After Hours at Café Sperl, Vienna

I look to nature and my travels through Europe, USA and Asia for inspirations for my paintings. ’After Hours at Café Sperl, Vienna’ originated from a plein air study during my painting trip to Vienna in Austria.
Vienna is known for its Historical Coffeehouses and I loved experiencing the ‘Viennese Coffee House Culture’ at the legendary Viennese cafés where every guest can sit for hours over a cup of coffee to consume an unlimited amount of journals, international newspapers or books, write, play cards or just talk.
Café Sperl opened its doors in 1880 and is recognized as one of the oldest and most authentic Coffeehouses in Vienna as it has never been rebuilt or modernized. The traditional décor of the Cafe is reminiscent of Vienna's elegant Ringstraßen-Cafés with its parquet flooring, bentwood Thonet chairs, beautiful antique mirrors, marble tables and crystal chandeliers. An interior just like one from the 19th century and a large selection of newspapers and journals whisk you away into fin-de-siècle Vienna. The Café is on the Austrian Register of Historic Places and also has some great history with artists, architects, writers, musicians, actors and singers from around the world who were and continue to be regular visitors here. The Waitstaff here is very friendly and professional, and were so kind to allow me to spend quality time sketching the Café.
I am honored that this piece is a finalist in National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society 2020 Best of America Small Paintings National Exhibition.