Sarah Chambray

There’s something about seeing a glowing ice cream sign on a warm summer night that makes you want to pull over. That’s the feeling I’m chasing in this painting. This imagined sign for Kate’s is inspired by those evenings when one perfect scoop feels like the only plan you need. I’m building the neon glow layer by layer, hoping it captures that little rush of summer nostalgia.

this piece took a detour, and I’m glad I followed it. when I started it, I thought I was painting a dreamy pink cloud deck. somewhere along the way it became something else entirely. I kept coming back to memories of old computers, translucent plastic, desktop wallpapers, glowing screens, and the feeling of technology when it still felt colorful and optimistic.

the finished piece layers circuitry inspired by the iMac G3 motherboard over pink cloud skies. depending on the angle, the metallic lines almost disappear into the painting before catching the light again. I love that it feels a little like memory itself, with details fading in and out depending on how closely you look.

this deck is part of my tech nostalgia series, which has become a way of exploring our relationship with technology through handmade objects. In a time when so much is digital, instant, and automated, there’s something satisfying about spending hours drawing thousands of tiny lines by hand and ending up with something physical that exists in the real world.

if you’re planning to attend the ADX skateboard show, you’ll be able to see this one in person tomorrow.