Bill's Paintings

California Gold

2011-12-28T14:25:00.001-08:00

Oil on canvas
24X24
More poppies.
The colors and forms here made these blossoms irresistable.

Light and Shade

2011-11-27T11:22:00.000-08:00

16X20 Oil on Canvas
A bit off the beaten path for me, but I like it

Humpty Dumpty And Friends

2011-11-13T07:35:00.000-08:00

Oil on board.
10X8
A three hour exercise in observing light.
This is the most maddening subject I've ever tried to paint.
They keep rolling around and the light changes constantly.I limited it tot 3 hours to avoid losing my sanity.
I tried the rough side of masonite and I liked the toothy texture.I'll be trying that again.

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

2011-10-30T11:24:00.001-07:00

20X16
Oil on canvas
This year's Christmas Card.
From some figurines and some imagination

Royal Galas

2011-09-22T19:24:00.001-07:00

Oil on board

12X10

Royal galas from the local orchard.

2011-02-26T07:16:00.000-08:00

8X10
Oil on board
I was taken by the serenity in this woman's expression.
I think I caught it.
Even with my choppy style, I think the beauty of her impeccable skin shows thru.
This has become my personal favorite of my paintings.
I think I did more with line, value and color here than I have in any of my other paintings.

Two Portraits

2011-01-22T08:44:00.001-08:00

Oil on board
8X10
I've been working on painting from life and took a break to paint this one for fun.
I'm glad I did.

Oranges

2010-12-07T09:14:00.000-08:00

Oranges
Oil on board
20X16
Some new colors for me.
I'm working a lot on textures now, trying to distinguish between the bumpy surfaces of the oranges and the comparatively smooth surface of the pot.
This one took longer than usual but I enjoyed painting it.

Rejoice!

2010-11-14T06:32:00.001-08:00

Oil on board
8X10
This year's Christmas Card.
Someone bought this one the day it was put on display.

Stil Life With Apples And Grapes

2010-07-18T13:05:00.001-07:00

10X8
Oil on board
The matte surfaces of the grapes and the polished surfaces of the apples were the challenge here. The contrast of the translucent grapes with the opaque apples added some more interest for me.

Still Life With Lemons and Pail

2010-07-07T14:31:00.000-07:00

Oil on board 24X12
I found this marvellous setup on the Wet Canvas Reference Image Library.
Frank Sinatra once said that singing a Cole Porter song made his job easy- the composition was so good that he could just concentrate on interpreting it .
That was the case here. This masterful composition let me concentrate on using paint to translate the forms as I saw them.
I don't know who the photographer is, but whoever you are.. congratulations on this masterpiece and thanks!

Reaching for a dream

2010-02-01T08:14:00.000-08:00

14X20
Oil on board
My first of 2010.
To offest the downbeat tone of the news, I was looking for something uplifting to paint and came across this lovely little lady.

Harmonic Trio

2009-12-08T05:17:00.000-08:00

Oil on board 10X8

This year's Christmas Card.

These 3 Hummel figures have been in the family as long as I can remember.

The figures are wonderful painting subjects because of the simple emotions they express.

While the figures are widely recognized, little has been said about their marvellously talented creator, Sister M. I. Hummel.

Here are a few facts I found about her:

Born in Bavaria in 1909, Berta went to the Academy of Applied Arts in Munich.

After graduation in 1931 she entered the Convent of Sieseen -- an order that emphasized the arts and soon was producing religous art cards for several German publishers.

When Franz Goebel saw her published artwork, he realized these drawings could translate into the new figurines he wanted to produce.
Berta took the name Maria Innocentia Hummel in 1934.
The Figurines:
The agreement with Goebel was that Sister Hummel would have the final approval of every piece and it would be incised with her signature.

To this day, each M.I. Hummel piece must have the approval of the Convent of Siessen.

The first figurines were introduced in 1935 and were immediately successful.

Puppy Love has the distinction of being the first piece, Hum 1.
Hummel figurines were only allowed to be made for export during the war, but Goebel still continued with a few new models. The effects of the war reached the Convent as the fuel shortages caused Sister Hummel to work in a cold, unheated space and because of her fragile health she died in 1946.
After the war American soldiers discovered Hummels and sent the figurines home. They also started gaining popularity with the German people who wanted to start decorating their homes again.

