"The Night Before Mardi Gras"

I was inspired to make this oil painting from my experiences in New Orleans. I lived in Metairie, Louisiana for six and a half years and visited the city of New Orleans and the French quarter often. This place was a big part of my childhood especially during the time of Mardi Gras. Even though I’m Jewish, my family celebrated and still celebrates Mardi Gras every year. I can remember vividly the night before Mardi Gras. The quiet empty streets with a lamppost lit every few feet, the water left on the pavement after the rain from the day, and the bright colors in the sky and on the trees. After Mardi Gras, beads would be left everywhere, even on the trees, and there was trash left on the ground from the parties. But, that night it was clean, it had a warm and exciting feeling. I hoped to express these colorful emotions in my painting. Around February every year, these memories come back to me. These dreams are something I hold on to and wanted to express through my art.