Sunday, December 06, 2009

Sunland Nights



here is yet another painting from Sunland and San Fernando blvd.
12x16 oil on wood


Just got back from a workshop with Carolyn Anderson feeing happily more confident with where I what to go with the figure. I consider her the only artist today who is influenced by Nicolai Fechen in strong yet subtle way. She extrapolates from him with her own style balanced with many classic influences. Unlike a certain famous Fechen copyist who needs to still develop his own style. The culmination of the workshop was going to the San Diego museum of art and seeing 5 Fechin's on display including portrait of miss Sapoinikoff below.
It's a crime the museum doesn't have a poster of this huge masterpiece, It's never been well photographed and they are refuse to let pictures be taken of it despite the fact it's in their permanent collection. I strongly recommend you go see it before they put it away again--they don't know what they have. I'll post some workshop stuff when the paint dries.

18 Comments:

Blogger Scribbler said...

fantastic mood in both pieces, beautiful work.

2:48 PM  
Blogger billspaintingmn said...

You're an inspiration.
I'm encouraged to paint more.
Also to "think strongly" about
how I approach the "canvas"
Yeah, you're a pretty cool guy.
Thanks!

3:25 PM  
Blogger fazrul arhan said...

This painting look so casual yet so attractive..the sky look so creamy..that is what i like about the oil paint..somemore painted by the hand of a true master..this piece is marvellous!

2:50 AM  
Blogger Drake Brodahl (pumml) said...

Amazing use of color, Sir. Just gorgeous.

7:33 AM  
Blogger Marian Fortunati said...

So why do you keep hanging out in San Fernando?

I like the way you've portrait the shining light!

8:16 AM  
Blogger Shawn Dickinson said...

Beautiful! I used to live in Sunland....Only YOU can make it look THIS good. hehe...

Great work.

8:24 AM  
Blogger Drake Brodahl (pumml) said...

Btw, what is it with galleries and their Fechins? The Frye gallery here in Seattle has 28 of his pieces in their collection (both drawings and paintings) and refuses to display any of them.

12:21 PM  
Blogger PleinEric said...

I really like your willingness to experiment and reach out of bounds...

Thanks for the heads up re: the Fechin in San Diego... I'm heading down there this month.

Oh - and I would LOVE to take a workshop with Anderson... much respect here!

7:00 PM  
Blogger El Dirque said...

If you ever get a chance to go to Taos, NM you need to visit the Fechin House. He built it himself, handcarved carved the door- and window-frames, designed and built the furniture and it displays plots of his paintings and drawings, along with other prominent Taos Society Artists.

8:02 AM  
Blogger william wray said...

thanks Gal nice scribbles on your blog.

9:20 AM  
Blogger william wray said...

Bill that cool of you.

9:21 AM  
Blogger william wray said...

Hey Fazrul. That casual quality might be because I spent more time thinking on how to keep it simple than the actual painting time.

7:19 PM  
Blogger Dean Grey said...

Great use of light here, William!

The street looks moody....dangerous even!

Love the muted greens as well.

-Dean

3:54 AM  
Blogger Ger Apeldoorn said...

Explosive!

12:31 AM  
Blogger Jason Waskey said...

Nice nocturne Mr. Wray, and absolutely agree about that certain famous copyist...

11:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

great portrait!

7:27 AM  
Blogger Michael Pieczonka said...

Great painting Will.. sunlands nights has some really nice authentic night light. Particularlily like the warm green palette... under what I'm sure must have been a strange mercury type street lamp? Right on about that "Wattage" comment too.. Fechin would prob be rolling over in his grave... ah the price of commercialism. lol

12:35 AM  
Blogger william wray said...

thanks MP most of my night photo referance has a green cast to it so I go with it.

10:47 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home