Portait in 3 Colors

2009-11-15T07:19:00.001-08:00

5X7 Oil on board

I haven't been painting much of late.
I've been busy with programming projects and as the winter approaches, I've been trying to squeeze in a few extra rounds of golf to carry me thru the snow days.
I saw this foto and that got the painting juices flowing again by shouting "Paint me!"
I read that Frank Reilly, a well-regarded illustrator and teacher from the early 20th century, wrote something to the effect that with painting value counts most, chroma to a lesser degree and, to a much smaller degree - hue. That made sense to me.
I tried to apply that notion here by severely restricting my hues and concentrating on value and chroma.
I worked on the expression here and wasn't after a likeness. Most people don't recognize the subject, who is rarely seen in profile.
So, I was surprised when our 10 year-old grandson, Tommy Fitzgerald, said:
"That's John Travolta!"

Just Clouds II

2009-10-02T03:17:00.001-07:00

Oil on canvas
10X22
The second in the cloud series.
Several years ago, we drove I80 from Cheyenne, Wyoming to San Francisco. While painting this one, I was thinking of stretches like this in Wyoming and Utah where a cloud formation would suddenly appear, dump some rain on us, and disappear just as quickly.

Several people have seen a bodybuilder in this one, holding up a hand to stop traffic on the road.
After they mentioned it, I can see him, but I can't see the poodles that some others have seen.

Just Clouds I

2009-09-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

Oil on canvas
8X8
I've decided to do a series of paintings where clouds are the featured attractions.
The first few efforts weren't very fruitful, so I spent some time in the library to learn more about these strange images in the sky.
This is the first one I've published.
More to come.

Building Dreams

2009-08-05T16:59:00.001-07:00

Oil on board 10X6

I was trying to capture the bond between these two on an overcast day.

The Face That Launched A Thousand Quips

2009-05-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

Oil on board
8X10

This man's face is a portrait painter's dream.

Loads of expression, color and individuality.

I've been looking for a good ref foto. Fortunately, he's been in the news lately and I found a few to get me started.

His head is truncated, but I really wanted to zoom in on the eyes and mouth.

Update 9/3/2009]

I'm pleased as punch that this painting has been accepted to appear in a very competitive juried show by a group of jurors selected by the Art League of Long Island. The exhibition, called A Common Thread, is for portraits only and also includes invited works by Harvey Dinnerstein, David Levine and Burton Silverman - some very well known and accomplished painters - and as you can imagine, I'm very proud to have been chosen to be in that fast company.
It was open to painters in NY, NJ and CT.

Day at the races

2009-04-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

Oil on board
21X27

I've seen this guy in ads several times. My wife had a young girl crush on the sailor who was to marry her aunt, and Uncle Henry was one good looking dude up until his passing last year.

This fella looks like Uncle Henry, so she's pointed him out to me several times. I sketched him once and when I saw this foldout in the Sunday NY Times, I had to give it a try. I started with just the head but the dynamics of the arms were so tempting I tried the whole thing.

This was an ad for a shirt. I downplayed the shirt and focused more on him.
As I painted it, I was thinking of the Men's Wearhouse commercial where the bearded owner says "You'll look great, I guarantee it."

Does he?

Resources (Courtesy of Utrecht)

2009-04-13T06:27:00.000-07:00

Oil on board

10X10

I was about to discard an old art supply catalog from Utrecht when I came across this foto and liked its feeling. I changed the background and foreground considerably, but the two objects are basically as I saw them in the foto.

I used almost every color on my palette to capture the "greys" in that bucket.

Young lady with sad eyes

2009-02-13T17:03:00.000-08:00

8X10

Oil on board

When I was young we said that certain women had a "peaches and cream" complexion.

My mother had it till she died, and this young lady's lovely skin reminded me of it.

Shaun

2009-01-06T16:10:00.001-08:00

10X10 Oil on board

This is from a foto taken by the young lady's mother.

She's almost as beautiful as my daughter!

Odd Couple

2008-12-06T21:16:00.000-08:00

12X9
Oil on canvas
Can you see the heart made by the shadows?
The tension between the two objects is the story I wanted to tell with this set up.

Sunflowers in blue vase

2008-11-21T22:02:00.000-08:00

The colors created by the movement of the light in this picture tell the story.
8X10 Oil on Board

Misty Spring Morning

2008-11-07T17:53:00.000-08:00

The golf days are numbered now, so I'm thinking about next spring already.

Walking to Light

2008-10-28T21:27:00.001-07:00

Oil on Board
20X16
I was attracted by the strange feeling of darkness on a city street while the sky is still bright.
The city is Tallinn, in Estonia.

Tee Shirt Alley

2008-10-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

We've all been on streets like this, I think.
I was thinking of one in Monaco, on the French Riviera while I was painting this.

