Saturday, March 22, 2008

Lake Michigan




Oil on linen 12x12

Here is a painting based upon a snapshot from friend Joao Antunes
http://pt.netlog.com/Joao_Almeida/blog

taken during his vacation to Michigan. I don’t paint from other people’s photos to often, but in this case the subject was made for me, utterly irresistible.
Been trying to do a bit more work with figures, but usually they are an element rather than the focal point. I hesitate to let my cartoon style steep into my fine art, but here is a little taste of mixing both the worlds into new oily cocktail. Enjoy the flava with my best wishes and thanks Joao!

25 Comments:

Blogger Bruce Docker said...

This catches me odd. It's painted as good as any of your other paintings, bur it's kind of humorous. The large woman just looking into the water and the cooling towers in the background. Almost surreal, but believably real at the same time. like it.

9:54 PM  
Blogger Clive said...

Maybe more irony for me than humour; speaks to the human condition. Love it.

10:17 PM  
Blogger kathrynlaw said...

I agree with Clive. It's a perfect subject for the Painter of Blight. Thought-provoking and strangely beautiful.

7:43 AM  
Blogger Charlotte McDavid said...

I got a chocolate cake with chocolate icing for my birthday on March 22 (the date this was posted). After seeing your painting I will toss the rest out.
Well done, fun painting.

11:30 AM  
Blogger Ed Terpening said...

Yes, a subject made for you. I love the sculptural quality of the figure.

12:24 PM  
Blogger BoneDaddy said...

It might still fit in with your usual subject matter--maybe the waves tore her down soon after the picture was taken?

9:22 PM  
Blogger William K. Moore said...

Flew over said body of water today. Think I missed viewing this beauty (probably the weather). You've successfully avoided caricature on this and sculpted a really interesting figure (I mean really.. and with humor). This reminds me of some of the great American artist work of the 30s and 40s, even some of the Ashcan guys - early 1900s like bellows, wood, etc. Luminescence of the water, movement, all captured to a delight.

10:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

VERY nice, do more with figures!

8:57 AM  
Blogger BoneDaddy said...

Not to keep railing on the lady's wait or anything, but this picture on second viewing reminds me a bit of a Godzilla movie.

2:57 PM  
Blogger william wray said...

thanks Bruce , You hit on why I had to paint it.

5:26 PM  
Blogger Cara said...

This makes me giggle - great painting -

6:34 PM  
Blogger Lluis Fuzzhound said...

Great stuff Bill!! I've really enjoyed yr animation too!! good to see you painting in oil.. there is not many people doing it anymore... like cartoony cartoons!! congrats!!
keep on!!

6:28 AM  
Blogger Leslie Sealey said...

I love it, the juxtaposition of the woman and the cooling towers is strange and thought provoking at the same time. The way you painted the water is really beautiful-good composition with the white foam lines leading to the subject.

9:57 AM  
Blogger SEILER said...

Whoa . . . this is SUPERCOOL! Love it all the way . . . !

5:28 PM  
Blogger Chloe Cumming said...

There's something very nice and true about this.

I like pictures with people in the middle. Not that the ones without people aren't lovely too.

10:52 AM  
Blogger Drake Brodahl (pumml) said...

I'd love to see you do more of this kind of piece. Your styles seep together perfectly for this subject matter. It's humorous and mysterious and thought provoking at the same time. I can't help but wonder what's going on in this character's mind.

3:13 PM  
Blogger william wray said...

thatks Clive... I hope it does...

10:05 PM  
Blogger Sharon said...

I really like this one and also the one sitting on your deck of the same lady or at least I think its the same lady.

8:17 AM  
Blogger David Lobenberg said...

You ARE the painter of blight, ole boy!

9:18 PM  
Blogger Michael Pieczonka said...

omg, killer job on this one. Love the rendering of the woman and the water in the foreground. Great juxtaposition between with the person in the fore and the industrial stacks far away... ominous I think!!

9:39 PM  
Blogger sandy said...

FANTASTIC! This is great.

And I think I'll leave my bathing suite in the closet this year. I'm just going to wear board shorts and a Tshirt.

sandy

8:25 PM  
Blogger sandy said...

And the reflections in the water are great.
s

8:25 PM  
Blogger Miles Thompson said...

this is the funniest thing i've seen in a long damn time - perfection

7:41 AM  
Blogger Uncle Phil said...

ha.. i love this bill. great on so many levels.

10:02 AM  
Blogger Konnie Kim said...

It's funny.
It's sad.
It's eerie and it's beautiful.

2:45 PM  

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