Items Similar to Large Mid Century California Nocturnal Seascape (Double Sided Painting)
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 12
William L. HughesLarge Mid Century California Nocturnal Seascape (Double Sided Painting)1960
1960
About the Item
Beautiful double-sided painting of a California nocturnal seascape on one side and a Sierra mountain scene on one side on the other by William L. Hughes. Signed "W. L. Hughes" bottom right, both front and back. Unframed. Image, 28"H x 35"W.
A life in art is something Bill Hughes felt drawn to from the very beginning. "It was something I knew all along. I knew I was going to do art." A native of Ohio, Hughes attended the University of Cincinnati for a year and a half, "Just to squelch any ideas I had of making football a career."
Hughes moved to Los Angeles, California from Cleveland in 1960 and lived there for nine years, working as art director of "Motor Trend" magazine before moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico. "Suddenly, I ended up with circumstances that were quite beneficial [to an art career]. It doesn't matter when you start." Hughes finally ended up in an art colony on the east side of Scottsdale, Arizona, where he lived with his wife, Bernadette, for the rest of his life.
Hughes painted by using what he called "actualism," describing it as a technique designed to draw the viewer into the scene so that they could imagine themselves moving through the landscape. Interested in building furniture, Hughes applied the same principles to "building" a painting. "One hand washes the other - painting isn't something exclusive. It can be invaded by anything - it's not a competitive thing, but more of a benefit, an aid, a plus."
Beyond his framework for painting, Hughes' palette is unique. His majestic works seem simple, but actually they are quite complex. Of particular note is the manner in which Hughes rendered light in his works. As with other really fine artists, Hughes spent hours in front of canvases mastering the proper combinations of color and stroke to come up with the right feeling of light in his paintings.
Unlike most landscape painters, Hughes did not paint on location; each painting is a pastiche of what he had seen, what he had remembered, and what he wanted the canvas to be. "There are no secret formulas. It's created on the spot. There are no set rules; color is natural - every person has a natural sense of color. The artist has a more refined sense of color. Any rules I have are invented and not held in preconception."
"The practical aspect," Hughes claimed, "is a lot simpler than people think. The only thing to painting is sitting or standing in front of an easel close enough to reach it with a brush."
Reference: "Southwest Art", May 1982, "Southwest Art" October 1995
- Creator:William L. Hughes
- Creation Year:1960
- Dimensions:Height: 28 in (71.12 cm)Width: 35 in (88.9 cm)Depth: 0.25 in (6.35 mm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:Condition very good; some tonal aging.
- Gallery Location:Soquel, CA
- Reference Number:
About the Seller
4.9
Platinum Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are 1stDibs' most experienced sellers and are rated highest by our customers.
Established in 1986
1stDibs seller since 2014
2,549 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Soquel, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- Vintage Grand Canyon Impressionist LandscapeLocated in Soquel, CAVintage Grand Canyon Impressionist Landscape Majestic impressionist landscape of the Grand Canyon in beautiful vivid colors by an unknown artist (American, 20th Century). The viewer...Category
1970s American Impressionist Landscape Paintings
MaterialsOil, Masonite
- Mid Century Bright Waters California SeascapeLocated in Soquel, CAGorgeous California seascape in uncommonly bright colors, depth and textures. Unsigned. Displayed in rustic wood frame. Image, 20"H x 24"L,. Framed size: 23"H x 28"W.Category
1960s American Impressionist Landscape Paintings
MaterialsMasonite, Oil
- "Monastery Bell" - Mid Century Abstracted Old Village LandscapeLocated in Soquel, CAAbstracted landscape of a monastery building with a bell and balcony by R. R Middlebrooks (American, 20th century). Signed "R. R. Middlebrooks" lower left. Titled "Monastery Bell...Category
Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Paintings
MaterialsMasonite, Oil
