TILLIE ARTWORK & other local icons

 

You may have noticed that my good friend Tillie shows up A LOT in my art! His smiling countenance used to grace the sides of the Palace Amusements building in Asbury Park, NJ — where I had lots of summer fun times as a child, teen, and still today as an adult. His big funny face still brings me joy and it was my heart’s desire to immortalize him in paint. Below is a selection of my favorite Tillie artwork, along with some other local iconic imagery…

 
 
"Palace Amusements" a mixed media painting featuring the famous Tillie icon who graced the sides of the building from Asbury Park, NJ.

Palace Amusements
16”x16” • mixed media on wood cradle board

Mixed media painting inspired by the Palace Amusements building in Asbury Park, featuring Tillie (top) and on the bottom is another clown from that same building.

Are We There Yet?
12”x12” • mixed media on wood cradle board

"Bruce Was Here" A mixed media painting and my ode to Palace Amusements, Tillie funny face, Bruce Springsteen and Asbury Park, NJ

Bruce Was Here
12”x12” • mixed media on wood cradle board

"First Date" - My hope is that this piece helps the Circus Drive-in live on in our hearts forever and remind others of all the first dates and good times they had there or at other roadside Americana diners.

First Date
17”x22” • mixed media on wood panel with cardboard, rhinestones, vintage game piece • inspired by the local Circus Drive-in diner in Wall, NJ that’s since been torn down.

Transitions (Time After Time)
24”x24” • mixed media on wood panel with collage, ephemera and objects from Asbury Park and Ocean Grove • an ode to the CASINO building that joins the two towns on the boardwalk.

Crash Into Me
22”x10” • mixed media (acrylic, cardboard, alcohol ink) on repurposed shelf/rack • a heartfelt tribute to the Palace Amusements building and it’s iconic bumper car art.

This painting was birthed from childhood memories of the wheel games of chance at the local boardwalks, fairs and carnivals. Featuring the iconic Tillie face from the Palace Amusements building in Asbury Park, NJ.

Wheel of Miss Fortune
16”x16” • mixed media on wood cradle board

Featuring my favorite icon Tillie from the Palace Amusements building in Asbury Park, NJ, this painting that was actually inspired by the CMYK process used in printing. Titled “Printer’s Proof”.

Printer’s Proof
12”x12” • mixed media on wood cradle board

Tillie from the Palace Amusements is the focus of this painting and is an ode to the FUN HOUSE in the Palace Amusements arcade in Asbury Park, NJ.

Enter At Your Own Risk
16”x16” • mixed media on wood cradle board

"Jawbreaker King" inspired by Tillie from the old Palace Amusements building in Asbury Park, NJ, this colorful gumball colored mixed media painting is by Michelle Renee Bernard.

The Jawbreaker King from Planet Gumball
12”x12” • mixed media on wood

"Post No Bills" a mixed media painting ang ode to the old Palace Amusements building in Asbury Park, NJ.

Post No Bills
12”x12” • mixed media on wood panel
inspired by Palace Amusements in Asbury Park, NJ

An ode to WEASER ICES, my local Italian Ice vendor, who has a fleet of trucks with this funny guy on them (who was actually inspired by the Grateful Dead album cover - Europe '72). Ice cream guy. Asbury Park. Ocean Grove.

The Italian Rainbow
13”x16” • mixed media on wood panel, with cardboard, glitter • inspired by Weaser, our local ICES guy, whose trucks are emblazoned with this derpy dude.

The Writing Is On The Wall
17”x23” • mixed media on wood (acrylic, cardboard, rhinestones) • a jovial tribute to that other clown on the Palace Amusements building.

Weaser Ices Painting - LGBTQ version! Taste the Rainbow. Weaser ICES is my favorite Italian ice vendor and his fleet of trucks all have this funny guy on the side of them, inspired by the Grateful Dead ice cream guy. He's a summer staple here in NJ

Taste The Rainbow
17”x20” • mixed media on wood panel with cardboard, glitter • an LGBTQ+ version of my original Weaser painting above.