now the building remain unclaimed, unwanted and left to slowly rot away.

"Midtown Boys" is from my "Love Me Don't Leave Me" collection. This is a mixed media piece. I started with a black and white photo that I took, then added four different artistic mediums to create the exact effect I wanted, including ink pen, watercolor, acrylic paint and colored pencil.

The original piece is mixed media on watercolor paper | 14 x 11"