Starry Night at the Indian River Inlet Bridge

The Charles W. Cullen Bridge as it might have been painted by Van Gogh, the Dutch artist…

Vincent Van Gogh is a Dutch post-impressionist painter whose works are renowned for their emotional impact and vibrant, expressive color palettes. Recognized as one of the most influential painters of all time, his unique style evokes a deep sense of emotion in viewers. Imagine then, if Vincent Van Gogh were to paint the Indian River Inlet Bridge in Delaware in the style of his famous Starry Night piece.

Indian River Inlet Bridge Starry Night in the style of Vincent Van Gogh
The “Starry Night at the Indian River Inlet Bridge” as it might be painted by Vincent Van Gogh.

The Indian River Inlet Bridge is a picturesque sight in Sussex County, Delaware. With its majestic arches and stunning views of the bay and ocean, it’s easy to imagine how the Dutch master Vincent Van Gogh might have painted this structure if he had seen it himself. His trademark swirling brushstrokes and brilliant blues would be perfectly suited to capture the essence of this iconic bridge.

Indian River Inlet Bridge Twilight
The original “Indian River Inlet Bridge Twilight” Photograph by Bill Swartwout upon which the Starry Night version was based.

A Van Gogh-inspired painting of the Indian River Inlet Bridge would likely feature a starry night sky filled with points of light that add an air of drama to the piece. This would be an apt representation, as photographer Bill Swartwout has captured some incredible photographs of this same bridge under a blanket of stars.

It the Starry Night for you?

Yes, of course, both of the above pieces are available as prints, wall art, and on home-decor items. Either click on one of the Indian River Bridge images above or one of the links below.

Link to: Starry Night at the Indian River Inlet Bridge

Link to: Indian River Inlet Bridge Twilight

Link to: Bill Swartwout Photography

Link to Bill’s: Artificial Intelligence Gallery


In summary, Vincent Van Gogh’s famous painting “The Starry Night” has been recreated in the form of a highly edited photograph by Bill Swartwout Photography. The Indian River Bridge at the Delaware Seashore State Park near Bethany Beach, DE serves as the backdrop for this stunning image. At night, the bridge is illuminated with blue spotlights that gives it an ethereal feel reminiscent of Van Gogh’s masterpiece. Bill has captured this magical moment in time with his camera and then retells the story of “The Starry Night” in a new and exciting way using the editing capability of Artificial Intelligence (AI) computer software.

Starry Night Bridge Greeting Card
Starry Night at the Indian River Bridge Greeting Card – 7″x5″ and suitable for framing – $4.95 each (or $2.45 per card in a 10-pack).

Here is one of many items available. This greeting card is less expensive than many in local stores and you can customize the message area inside. Click HERE or click the card picture for more information and to order. Cards are $4.95 as a single or $2.45 per cards in a 10-pack, or $1.75 in a 25-pack. They are of a high enough quality to be framed.


Simulated Watercolor from a Photograph

The Bridge Sunset at the Indian River photo is presented here in two distinct styles.

Art has been changing and evolving since the beginning of time. With advancements in technology, new methods of creating art are continually being developed. One such example is simulated watercolor from a photograph.

sunset under the indian river bridge
Sunset Under the Indian River Inlet Bridge in Simulated Watercolor

This technique offers artists a way of transforming digital images into beautiful works of art that look like traditional paintings done with watercolor paint. Not only does it provide an interesting way to create art, but it also allows for the artist to add their own creative touch to the piece.

The first step in creating a simulated watercolor from a photograph is to choose an image to work with. The image should be relatively small and simple enough that it can be reasonably reproduced using the watercolor effect. Having considerable contrast between the colors in the image helps to add a bit of drama the painting.

sunset under the indian river bridge
Here is the original Sunset Under Indian River Bridge photograph.

Tips for doing this yourself…

Creating a simulated watercolor from a photograph can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Choosing the right image to work with is essential in achieving this goal. The ideal image should be crisp and detailed, but also have soft edges and muted tonalities. This will make it easier to create the unique blend of realism and abstraction that makes a simulated watercolor distinctive.

In addition to having the right composition, it’s important to use a quality image that’s of high resolution. Low-resolution images can lose detail when converted into a watercolor, making certain painting techniques more difficult or even impossible to achieve. Also, try finding an image with few bright colors or highlights as these can be distracting in the finished product. With all these tips in mind, pick your perfect photo for creating your very own simulated watercolor.

Go ahead and give it a try. Or if you like what has been done here by Bill Swartwout Photography you can see more detail by clicking the images above or the links below.

Link to: Bridge Sunset at Indian River Watercolor

Link to: Bridge Sunset at the Indian River Inlet

Link to: Bill’s Indian River Inlet Collection

Link to: Bill’s Full Gallery at Fine Art America/Pixels