Father’s Art: Works of Billy Charles Duvall [12]

Detail of a photo below

By André Duvall

Beyond the 31 works of art I’ve catalogued so far in this column, there are still other paintings in Dad’s oeuvre worthy of sharing. He recently rediscovered a few more completed works, owing to searches motivated by the evolution of our Father’s Art project. He also discovered several unfinished works from many years ago that the project has inspired him to work on completing.

Father’s Art: Works of Billy Charles Duvall [11]

Billy Charles Duvall

By André Duvall

La Vision de Guillermo: The idea for the first painting (see below) came from a pamphlet purchased at a book sale at the Little Rock public library entitled “Bolivia,” from Nov. 1, 1917. The pamphlet contained many photographs, including one taken at night with the caption, “A Pack Train of Llamas in La Paz, Bolivia – Twilight.” Dad’s llamas are based on the first two shown in that photo. Lights from the buildings are shining, casting shadows.

Heavenly

Detail from “Sunset”

Paintings by Shirley Deane/Midyett

By Vic Midyett
[c. 1952–2/11/2022]

[Published originally in the “Tuesday Voice” column on May 5, 2015.]

Shirley has completed two new paintings, both commissioned.

Father’s Art: Works of Billy Charles Duvall [10]

Detail from “Origin of
the Hattieville Bison”

By André Duvall

Almost all of my father’s art that I’ve presented so far have been oil paintings (except for one with acrylic and a couple of sketches). Oil painting is Dad’s preferred medium and comprises the majority of his work.
    Today’s presentation, in contrast, shares two pieces with three-dimensional elements, both created within the last eleven years. Both were inspired by objects he collected while taking walks along the several curves the Arkansas River makes between Little Rock and North Little Rock. From its banks he has collected rocks, driftwood, and plants such as trumpet vines. Both works featured below were also inspired by the bio-evolutionary and geological processes on Earth.

Mary’s Voice: Posthumously Speaking 25

Detail of “Visiting Birds,”
by Geneva Metzler

Geneva Metzler’s
“Visiting Birds”

By Mary Alice Condley
(1925-2007)

Editor’s Note: In the notes on “Autumn Hues,” Mary Alice’s daughter, Karen Abbey, told us that she has a painting by her mother’s painting teacher, Geneva Metzler. Karen bought it at a showing of Geneva’s, in Sanger, California. “When I saw the picture I knew I had to have it! I think it cost $75.”

Mary’s Voice: Posthumously Speaking 24

Detail of “Mother Red Bird”

Mother Red Bird

By Mary Alice Condley
(1925-2007)

Editor’s Note: Here is the second of Mary Alice’s two paintings that her niece Dawn Stella Burke found the day after discovering “Morning by the Sea.” The first of the two was “Flowers in Glass.”

Father’s Art: Works of Billy Charles Duvall [9]

His Only
Self-Portrait

By André Duvall

After a long hiatus, I am excited to resume sharing more artwork of my father, Billy Charles Duvall. If you enjoy this post and his artwork, I invite you to visit any of my eight earlier Father’s Art posts on Moristotle & Co. In the first installment, on September 25, 2019, you can read some background on Dad’s hobby, and about my inspiration for this project.

Mary’s Voice: Posthumously Speaking 23

Detail of “Flowers in Glass”

Flowers in Glass

By Mary Alice Condley
(1925-2007)

Editor’s Note: The day after Mary Alice’s niece Dawn Stella Burke found “Morning by the Sea,” while searching for a 1949 photograph of her parents, Don & Flo Elowee Story, Dawn Stella found two more of Mary Alice’s paintings, the first of which we’re sharing with you today.

Mary’s Voice: Posthumously Speaking 22

Detail from “Morning by the Sea”

Morning by the Sea

By Mary Alice Condley
(1925-2007)

Editor’s Note: After Mary Alice’s niece Dawn Stella Burke found the three paintings recently shown in this column – “The Barn,” “Autumn Hues,” and “Flowers in Bronze” – she was overjoyed to find a fourth, which we are pleased to share with you today. Says Dawn Stella:

Mary’s Voice: Posthumously Speaking 21

Detail from “Flowers in Bronze”

Flowers in Bronze

By Mary Alice Condley
(1925-2007)

Editor’s Note: Today we present the second of the two of Mary Alice’s still lifes that were brought out of storage in January by her niece Dawn Stella Burke, along with “The Barn.” The other still life was “Autumn Hues.”

