We checked in with Figueroa's progress last week, when rain put a stop to his work, though we could see that he'd already painted in some of the outlines for his design. Returning on Saturday, the skies had cleared and Figueroa had made even more progress, though it will probably take a month to finish.
Figueroa's design draws on the bright color palettes from '60s and '70s, including those seen in television shows like The Partridge Family (and that bus), as well as The Brady Bunch.
In commissioning Figueroa to paint the jet, the 1940 Air Terminal Museum hopes to expand its visitorship to more audiences. "I was born in Houston and I didn't even know that the museum was here," says Figueroa, who says he drew as much inspiration from the museum as the plane.
Figueroa says he loves the color palette from this commission, he loves taking on new projects, and that this is the biggest canvas he's ever taken on. It's a brutally hot time of year for painting outdoors, but he says he doesn't mind; he just needs to find a way to adapt to the heat. He also has strong praise for his wife, Carolyn Casey Figueroa, who not only has managed many of his endeavors but who is always encouraging him.
Figueroa made much progress between the rainy May 31 (above), and the later photos taken the next day.
Photo by Mark Reyes
