Mimi Torchia Boothby

The Old Shop Bike

The company where I work is so big that there are fleets of bicycles for employees to get around on. Sadly, in many parts of the company, most of the bikes have been replaced with motor vehicles; but in nooks and crannies and in storage yards bikes can be found in various stages of returning to the elements. This bike, although it is rusty all over, continues to be a beautiful thing. Sitting like a jewel surrounded by all sorts of other industrial doodads, this bike still makes me want to hop on and go for a ride.

This original watercolor painting is SOLD.

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47 responses to “The Old Shop Bike”

  3. The old fashioned bikes are a blast to ride . Just yesterday I saw an old fellow riding one in early March…still tons of snow in the fields but none on the roads; he seemed to be enjoying the ride with his happy smiling frosty red face and icy beard : )
    A perfect exercise for enjoying the outdoors…..I rather prefer that way than to a gym….my preference : )

    Lovely vibrant water color….makes me want to go for a ride.

  6. thanks, Sabina, I too find bikes extremely hard to paint. I already painted this one once and almost gave up!

  7. I agree this old bike is beautiful. Congrats on the sale–I personally find bikes hard to paint, though this piece makes me want to keep trying.

  13. I am in love with this painting and everything it says to me. Thank you for this. Blessings, Janet PPF

  17. Wonderful painting and I love the idea of hop on, hop off bicycles available for staff. Congratulations on making that sale!! So glad PPF is helping you, Mimi, and that your husband is improving.

  19. I remember working once for a company where they had bicycles too to get around the warehouse. Wonder if they’re still around or if they’ve been replaced too. You captured this old bicycle beautifully! Happy PPF!

  27. I’ve never worked in a place where people used bikes to get around. What an interesting snapshot in time you’ve created. I love the vintage feel of this painting. Very nice!

  28. Fabulous painting! I don’t think I’d be able to resist grabbing one of those bikes and taking off on my lunch hour. For that hour you could be twelve years old again!

  38. You probably already have at least one previous comment from me in your spam file, but I thought I’d try again after making some adjustments on my computer.

    Lee

  39. Oh, I’d love this bike…if I were a rider! The colors make me want to feel the breeze on my face with hair blown back as I zip around the neighborhood. I used to ride from Alfalfa to Redmond once a week (25 miles!) to report in at the Employment Office. I’d put the kids on the bus at 8:45, take off, ride to town, report, eat my lunch in the park, ride home, and be there in time for the kids to get off the bus at 3:15. Whew! I had a little Pugeot road bike, and we flew!

  42. This is the bike I would ride — if I were a bicyclist! Love the color combination and look — there is a sense of it just waiting to be set in motion!

  43. What a delight, Mimi. I’m so glad you stopped at my site and left your link. This is very impressive work. I’m already picking out mats for a couple of paintings…unfortunately my gallery is almost entirely in the house of my dreams…one day, it may be reality.
    Still, that black footed cat….
    Anyway, I’m looking forward to doing the A-Z wit ya…

    xxoo
    moe

  44. How I would love to find a bike like that one. But, I don’t want to break any bones, so it would have to be a 3 wheeler with a basket on the back.

  45. Beautiful! You definitely captured the spirit and the feeling of feeling the breeze at one’s face. Although any time one ride’s a bike is a treasure, I wish bikes were more than a weekend treat here.

  46. This is lovely Mimi.

    I always expect to see more bikes from you Mimi as you are bike mad. I would love to have a bike like that, but totally impractical considering our crazy roads & high, high summer temps.

  47. Hi there… nice to meet you & thanks for the comment you left on my blog.
    Your paintings are beautiful. You have a highly specialised talent. Contrary to your statement on my blog, I think your 26 paintings WILL definitely be unique.
    Look at it this way, with a little inspiration, anybody can write words on a page, but NOT everybody can paint! Case closed! 🙂

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