Silo - A Rural Scene In An Urban Setting -- And An Exhibition Review

Silo (framed)

Last night I had a real treat.   I attended and enjoyed the reception for a fabulous exhibit of Urban Art.  

"City To A Fault, Los Angeles and Environs"
Subject Matter: Urban Plein Air Paintings

Dates of Show: November 1 - 29, 2011
Artists: Jose De Juan, Alex Schaefer, William Wray, Oscar Arroyo, John Kilduff 
 
José Vera Fine Art & Antiques
2012 Colorado Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90041
p. 323.258.5050

I went to the opening for several reasons and certainly was not disappointed. 

• I've gotten to paint with and learn from Jose De Juan, whose work just absolutely sings.   I saw so many of his incredible pieces at the show, I couldn't decide which I liked best.  I'm going to have to go back to see if I can find my own little "gem".
• I've admired the work of William Wray for quite a while and wanted another chance to analyse how Wray manages to make such mundane and unattractive objects and city spaces appealing.   I also wanted to meet him again -- just because.  
• Alex Schaefer (of "burning bank" fame) and Oscar Arroyo are also among those whose work I enjoy and admire.   (Congratulations, Oscar, and collector on the sale!)  I wasn't familiar with John Kilduff's work, but enjoyed seeing it as well. 
• I enjoyed chatting with several artists I admire who also were visiting the show.... always fun.

All in all, I hope those of you who live anywhere nearby take some time and visit the show. 

As I mentioned earlier, I have long admired the work of William Wray.   David Gallup suggested at one point that I try to paint a "copy" of a Wray so that I could get a better feel for his work and learn why I like it.   I started to do that, but never finished.    I thought it better to analyze the work and to see if I could figure out WHY I find it appealing.

This is what I ended up doing:   I was looking for subject matter for an upcoming show my work will be in at La Galeria Gitana and while wandering around the farm at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, CA,  I came across this piece of equipment that somehow attracted me.   I finally figured out that it is a small grain silo which would hold food for the many farm animals who live there.  Cattle, goats, donkeys, chickens and other animals are all part of a wonderful little rural pocket right in the San Fernando Valley... a very suburban part of Los Angeles.

Somehow when I decided that I wanted to paint this... all I could think of was the work of William Wray, a terrific artist who paints things that normally seem ugly or unnoticeable.   The way he paints them with layers of paints and interesting colors makes them always attractive and edgy.    His work always draws you in for a closer look.  Although I'm no William Wray, I did have fun trying to "channel" him when I painted this little silo.

Trying to analyze Wray's work, I thought these are major elements... ----some I used, others I didn't:

• Urban... I never remember seeing "natural" elements in Wray's work.   (obviously this is different in this painting)
• Color....  Wray uses color in unusual ways... He makes it up and creates a story with it rather than using the "real" color of the thing he is representing.
• Composition and design...   Wray's is masterful....  mine... less so.
• Wray often paints night scenes or uses lighting in unusual ways.   (Didn't do that did I... sigh...)
• Edges...   Wray's technical drawing skills are clear but he obfuscates edges with a variety of techniques using texture, color, scrape outs, and a whole lot of other methods.    
• Texture....   Texture of the older work I had observed seemed to be a lot more prominent with a variety of layers and applications than the work I saw last night, but texture was still an element in much of his work in the show.  (another miss..)

I guess on the whole, I didn't really even come close to using Wray's techniques...  but it was a fun exercise ----  I learned ----- and I like what I did.   I hope you do too.  

Silo © Marian Fortunati 9"x12" Oil on board
Click on the above link for additional details

Don't forget to go see all of the work before their show closes.  It's worth it.            

Oh.... and by the way... the opening reception for the show at La Galeria Gitana --

"Rural Remnants of the San Fernando Valley"

is next Saturday evening, November 19th from 6 - 10 p.m.
La Galeria Gitana is in San Fernando, CA

I'd love to see you there!   

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