Yuletide Chorus

2008-09-05T19:02:00.001-07:00

These figurines, designed by the late German nun, MJ Hummel, have survived attacks by dogs, cats, children and grandchildren.

I want to try to make our christmas cards this years, and these caught my eye.

8X10 Oil on Board

Open Hands

2008-08-22T07:36:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to paint hands.

After our eyes and mouth, hands are more expressive features.

Several people have seen different things in this picture. One viewer saw a bird in flight, another saw a cup or chalice.
The feeling of the hands reaching for something, or waiting for something to arrive was a powerful emotion for me and that's why I painted it.

Gallery 125 Show

2008-08-01T14:50:00.000-07:00

I submitted 5 paintings to the Fall Juried Show at Gallery 125 in Trenton, and I'm pleased that this one was accepted for the show.

These little fellas have been in the family for over 50 years and have survived onslaughts from dogs, cats, children and grandchildren, so they must know something we don't know.

The advantage of painting on board is that you can get just about any size you want.

This one is 8" x 4".

Rest Spot

2008-06-15T06:17:00.001-07:00

My wife and I enjoy having a box lunch at Sayen Gardens in Hamilton, New Jersey.

This bench overlooks a wishing well and is surrounded by shade trees and shrubs that make it cool and refreshing on even the warmest days.

20X16

Oil on Canvas

Show in Trenton

2008-06-07T06:48:00.000-07:00

My wife snared these two small still life paintings while they were still wet. I entered them in the juried show, Art of Summer, at Gallery 125 in Trenton, and they were selected, so I'll have to come up with something else for that spot.

See you in Trenton!

Portrait of the Artist

2008-04-22T03:36:00.000-07:00

14X14 Oil on Board

I'm trying to shift from portraits to other subjects for a while, but this subject kept putting his narcissitic nose in the way.

At my age, you can't do a progressive series, so this is the portrait of the artist, period. My wife says the likeness is pretty good.

My hands really are that large, but this pose accentuates them, doesn't it?

Tulips in a Dark Room

2008-03-07T06:13:00.000-08:00

I've been doing portraits of late, but the demand from the head critic (my wife) is for more floral and still life paintings.

This is one of her favorites, painted last year.

I'm working on a landscape now, but more florals will follow.

2008-02-01T15:31:00.000-08:00

Around Christmas, I sent a print of this down to the White House with a Merry Christmas letter, saying that I'd be thrilled to send the original if they'd like to have it. Well, a young lady from the White House called today and said they'd like me to send the original down. She couldn't guarantee it, but she thinks it will go into one of the libraries!

Well, this arrived today, 2/1/2008

Night At The Opera

2008-01-14T20:34:00.001-08:00

I saw this picture and couldn't resist painting it. As students we sat WAY UP in the Family Circle at the Metropolitan Opera and now and then on the way up, we saw a lady dressed this way, accompanied by a dapper chap in a tuxedo.

We couldn't see much, but the music was wonderful!

OJ

2008-01-10T16:42:00.001-08:00

Wow, is this fella unpopular!
I think that this is one of my best paintings, but no one can get past the personality!
Back to flowers!

Deirdre

2007-12-30T06:42:00.001-08:00

Oil 10 x 10
Yes, her eyes ARE that beautiful!

Red Heads in Woods

2007-12-30T06:41:00.001-08:00

Acrylic 16x20
Exploring on Thanksgiving Day

W

2007-12-30T06:39:00.000-08:00

Acrylic 1ox10
This man's distinctive features make
him an ideal portrait subject.
I loved the colors on the couch and had to include them.

Southern Magnolias

2007-12-30T05:28:00.000-08:00

Acrylic 15x15
We have pink magnolias in the northeast
as a rule, but we found a few trees
here in New Jersey and they are
fragrant and beautiful.

Freesia and Wild Daisies

2007-12-30T05:27:00.001-08:00

Acrylic 8x10
The back lighting from the
windows attracted me to this
setting and I had to paint it.

Roses With Stems

2007-12-30T05:25:00.000-08:00

Acrylic 10x24
These recently picked roses are awaiting
their final destination. A lover's bouquet?

Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

2007-12-30T05:22:00.000-08:00

Acrylic 16x20
This painting began with many more
blooms but I kept removing them till
there was just the vase and the bud.

Rose and Vase

2007-12-30T05:21:00.001-08:00

Acrylic 11x14
A simple vase and rose.
Inspired by "The Last Flowers of Manet"