Thursday, February 21, 2008

Title? Which title?


oil on linen 16x12
I haven’t pulled the camera back for a little while, so here is a long shot in Downtown L.A. This is a view of the parking lot behind the old Palace theater on Broadway at twilight. I’m sort of torn on a title... I like the vaguely enigmatic “Behind the Palace” or the generic “Lot Booth.” In my continuing quest to do less and get more, this one is mostly thin washes with rags and some limited brushwork to define the both cars and clouds. While I had reference on this, I edited, abstracted, made up colors and let the washes textures flow free as much as I could.

28 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

William, I'm just about to start to paint with oils for the first time ever...and I admire your work more and more. This one beautiful.

11:23 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

i really like the feel of this

12:11 AM  
Blogger Jesse said...

I am a firm believer that titles are over rated.

I quite enjoy the colors of this piece.

4:23 AM  
Blogger Joe Kresoja said...

One of my favorites, love the color choices. Yellow sky, oh yeah dude!

10:32 AM  
Blogger Don Shank said...

wow! so awesome!

12:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah, great!

5:01 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

When the heck are you going to do some book covers? This one reminds me of John Harris' work, lovely depth. - mh

6:03 PM  
Blogger Joe Karg said...

I'm loving these pinks you're pulling. Sweet image Bill.

Ciao,
joe

7:05 PM  
Blogger william wray said...

Hey Stef your are in for a world of wonder and frustration. Who is your teacher?

10:39 PM  
Blogger Michael Chesley Johnson, Artist / Writer said...

"Lot Booth" has my vote. But then, titling my work has never been my strong point.

4:20 AM  
Blogger Ambera said...

The clouds are a nice touch, painterly and shapely against the buildings. Did you add them yourself, or were they there?

9:02 AM  
Blogger Sally said...

HI William, I've just been browsing at your blog; really super paintings here, do you mind if I add you to my blogroll? I would like to pop in and see your work as you go along.
Sally

2:31 PM  
Blogger Urban Barbarian said...

Dirty and Beautiful! The advertising don't lie!

6:18 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yummy... one of my faves

8:57 PM  
Blogger A Reason to Paint said...

The 'messiness' of your work is so appealing; how I wish I could loosen up like that.

3:23 AM  
Blogger chubirka said...

This is an amazing painting! I love the industrial feeling of this cityscape. Your technique looks effortless.

9:52 AM  
Blogger Drake Brodahl (pumml) said...

Fantastic! Love the looseness and the colors you used. I prefer "Behind the Palace" myself, as it gives more info about the flipside of this coin.

2:21 PM  
Blogger Evham said...

This is my favorite of your paintings, though the medium is oil it has a great modern California watercolorist/ impressionist feel to it.

4:36 PM  
Blogger william wray said...

thanks Nicole!

6:27 PM  
Blogger william wray said...

Jessie, tell that to Robert Williams. ;-)

6:27 PM  
Blogger About said...

Well, whatever you want to call it, it's fantastic...colors and textures are unexpected and beautiful.

9:22 PM  
Blogger Polyminthe said...

Hello william, I discovered your work through the painting of a windmill you did recently...wonderful work!

2:49 AM  
Blogger Lane said...

I really like your work! It makes me feel like I'm walking in a dreamworld.

10:29 AM  
Blogger Robin Purcell said...

I love this one. I saw the stuff in the sky as the ultimate romantic interpretation of smoke from the smokestack,a dirty beauty all right!

7:17 PM  
Blogger Aaronphilby said...

Marvelous

2:31 PM  
Blogger william wray said...

thanks Joe , Don and Thor! Talents all!

12:14 AM  
Blogger william wray said...

Thanks for turning me on to JH Matt!

12:14 AM  
Blogger william wray said...

thnaks Joe!

12:15 AM  

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