Rubidoux 2
The second in what may be a series from the little town of Rubidoux. This is a regular house that folks are living in. I was struck by the bleached out quality of the yard and especially the faded Gremlin in the frount yard that hadn't been moved in a decade or so. It was a very hot day, I hope I caught that blazing heat. Oil 8x10 on brutally belt sanded linen on board.
posted by william wray at 10:50 PM
29 Comments:
Nice to meet you old boy, and beautiful work! :D
This may be the best value painting you've done yet. Also a simple but very strong composition...excellent.
Bill, I gotta say, this blog is amazing. I've been a fan of your work for ages, I grew up with the original ren and stimpy and was facinated by your paintings before I knew the name behind them. It's so great to see this 'fine art' direction, and you're totally rocking it.
I would really like to hear your thoughts on how this new direction has been, what successes/problems you're noticing, and any thoughts for other artists out there who would like to break away from the commercial world like you are attempting. I am still young, and want to spend year illustrating and painting for whoever wants my work, but I would love to take you approach on the side and eventually follow in your footsteps down the road, it just just seems like an incredible way to live your days... painting for the joy of it. If you would like to share more of these thoughts in a post or even through email I would be very greatful!
PS - ive been inspired to get painting with real paints more because of this blog. I paint all the time, but it digital digital digital, and its starting to drive me nuts. Thanks
totally and completely beautifully bleak - just awesome - someplace i want to go but would never want to be for any length of time - AWESOME!
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Yes Chris,
I'm not ashamed to admit I did belt sand linen.
I don't care for the time it takes to carefully hand sand off old failed oil paintings. With the belt sander it's done in seconds and there is something primal/ risky about it I like. You may ruin some spots, but you also get cool textures you can't get any other way. If you look at the bottom half inch of the painting you can see the pure sanded area. There is no way to paint that effect.
It plays into my theory of the best kind of painting has contrasts of surface, brushstrokes and varied paint thickness. My goal is to find ways that make my traditional painting feel modern. To somehow make the flat feel tactile. I want to be modern, but to only use effects that truly make an interesting texture that enhances the work. Not some fakery like gluing objects, triptychs or collage. But who knows? I might change my mind about that too. I've stopped totally saying no to anything. An old dog must be vigilant or the owner will back his car of his head.
Hey Mark,
Glad you finally made it here. So many other blogs you had to sift though first. ;-) Drop by anytime.
Thanks Mike,
When completing what you feel/hope is a good painting, one that has something that you have never quite achieved before, can be one of those double edges swords. A great feeling of progress, but it's fleeting, now I can't seem to do a painting that comes near it. I wish I was more consistent.
One of the best!I love it!:O)
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Brando my best advice to you would be to start painting with real paint now. It's a bigger learning curve than digital. Digital gives gives the weak artist a big leg up. Conversely, I think the best digital guys can paint by hand or used to be able to.
As far as my own desires and expectations as far trying to make it as a "Fine Artist." It's slow going, but I'm always making some progress. I have some sales now and them and have some commissions to do. The local Gallery that I was only in groups shows with offered me a solo show. I'm getting into more contests of note. I have another invite to a group show where I'm the featured artist coming up at another new gallery soon. My work is improving in the direction I want it to go and I enjoy it far more that almost any commercial work I've ever done. I'm in year two of a five years plan of making a total living on the fine art. I'm still taking freelance, but I don't mind it as much.
7:02 PM
Miles,
They would love you in Rubidoux.
I like how the trees are not extremely detailed (kind of gives it a sense of movement, I think), but then the car is well-but-subtley detailed (emphasizes how still it's been all those years). I think it's funny how sensitive serenity within a scene can be--if there were people in it, it wouldn't be the same.
AWESOME paintings!
Thanks for the response bill
Great to hear about your progress. It's inspiring to watch someone go down this path. It seems to be something many artists would love to do but few have the desire/drive to really make it happen.
Real paint is definately more difficult, less forgiving, but at the same time, so much more rewarding to me. It is how I began to paint, I didn't learn on the computer like too many young artists do these days, however as the years in school went on and now that I am doing art at a commerical studio, the speed and options digital offers has sort of taken over all of my time. I'm going to start spending the time I make art in my free time away from work doing something real, away from the screen!
Anyway, I ramble, keep up the amazing work
Bill, great composition, maybe some more shadow from the tree as it appears large and looming over the property but there does not appear to be a shadow cast from it? Hope you don't mind my comments!?!
A. Riabovitchev: thanks!!
BG: I'm trying more and more to do the Richard Schmid ( and many others) detail the center of attention and lose detail as you radiate out from that to the point of abstraction on the edges. You always have the most observant and insightful comments BG, thanks!
Bill, I like this painting better than the last one. It seems baked in heat.
There is a book called "Nuclear Landscapes" by Peter Goin; it consists of beautiful color photographs of abandoned nuclear test sites. You would like it, I think.
I think you bring a texture to your painting that appears as if you have picked up a board on site and started painting. Another side of CA that is for sure.
Well you'll be happy to know I'm going landscape painting on Saturday with a few teachers from school, it's only been a year since I did it last :-)
As far as hitting those new little platues, well since you are never the type to saty satisfied long, that uncomfortable period that comes again is growth, and though it's frustrating as hell you can't skip it. Art is not predictable if you are any good.
Steve, The sun was very high to the shadows were not long yet. Look close there's a little strip on the ground.
Hey Glam,
Thanks I like it better too, but the latest chunk blower you may never see...
That book sounds interesting. I think if I didn't have 5,000 art books and 10,000 comics I might get more into photo books. I only have about 30 of those.
Caggy: Sometimes you can center a a big element if the whose has a strong pattern running through it like you pointed out. This was one of those natural compositions where when I drove by I slammed my car in reverse and with hardly any view finder composing time, I snapped a picture. I didn't have to edit to much out, I made only a few spacing and size adjustments. Really It was all there, making my job easy. I wanted to visit your blog but the link is dead.
Robin,
How did you know? I painted this on a old roofing shingle.
Good luck Saturday Mike, Keep it simple and stay in the shade.
Wow! You managed to find fome Southern California real estate that can be bought for less than $300,000.
Feels hot. Your drive out there must have been brutal.
Hey Tony,
In 2000 the median home price was $150,000. I don't know what it is now. the dirve was hot , but the walking around was killer. I do need to get a car with AC though.
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