A series of urban landscapes of Southern California with a special focus on Sierra Madre and including the surrounding areas of Pasadena, Glendale, Monrovia, Arcadia, Azusa, Burbank, Los Feliz and the City of Industry.
Downtown Shadows
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)4 Jan 2009 at 1:31 pm
12x9 oil on linen
A simple downtown shot done for graphic shape and abstraction. I had all the windows painted in and the painting was boring... I lost the windows it turned into art. ... read more
Smoke Train
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)27 Dec 2008 at 3:20 pm
Here is a little 6x8 oil on linen. I've been working on bigger one's I haven't shot so this will have to do for now... referanced from a photo by Dennis Rittson
http://www.cia.com.au/drittson/index.html ... read more
99 Industry and Bakersfield aftermath
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)20 Dec 2008 at 11:31 pm
9x12 oil opn linen
One more in the Bakersfield show
Bakersfield was a really joy, thanks to Emily, Nicole and Cindy for everything. Both the show and the Workshop were full and the other shows exciting as well. Had some sales and the books moved well, but people are still being a little cautious in this economy in committing to the big paintings. The show will be up for 2 months so I'm hoping for ... read more
(no title)
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)12 Dec 2008 at 11:35 pm
16x20
This is a view from the roof of the Nickelodeon Cartoon studios on a recent (rare) rainy day. Something a little different I hope as I was punishing a modern feel. I would call the methodology in working Brutal Expressionism. A violently painted work on a rough surface.
It's painted on old linen that has been covered with modeling paste and slightly sanded to give a gritty feeling. ... read more
Astro, Boy, Bakersfield Workshop and Sparrow
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)22 Nov 2008 at 12:15 pm
Bakersfield 12x16 oil on linen.
When I went to Bakersfield awhile ago to drop off my paintings for the show, I realized I had not done a panting that really reflected one of the main industry's so I did this the same night I got back and will hang it a half hour before the prieview starts.
Another for the Bake show. The Astro Motel in Fresno. Run down, but still going unlike a lot of the highway ho ... read more
Burn off the 99 +more
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)8 Nov 2008 at 10:08 pm
Some little ones for the show
Pixky 6x8 oil on linen
99 View 6x8 oil on linen
Due to the economy I'm not doing a lot of big paintings for my Bakersfield museum show but this is an exception. It's 24 x 48 oil on wood. Since the show is entitled 99, I figured I needed at least one simple shot of it. ... read more
Wagons and forgot a demo
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)3 Nov 2008 at 10:02 am
Off the 99 near Bakersfield is a tiny junkyard with mostly bleached out fifties and sixties cars. This is one a a series of paintings on The 99 for my Bakersfield Museum show in December.
Just a note of assurance that all's ready for my demonstration for
a demo Wednesday evening at 7:00pm, Nov.5th at
Rodgers Senior Center. Here's the full address in case you want to
Map Quest: 1706 Orange Ave., H ... read more
Goat
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)29 Oct 2008 at 1:57 am
8x10 oil on linen
Forgive me for being behind on my replies-- ... read more
Girl
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)23 Oct 2008 at 2:16 pm
Several weeks ago I took a workshop with Carolyn Anderson (my second) I
This was the only one she didn't help me with in a major way (she scraped off a tiny detail on the nose and eye with two stokes of the back of her brush) this was painting from a photo she took. My "live" paintings didn't work out very well, a common issue in workshops if you really trying to absorb the teachers approach. Howev ... read more
KERROC
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)18 Oct 2008 at 12:47 pm
Here is a litle factory in Bakersfield. 9x12 oil on linen pannel
Due to illness I won't be doing The Sedona show . ... read more
Atlanta Night
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)11 Oct 2008 at 4:01 pm
I've cancelled attending this show to sick. Sorry to all.
oil on wood 18x24
Here is another painting for the Atlanta show scroll two posts down for more info. Don't forget Laguna and Sedona next week!
A L S O:
Here is a really generous and intuitive review of my work from the talent artist Michael Newberry:
http://michaelnewberry.com/av/wray/wray.html ... read more
The Framer
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)30 Sep 2008 at 1:38 am
24x32 The Framer Oil on Wood
This is one of my Framer's (Alan) at United pictures frames in Pasadena, he his brother has the best selectionof frames on hand I've ever seen and reasonable prices. ... read more
Walton Strert, Atlanta, Laguna and Sedona
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)20 Sep 2008 at 8:16 pm
24x48 oil on wood
I'll be in a group show in Atanta from October 17—November 21
At Anne Irwin fine art featuring Atlanta Cityscapes. See the link for more info---->>>>>
I'll also be live on the streets of Laguna frightening little children at:
See LAPAPA link--------->>>>>
And don't forget:
... read more
Bill and Tony's under the freeway adventure
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)13 Sep 2008 at 7:59 pm
Under the Over 11x 14 oil on canvas board
Several weeks ago Tony and I went to San Pedro to takes pictures of the area. After shooting all day we thought we were done for the night, but while tooling along home we decided to shoot the metro LACMTA station at where the century freeway crosses the Harbor freeway.
