3am & Dead bird
9x12 oil on linen
For years I've thought about painting a nocturne of my Neighbors porch. One a hot night in April they left their porch light on by accident. I was watching a movie late and kept distractedly looking out thru my open door at this view. I finally went and got my Camera and snuck outside in my PJ's, nervous the whole time everyone would assume I was a peeping Tom. " Officer, I'm an artist, It's for a painting of their porch, HONESTLY!"
Sorry about the glare, I used some Liquin to darken the painting and it's very shiny.
both oil on linen 5x7
Sharon brought this little guy to me a few days ago, she found him dead in the street so I did a few studies of him then placed him were the coyotes would find him. ( unless I bury him deep they would dig him up anyway) Seems more natural than throwing him in the trash.
__________________
Labels: dead bird
posted by william wray at 3:06 PM
36 Comments:
I want to see it without the glare, but I already know this painting is brilliant. Home run.
Ha, nice one. And the story really adds to the fun of it!
Great one! I can hear a moth fluttering about. Hope the place isn't a pile of cinders now.
The dead bird paintings are beautiful, their colors and their brushstrokes have (ironically) a lot of life.
And the night study is a really good one. congratulations
3am? Reminds me of your DIRTY BEAUTY-cover-painting, in terms of lighting...GREAT!
All three excellent. Really got into the "painterly" textures on the birds. Just getting settled.. will post more productively soon. And yes .. went out with a bang!
As always, I love when you paint dead things--be they cars or birds. Something kind of weird (in a good way though) about birthing a painting of a dead bird.
I can see why you wanted to paint the porch so badly. It's got a cozy, homey feel. If that was my house, my girlfriend would be having a smoke in the chair, and I'd be doodling away on an instrument on the step.
love the brush work in these Will. Very nice work!
Hey Bill, I've seen that there'll be a new Wray-book, SPARROW number ten! Cool, can't wait!
Love the dead bird studies. Painting feathers looks like great fun, a subject made for a hog hair brush.
I found your paintings this morning after seeing you in the artist's magazine, and now I am completely late for work. Love it! Katie
All nice pieces, Bill.
Painter-voyeur, indeed!
Always intriguing this site is.
Thanks Karin it's finally out of my system.
thanks Bill. I'd love to write if I had another life.
Hey Mark we got thru it, not a house lost.
Lusinct, yeah I think the bird still had some sprit left in him.
thanks Thor,
Now that yopu mention it...
Thanks Bill -- I still want to go back again!
BG when the lay off hits in June I plan to paint some of the ocupants...
stephen-- thanks and nice work on your blog.
Thor--- Yes I love Ash Wood!
Thanks Ed, well put.
KG thanks that's a really nice comment.
MCJ-- I am the Voyeur! Are not all painters?
Thanks Aaron-- Your drawings crack me up.
I've seen a lot of dead bird painting and illustrations. I recall one or two by Picasso when he was young. Quite nice.
That being said, these are amazing. Just really great. Beautiful strokes, color, shapes...
I like the porch painting-it's a very elegant composition for a subject most people wouldn't notice, and I like the play between those two elements (I hope that makes sense).
Hi! This is my first visit to your blog. I found it searching for the Art Student's League in NYC.
First, I like your palette. Very Hopper, if you'll pardon me for saying so. And your strokes are very nice.
Also a painter and intermittently tutored, I'm wondering what you thought of your New York experience.Good instruction, worth a temporary move?
Keep up the good work.
I like these William as well as, Yellow House below !
Will, the top one is brilliant! Love the compostition and the way you have just suggested the wing and feathers through the diagonal pattern band is very clever. kudos
WOW...that porch painting is the FANTASTIC, a real beauty! You will have to sneak out in your pj's more often.
And the birds.....killer dude!
Thanks Dan-- I feel life in dead things...
Leslie: Totally! ;-)
i'm back from the dead and still love your paintings.been saving money. do you sell strictly through galleries? is the night porch for sale?/
Nocturnes! Yours is spectacular. Love it!!! Boy...some people fight for IT...You've got IT in spades! You are a great painter. So glad to see more of your work here. T
Post a Comment
<< Home