Boyle Heights
Oil on wood 16x24
Took a "wrong " turn the other day and ended up on the edge of East LA in a Hispanic neighborhood that was a bit run down but improving. It has some great old houses that have not been fixed up since they were build in the 20's/ 30's, just my speed. Walking down a back alley I cam across this cheapjack apartment. It ended up being one of the best reference photo's so I painted it up. I'm working on a big house painting from around the block, but stalled out on it, so this will have to do for now...
posted by william wray at 11:46 AM
26 Comments:
I'm glad I clicked on the image. The textures are great and I like the play of compliment yellows and violets in this one. I am amazed how you can take an otherwise mundane building and turn it into a great little painting.
Cheers.... Andrew
Oh wow, these last three are fantastic...the light is marvelous in them all and I love the division of...oh, bugger the artsy blather...I just love 'em. Way to go.
I like how you can see the age on the walls of the nearest one, and how there's an alley or a little pathway between that one and the garage, but you wouldn't know it except for the separation of shadows.
I think my favorite part is way in the distance, to the left. The last house on the block with the faded gate. I don't know if you meant to do that with the atmospheric thing, but it looks really cool.
Boyle Heights is a very cool place.. home to the infamous "Evergreen Park." Gang rivalries and latin food and music.. now that's where I want to paint. Great architechtural subject again Will.. transforming the mundane into the "something special" category. I'm gonna heist your idea and set up in Boyle Heights real soon.. ese!
The last bunch of paintin's you've posted, Solid man. Solid as a really solid rock.
Hey Bill, is there a way we can subscribe to your blog and get email notifications when new posts come up? I notice that on some blogs, not sure how this works.
Thanks, Jean
Jean Levert Hood
www.jeanleverthood.com
jean@jeanhood.com
Your palette has grown a little more sophistocated lately, I like the color in this one. And your composition works well, you can make even a box-like apartment building look good.
I have to agree BG, the way you treated the distance is great. The simplicity of shapes and yet all is so real. Great work! Also the last one with the bus.
This does just fine! Love the textures and rhythms of it all
nice to see the sunny side this time,indeed a solid painting.
and congrats on the sale of lonely bus Bill and Bill !
Very clever knife work here William. I also love the complementary choices. Without all the detail you really have your abstracted composition and yet you bring it to life with your details. Love it.
thanks Andrew,
I took a long time to paint anything urban. Let alone mundane urban. I used to think "timelessness" was the way to go...
Clive-- What you like is what made me want to do the painting at all-- The shape and divison of forms in an intresting way is step one.
BG:
It was and is the goal is to give the feel of detail yet strip it down to the simplest strokes where I can the Roof of the spot you talking about is the underpaiting, always a goal to let it work.
WK I find them, you exploit them -- feel free. ;-)
Jesse -- I'm giving it my all J!
Jean I still have to get that service together I hope you will stop by every 4 day-- that's usally when I update.
thanks Tony-- I'm glad you like this one.
Thanks Stefan-- I wish they all worked out this easy. another from the same shoot is dead in the water.
thanks Dan, I like your rhythms to.
Yes Rob I'm in a little Noctern jag. What can I do?
Thanks Robin, your always make a shape observation.
you have no idea how much i love old houses (old houses, motels & liquor stores). you would shit your pants over some of the reference photos i've taken. i've found some MAJORLY awesome, amazing, jaw-dropppingly bonerful old places/buildings (CA is full of them).
this is an excellent painting, btw. excellent colors & i really like how you showed the yellow paint wearing away, with the gray cement color underneath.
I am the new owner of "134". I've gotta tell you that I look at it everyday and marvel at the brush strokes that make up the image the mind reads. Wow. It's funny how I've driven that road a million times and I hate being parked on it but in my house I look at it every day and smile. It's away being framed this week. I miss it terribly. Thanks for the joy.
Ryan -- I do know-- I love them to--It's hard to explain that warm itchy feeling when you see a great one, especially when the light is just right. Like a kid at Christmas.
Jessica,
Thanks J-- hearing form a collector is gratifying , especially when they really get something out of the work. It's hard to explain to the average person how much you can get form art, but I think the right piece gives you a little reward every time you walk by it.
Send along your mailing address to my via my e- mail and I'll put you on my mailing list. Pardon me if you already have.
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