Forgotten Idol of Tomorrow

 I just took this new one up to the Limner Gallery in Hudson NY for the upcoming "Show of Heads". I believe it's currently displayed in the window. It came out well, it kind of has an amber glow about it, which offsets the post-apocalyptic subject matter a little. I took this photo outdoors, on the back deck by the kitchen window, trivia fans.

Forgotten Idol of Tomorrow, 2021, acrylic on panel, 14" x 11"

Through the Veil at NCAC art auction

 My recent small acrylic painting, "Through the Veil" is featured in the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) virtual benefit auction, to coincide with their virtual annual benefit on November 11 (coincidentally my birthday). The auction is open for viewing now (October 21-27) and bidding goes from October 28-November 13, 2020. 

Here is the link to my page: http://vugalleries.com/product/william-ayton/

Here is the auction main page link: http://vugalleries.com/ncac-auction-home/

Through the Veil, 2020, acrylic on panel, 10" x 8"

Prison Island

A new color acrylic painting that is part of the Coronavirus series. My paintings of islands were probably inspired by the Isle of the Dead initially, but they have tended to spread out in all kinds of thematic dimensions, this one containing references to the Tower of Babel series also.

Prison Island, 2020, acrylic on panel, 10" x 8"

Beware the Man in the Mask...

This started as an ink drawing, but after a false start or two became a monochrome acrylic painting with parts of the original drawing showing (at the sides). From the Coronavirus series.

Beware the Man in the Mask, 2020, ink & acrylic on paper, 14" x 11"

They Are All Lost in the Forest

A new small acrylic painting on panel. This one came out darker (literally & figuratively) than I expected, perhaps.

They Are All Lost in the Forest, 2020, acrylic on panel, 10" x 8"

Man Transforming Into a Landscape

Channeling my inner Bonnard/Matisse in this small new painting...

Man Transforming Into a Landscape, 2019, acrylic on panel, 11" x 7.5"

Storm Over Spire

The Tower of Babel seems to be as good a metaphor as ever of human striving & human arrogance, which is why I've used it repeatedly in the past, so it of course makes an appearance in the Book of Revelations...(see previous posts)

Storm Over Spire, 2019, acrylic on panel, 9" diameter

The Angel of the Revelation

Since the world (the one we actually live in) has allegedly only about 10 years to go until at least widespread systemic collapse (no joke), I'm working on the Book of Revelations to try & avoid the disaster...which may not be much, but it's something. Here's an Angel to try & save things...

The Angel of the Revelation, 2019, acrylic on panel, 14" x 11"

The Madman in Red (the Sun)

This is one of the "jokers in the pack" as it were...for the Book of Revelations...

The Madman in Red (the Sun), 2019, acrylic on panel, 12" x 12"

The Plains of Megiddo

Another small acrylic painting from the "Book of Revelations" as I've decided to call it...this is a reference of course to Armageddon, the Final Battle, which you can read about on Wikipedia here.

The Plains of Megiddo, 2019, acrylic on panel, 8" x 10"

Destroyer

Another painting from the "Book of Revelations" series, this one done in basically monochrome hues. The giant figure looming over the world theme is one I've dealt with several times before...

Destroyer, 2019, acrylic on panel, 20" x 16"

Judgment Day

This may be the highlight of the Revelation Series, or at least a highlight. I may do a larger & more complex version of this someday...

Judgment Day, 2019, acrylic on panel, 20" x 16"

More Paintings from the Revelation Series

Whilst you can see all of the current images on Flickr and Tumblr, I thought I'd post a random selection here also. I've included seven of them, which is an appropriate number for the Book of Revelation, as it occurs numerous times.

Damaged Souls, 2019, acrylic on panel, 14" x 11".

Damaged Gods, 2019, acrylic on panel, 12" x 16"

This is the way...step inside.., 2019, acrylic on panel, 20" x 16"

Eye in the Sky / Eye of Heaven, 2019, acrylic on panel, 14" x 11"

Melt / Down, 2019, acrylic on panel, 14" x 11"

Riders in the Sky, 2019, acrylic on panel, 14" x 11"

There Arose a Radiant Star, 2019, acrylic on panel, 10"x 8"

Ezekiel's Wheels

This is one I've been meaning to paint for a long time. A few years (about 6) ago, I did a drawing that proved somewhat unsuccessful...I think this version is better. From the Revelation series (forthcoming).

Ezekiel's Wheels, 2019, acrylic on panel, 20" x 16".

The Deluge

This is a new color piece done today for the new & developing "Revelation" series. It's actually based on a drawing I did many years ago -- I've put the original piece below underneath the new one.

The new version was done from memory, rather than looking at/copying the older version, so in some ways they are quite different.

The Deluge, 2019, acrylic on panel, 20" x 16"

The Deluge, 1998, acrylic pigment on museum board, 40" x 32"

Looming Clouds Over Distant White Cities (versions 1-3)

This is a little series of very small acrylic paintings I did last week. The impetus was the last-minute submission of some "Small Works" to the Limner Gallery exhibit of the same name & theme. These were not in the show itself (2 pieces were accepted: Woman at Twilight & Creator of the Cosmos), but these 3 small works have an interesting look and atmosphere & I may pursue this or similar themes in the future. They seem both apocalyptic and tranquil, an intriguing juxtaposition.

Looming Clouds Over Distant White Cities 1-3, 2018, acrylic on canvas, each panel 6" x 4"

Medusa 2018

This is one of a new series of smallish paintings on treated plywood...I give the plywood several coats of water-based grain filler & then draw & paint on top. So far it seems to be working & the paint & ink hold well. In this one, the ripples in the grain of the plywood echo the coils of Medusa's hair, which was an unexpected but welcome touch.

Medusa 2018, ink & acrylic on plywood, 20" x 16".

The Maid of the Mountains / Frozen in Time

After having spent the last month or two (or three) reading the Walter Isaacson "Leonardo da Vinci" biography (which I can recommend, more on that anon), I find that whenever I spend a significant period of time in the company of another artist's work, I start to absorb a certain amount of the sensibility of said artist. Which brings us to the work presented here, which is obviously a little more than a nod in the direction of the Mona Lisa (I was thinking of titling the piece "Anom Asil", for example), but I think I caught a little of the essence of the original, whilst bringing something different to the table...you can decide...

The Maid of the Mountains / Frozen in time, 2018, acrylic on plywood, 16" x 12".

The Emperor

I feel like I was channeling Paul Klee a little on this small (10" x 10") painting. Interestingly, the piece came together with the finishing touch of the plant-like motif under the eye on the profile head.

The Emperor, 2017, acrylic on board, 10" x 10".

The Escapist

New painting, channeling Magritte at least a little, here. The shell-like ear was the finishing touch to this one.

The Escapist, 2017, acrylic on plywood, 16" x 12".