Mitchell Freifeld Paintings

Artist Comments
In the mid-1930s, a design concept called streamline emerged, extending from cars to kitchen mixers. Initially emphasizing power over aesthetics, steam engines ...

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Artist Mitchell Freifeld paints a small building in a secluded roadside field. He captures a dramatic scene from a road trip through the Oklahoma backroads. "...

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"Norms is one of the classic 'Googie' coffee shops that's still going strong," shares artist Mitchell Freifeld. "It's been around for decades with its emblematic signage that's such a part of the car culture. You can see, and know it, from blocks away." Mitchell reminisces, "The food is traditional coffee shop fare and fantastic. I had a job once where I ate breakfast every morning at Norms at around 4 am. Forgot what the job was, but I'll always remember Norms."

About the Artist
Mitchell Freifeld cannot remember a time when he did not draw and paint. He won his first juried show at age 10 and decided that someday, he'd be a 'real painter.' He settled in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early '70s and got involved in the burgeoning tech industry. From there, he moved to Portland upon accepting an information technology position. On the drive home after being laid off the day of the September 11 terrorist attacks, he realized life is short...

Artist Comments
"In keeping with the ethic of minimalism, I used the fewest elements possible to create a quiet mood somewhere in the middle of the last century," says artist Mitchell Freifeld. "While we see contrails all the time now, they were once something new heralding a bright tomorrow. At the same time, once only the very wealthy had private swimming pools in their backyards. But now they are as ubiquitous for the burgeoning middle-class as two cars in every garage."

About the Artist
Mitchell Freifeld cannot remember a time when he did not draw and paint. He won his first juried show at age 10 and decided that someday, he'd be a 'real painter.' He settled in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early '70s and got involved in the burgeoning tech industry. From there, he moved to Portland upon accepting an information technology position. On the drive home after being laid off the day of the September 11 terrorist attacks, he realized life is short and decided to devote himself full-time to painting. His work focuses on architecture and cityscapes, and portrays everyday places that become lost to our curiosity through sheer familiarity.

Words that describe this painting: water, pool, mid century modern, house, home, summer, swim, sunny, Palm Springs, California, chairs, architecture, representational, modern , oil painting, blue

Four Green Chaise...

Artist Comments
This building had stood there on the corner for decades. It was lost to time when it became a grocery store, as it was many things since then. But the "Grocery" sign stayed on the roof. I liked the back of the building because all of the add-ons over time were in such a hap hazard order. I'm glad I did my last photoshoot of the empty place when I did because I came back later in the week to take a few more shots and there was just a bulldozer in the middle of a vacant lot.

About the Artist
Mitchell Freifeld cannot remember a time when he did not draw and paint. He won his first juried show at age 10 and decided that someday, he'd be a 'real painter.' He settled in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early '70s and got involved in the burgeoning tech industry. From there, he moved to Portland upon accepting an information technology position. On the drive home after being laid off the day of the September 11 terrorist attacks, he realized life is short and decided to devote himself full-time to painting. His work focuses on architecture and cityscapes, and portrays everyday places that become lost to our curiosity through sheer familiarity.

Words that describe this painting: modernism, architecture, minimalism, building, architecture, architecture, representational, modern , oil painting, blue

In Back of the Grocery Store...

Artist Comments
Mitchell painted this piece en plein air on an overcast early spring day on Sauvie Island. "Great to get out of the studio for a change," he says. "The scene lent itself to a fast impressionistic treatment, as I had to paint quickly before the rain started up again."

About the Artist
Mitchell Freifeld cannot remember a time when he did not draw and paint. He won his first juried show at age 10 and decided that someday, he'd be a 'real painter.' He settled in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early '70s and got involved in the burgeoning tech industry. From there, he moved to Portland upon accepting an information technology position. On the drive home after being laid off the day of the September 11 terrorist attacks, he realized life is short and decided to devote himself full-time to painting. His work focuses on architecture and cityscapes, and portrays everyday places that become lost to our curiosity through sheer familiarity.

Words that describe this painting: landscape, plein air, impressionism, hills, storm, sky, clouds, trees, field, lavender, impressionism, landscape, representational, oil painting, green, blue

Lavender Field...

Artist Comments
This painting is part of Mitchell Freifeld's ongoing series of midcentury motels and gas stations dotting America's backroads. I always turn off the Interstate to see the Business Loop, says Mitchell. So I came upon a real survivor from a lost time, another Thunderbird Motel! Its almost brutalist modernism...

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South Miami is probably the best example of Art Deco in the country. Of course there's the great hotels along the waterfront, but behind...

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This is the only house like it around there. But it's so amazing and wonderful, that a lot of the businesses near it, have that same roof. The first time I sa...