Mary’s Voice: Posthumously Speaking 20

Detail from “Autumn Hues”

Autumn Hues

By Mary Alice Condley
(1925-2007)

Editor’s Note: Today we present the first of the two of Mary Alice’s still lifes that were recently brought out of storage by her niece Dawn Stella Burke.
    But first a few words about Mary’s approach to painting, or her technique. My wife remembered Mary’s telling her that she always painted by copying other paintings – or pictures of other paintings, usually in books she owned or borrowed. That is, Mary did not paint from direct observation of the things represented. Mary’s daughter, Karen Abbey, whom I asked about Mary’s barn painting that we presented on January 23, told me:

Mary’s Voice: Posthumously Speaking 19

Detail from “The Barn”

The Barn

By Mary Alice Condley
(1925-2007)

Editor’s Note: I am grateful to my niece Dawn Stella Burke for bringing out of storage three recently discovered, previously unspoken paintings of my sister (Dawn’s aunt) Mary Alice Condley, of whom Dawn says, “She did so many wonderful paintings and other creative things, she was a great cook, and a lovely person.”
    We will share with you soon the two other paintings that Dawn Stella brought out of storage – still lifes of flowers.

“The Barn,” 16" x 20" (1986? – see numerals below signature)

Copyright © 2023 by Moristotle

Highways and Byways: Poinciana

By Maik Strosahl

A couple of months ago I stumbled on Vic Midyett’s December 2016 posts, “Thunder Down Under: Four little paintings for Christmas,” which featured art works his wife, Shirley Deane/Midyett, had done for Christmas gifts. I really liked her 5" x 7" painting of a Poinciana (#4), 12/29/2016, but didn’t know much about it.

Susan’s Stuff: Mind, Memories & Hips

Detail from “Anxious Magpie”

By Moristotle

Hear this! “Mind, Memories & Hips,” a big art show of the work of Columnist Emeritus Susan C. Price, is underway through October 15 at The Artists’ Gallery (TAG), on Museum Row, at 5458 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. From TAG's website:

Susan Price paints with acrylic and oil sticks on paper and canvas. Her abstract forms come from a figurative base that may or may not be visible, letting the audience dictate the open interpretation. Her work has been featured in juried shows at Barnsdall Park, LA Municipal Gallery, Gallery 825, Laemmle Theaters, and different venues via Women Painters West.
    Price has studied art formally since 1963, at Pitzer College, UCLA, & UCLA Extension, with an emphasis on private workshops. She is involved as a member with Los Angeles Art Association/Gallery 825, Women Painters West, and FIG Gallery.

Father’s Art: Works of Billy Charles Duvall [8]

Oil and acrylic on masonite; 48" x 34". July 1984.
Photo by Moristotle, 2015

Mujer Tropical

By André Duvall

Today, April 23, in honor of Billy Charles Duvall’s birthday, I offer a new installment of Father’s Art. Happy Birthday and much love, Dad!

Susan’s Stuff: who raised me

Detail from painting

By Susan C. Price

i include my notes as commentary.

Susan’s Stuff: retirement

Detail from painting

By Susan C. Price

i include my notes as commentary.

Susan’s Stuff: mmmy sharona, blood on their hands

Detail from painting

By Susan C. Price

i include my notes as commentary.

Father’s Art: Works of Billy Charles Duvall [7]

Detail from
original

Detail from
final

A River Journey to Paradise

By André Duvall

My Father’s Art columns up to this point have featured small groupings of paintings with some unifying theme. Today’s post describes the evolution of a single painting that Dad modified many times over the course of several years, and it was one of the paintings that were among my childhood experiences of home.

Father’s Art: Works of Billy Charles Duvall [6]

Detail of “Island Woman”

Two Paintings
and a Bonus

By André Duvall

As you may have gathered from the Father’s Art posts so far, Dad favors working with oil paint. “Island Woman” is one of the few cases in which he uses some acrylic, in order to give a flat, two-dimensional look to the black portion of the painting. He also chose to use the rough side of the Masonite to give it more of a canvas look and texture. “Island Woman” is Dad’s second open-frame painting, inspired by the use of black in his first one, which will be featured in a future post.