Taco's at Midnight 11x14 oil on linen
It was pretty late, but our art reference blood was ... read more
Blimp over the Valley
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)7 Sep 2008 at 2:48 pm
16x20 GO acrlyics
While there is a reference photo for this, I added the blimp and wildly extrapolated from said reference in and attempt to push in a different expressive direction. You could make an argument this is pure fantasy, but it's possible right? On another note...
I just judged the Raymar art contest for last month. It was interesting and a nice honor to be chosen for a contest I've never ... read more
Mail Truck, Downtown
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)1 Sep 2008 at 2:33 pm
GO acrylic 24x26 on wood
My largest Golden Open Acrylic to date. One of those lucky reference photos that's gets "made" by a small element being there when you lift your camera. The little truck on a almost empty street has some charm factor to it for some reason. I've meant to paint a mail truck for a long time and I finally got to. Looks like this one is sold even before it go put into it's int ... read more
Golden Open Acrylic Figure Studies
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)23 Aug 2008 at 4:03 pm
Nicole
12x16 GO Acrylics on canvas board.
This model is a an attractive girl, but has a slightly large boxy nose and a small mouth, petite body. In this case the cartoonist in me came out and exaggerated those features. Nose bigger, mouth smaller. I almost reduced the nose, but like the drawing and didn't want to mess with it. I think I hurt the models feelings as she didn't comment on it like she w ... read more
Chinatown Saunter
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)17 Aug 2008 at 11:16 pm
oil 12x16
Here is one from a typical visit to one of my my framers ( framing house) on Broadway in Chinatown. Blowing out all the detail and simplifying the color to the point of silhouette. Turns out I have almost 10 paintingss up at the MJ Higgins group show. It's worth a visit! ... read more
Bus Stop, downtown and another show???
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)8 Aug 2008 at 6:25 pm
Yes another group show with much talent including my bra Tony Peters...
Go, I'm cutting way back shows in 2009.
It's at Martha Higgins--------->>>> Check the link------->>>>>
--------------->>>>>
Oil on board with sanded modeling paste.
Downtown I think 5th St below main or so in the Toy district. A transvestite was waiting for a bus after a shopping spree. Shelooked happy until I photographed her, thu ... read more
Boeing 727, Mojave at the Wendt Gallery
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)28 Jul 2008 at 11:15 pm
16x24 oil on wood
I'm pleased to announce that I'll be participating in the Wendt Galleries 2008 group Landscape show. This painting: Boeing 727, Mojave is one of the one's that will be in the show. I've posted some of my desert Jet paintings before, but I don't think this one has been shown yet.
I'm not on the promo card, but that's ok I'm the new guy. See the Wendt link---->>> ... read more
South Broadway, Los Angeles
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)19 Jul 2008 at 2:42 pm
12x16 oil on wood.
Here is another downtown cityscape where the big old buildings "end". I often feel like I'm in New York down there. I have a two shows coming up with cityscapes themes so there will be more. I was again trying to abstract a bit as I liked the elements and how they overlapped into interesting shapes. I also was trying to be a little bit darker and "ash can" with the color than ... read more
Santa Anita Off Ramp
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)11 Jul 2008 at 9:30 pm
18x24 oil on wood
This is my off ramp going west on the 210. It's the last painting to be finessed for my Show with Tim Horn. ... read more
Parking Available
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)5 Jul 2008 at 2:55 pm
18x 24 oil on wood
First I just wanted to toot my and Tim Horn's horn that we got a little feature in the current American Art Collector. I hope some of you can come to our July 12th show at Segil Fine Art. See link--->>>>>
This is a downtown parking lot in a slow moment on the weekend. I have been waiting to try a simpler, headed toward abstracted style for a bit. It was a big stated goal that kind ... read more
Candy House and Hotel Room 1970
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)29 Jun 2008 at 3:54 pm
I thought this one got a bit on sweet Thomas Kincaid side with the pink and baby blue skies, but others tell me it still has just enough of a creepy tone to pass into the dirty world. This was another attempt to find something interesting in the ordinary front porches in my neighborhood.
12x16 oil on Wood
In my continuing attempt in trying to find myself figuratively I found an old photo of a mode ... read more
Back Alleyway, Chinatown and my back porch
by noreply@blogger.com (william wray)21 Jun 2008 at 9:11 pm
In Los Angeles off Broadway behind the Chinatown shops near the 110 are some narrow alleyways. So narrow you might call them passageways. An old Chinese man and his wife were going upstairs as I was taking photos I think they were uncomfortable with me there, but anything for art...
I didn’t like the painting first time thru going by my reference, so I put that aside and simplified, changing any ... read more