Monday, January 29, 2007

Bill and Tony's Big Adventure


Here is a little painting based on a photo taken on a recent trip to San Francisco of the Bay Bridge. Oil 8x10 on Ray Mar Linen Panel. The story below has nothing to do with the painting, (except both trips were with Tony,) but I wanted to relate the story while the trip was still fresh in my mind. So photo's for now and paintings in the future.


Sam Hyde Harris
Painting pal Tony Peter's came by on Friday and we hit his gallery and the Sam Hyde Harris show in Pasadena. His gallery Triage was nice enough to give us free passes. The Hyde paintings were great, if uneven with great examples of his many styles and also some bad paintings that I assume were painted while he was drunk as they were not to the level of his best. His was known to hit the bottle and the women.


Close up on a Francis Livingston

Then it was off to the FADA SHOW In Santa Monica. That's were a big grouping of Fine art Dealers from around the county set up displays of the artist they represent. Lots of nice work old and new, the highlight was getting to talk to Ted Mendenhall for quite a long time in the break area. The next day on the way to SLO we got to visit his house and see his Richard Bunkhall originals. Onward to SLO to go to the Just Looking Gallery, my and now Tony's new Gallery.


On the way Tony wanted to check out an old bowling sign in Oxnard and we ending up having one of those magic moments were we discovered this several block area that was built in the fifties all with the same Wagon Wheel theme. A Bowling alley, skate rink, restaurant, hotel, trailer park, market and even some industry in the back of it was the same color and style theme.

We were saddened and elated when we found out it is all slated for the wreaking ball in a matter of months. Sad that it's going, happy we got to shot it before it is gone.

Ralph and Ken at Just looking were understanding about how late we were after explaining about the spontaneous photo shoot and this model shoot we bumped into in Santa Barbra. Tony's had to be pried away with a crow bar.

Van Gogh we had never seen.
We also hit Sullivan Goss and the Santa Barbra art museum. Had a great lunch ant the café behind SG due to good food and a great waitress, but the museum blew as a section was closed that had the Hopper painting we had come to see. On the way home we had to stop for a few nocturnal shots of the Wagon Wheel Alley.
Photo by Tony



The next day we went down to the LA river and I finally got the courage to do what I've been wanting to do for awhile now. Walk the la river itself. We walked 15 blocks of it taking tons of bridge photo's from below, emerging at Washington Blvd in a areas of industry I've never been to after wandering around there for an hour we decided to take a cab back to the car.



All and all a great two days.

24 Comments:

Blogger William K. Moore said...

Now that's what I call a big adventure. Great paintings and pics! Love the blue bridge especially. I look forward to see the outcome of your epic odd-yssey

3:43 PM  
Blogger Chris Ousley said...

Wish I could have been there. Excellent Adventure.

7:56 PM  
Blogger Chris Ousley said...

Never heard of Sam Harris and Livingston until now via Google. What a treat.

8:11 PM  
Blogger BoneDaddy said...

Wow, where the hell do I start? First off, incredible bridge shots. Underside angles are always the best, and they give you more an impression of how massive the structures can be.
Are you going to use those photos for painting or would you rather have been able to do it plein air? I'd love to see how you'd paint the motel (I'm a motel man, so sue me).
The top painting is great. There isn't much to it, and that's perhaps its best quality. It's not a busy painting, but one you can't stop looking at for its deep blues (I got dem underside bridge blues...it's an okay song title).

11:41 PM  
Blogger Bagel said...

sweet! california is awesome. so is van gogh. and that bay bridge painting is great

10:28 AM  
Blogger william wray said...

Bill,

I'm outcoming one right now.

4:55 PM  
Blogger william wray said...

C . they are great ,yes? Let me know if you ever in LA. Maybe we can go out an find someting new.

4:57 PM  
Blogger tonypetersart said...

Had a great time Bill!

I want to go back and shoot the LA River again. Fifteen blocks just wasn't enough for me. Maybe we could get some different lighting next time.

4:59 PM  
Blogger Ron Morrison said...

Am enjoying each frame of Bill and Tony's excellent adventure.

11:07 AM  
Blogger william wray said...

Thanks BG-- Was great fun walking under them. I'll do most of them in studio but will try a PA soon. I was worried about cops, but we never ran into one due to the rain causing so many accident's around town, the police were all busy. A hotel painting or two is definitely on the agenda.

7:18 PM  
Blogger Urban Barbarian said...

I used to bowl there on a regular basis. Every Wednesday from 3:30 to 5:30... I'll mourn it's passing.

And should anything terrible happen to you one day, I shall also mourn your passing as well. Stay healthy, my friend.

7:23 PM  
Blogger william wray said...

thanks Bajel. Your work is outstanding. Visit often an I'll visit back.

7:24 PM  
Blogger william wray said...

Yes good light and maybe being good and lit. I kid. Good Times.

7:29 PM  
Blogger rob ijbema said...

never seen that Van Gogh before,thanks for sharing Bill!
that bridge looks big and moody
like it is slowly coming out of the dark...

11:37 AM  
Blogger amber said...

wow i really like your work great colors!

8:33 AM  
Blogger william wray said...

thanks ron we enjoyed it to.

12:23 PM  
Blogger william wray said...

Gee Dan, I hate to think of your morning at my passing. Think of all the bad times. How about I freshly insult you so you will be happy to see me go?

12:26 PM  
Blogger william wray said...

thanks Rob, It is amazing to see a new VG, I thought I had seen them all....

12:28 PM  
Blogger Ed Terpening said...

i really admire your Bay Bridge painting, great composition. You'd never know I live in San Francisco based on my art work as I rarely paint landmarks. Your work is inspiring!

11:05 AM  
Blogger Dominic Bugatto said...

Love the sign painting , nice photos too.

6:27 AM  
Blogger william wray said...

thanks ED! you sould try it. Urabn is fun.

11:45 AM  
Blogger william wray said...

thanks Dom!

11:46 AM  
Blogger Michael Pieczonka said...

Bill... OMG!! The one of the Bay Bridge blew my socks off!! beautiful job.

Mike

12:04 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This Van Gogh has a difference from his other pieces that I can't quite put my finger on.Hummm.Grea that you were able to capture a picture of this piece.

5:37 AM  

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