- Against The Tide in Style of Edgar Alwin Payne - Oil on LinenLocated in Soquel, CAAgainst The Tide - Oil On Linen Oil painting of the California coastline at sunset in the style of Edgar Alwin Payne (American, 1883-1947). Deep grey clouds pose in the top corners with hues of pink light shining through. Choppy waves crash against deep red and brown rocks, as the whites of the wave hurl upward. The ocean shows tones of green, blue and yellow as the sunlight shines from above. Condition: professionally restored, previous reline onto Masonite with edge and corner wear. New UV resisting, non yellowing varnish applied. Unsigned. Unframed. Oil on linen on masonite. Image: 16"H x 30"W Edgar Alwin Payne was an American painter known for his landscapes, seascapes and western paintings. He was born in Washburn, Missouri on March 1, 1882, and began painting at the age of 14. He began his career by designing and painting scenery for the stage, and murals for homes and theaters. Primarily a self taught artist, he did though study briefly at the Art Institute in Chicago. Recognized as one of California's leading landscape artists, Payne earned the respect of his peers and art critics for his Impressionistic landscapes painted in the plein-air style. Possessing a reverence for nature, he especially loved the mountains. Frequently he took pack horses in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range to the upper lakes to sketch and paint, there he glorified the areas majestic peaks and cobalt blue lakes. Payne Lake was named in his memory. Drawn to Europe, Payne trekked to and painted the elevated heights of the Swiss Alps, the colorful fishing boats of Concarneau Harbor and Brittany, France and the picturesque sailing vessels of Chioggia, Venice, Italy. He spent time capturing on canvas Arizona's Canyon De Chelly and Navajo horsemen traversing the region's arid tablelands. He painted California...Category
1940s American Impressionist Landscape Paintings
MaterialsLinen, Oil, Masonite
- "Summer at the Lake" - Mid Century Figurative LandscapeBy Grace B. OlsonLocated in Soquel, CAMid-century figurative landscape painting of people enjoying the summertime at a rustic cabin near a mountain lake by Santa Cruz, California artist Grace B. Olson (American, 1889-198...Category
1960s American Impressionist Landscape Paintings
MaterialsMasonite, Oil
- "Back Road" California Redwoods Santa Cruz County Original Oil PaintingLocated in Soquel, CA"Back Road" California Redwoods Santa Cruz County original Oil Painting Oil painting of the California Redwoods by Gorman Woody (American, 1907-2000). the scene is a country road ...Category
1970s American Impressionist Landscape Paintings
MaterialsMasonite, Oil
You May Also Like
- Lower Manhattan at Dusk from New York HarborBy Francis Vandeveer KughlerLocated in Wilton Manors, FLFrancis Vendeveer Kughler (1901-1970. Manhattan Skyline from New York Harbor, ca. 1940. Oil on canvas mounted to masonite, 24 x 30 inches. Unframed. Excellent condition with no conservation. Signed lower right. 1901–1970 Born in New York City Kughler was educated in New York City public schools and art schools: De Witt Clinton High School, Cooper Union, the Mechanics' Institute and the National Academy of Design School of Art where he met Charlotte Livingston, an artist, whom he was later to marry. During this period he was the winner of a Tiffany scholarship, which provided him a summer of landscape painting at the Louis Comfort Tiffany estate at Oyster Bay, L.I.In the 1940s, Kughler became the President of the Salmagundi Club a well-known club in Washington Square in New York City that had been the singular gathering place for such great artists as Childe Hassam, William Merrit Chase...Category
Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Paintings
MaterialsMasonite, Oil
- 1950s Original Colorado Mountain Fall Landscape Oil Painting, Autumn LandscapeBy Zola ZauggLocated in Denver, COVintage 1950s landscape painting of mountains near Colorado Springs, Colorado by woman artist, Zola Zaugg (1890-1983). Oil painting on masonite in fall colors of yellow, orange, gree...Category
Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Paintings
MaterialsOil, Masonite
- Back of ProvincetownBy Malcolm HumphreysLocated in Milford, NHA colorful impressionist Cape Cod landscape by American artist Malcolm Humphreys (1892-1963). Humphreys was born in Morristown, New Jersey, graduated from Princeton University, and p...Category
Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Paintings
MaterialsMasonite, Oil
- Horses Feeding, American Impressionist Landscape and Equestrian PaintingBy Joseph Thurman Pearson Jr.Located in Doylestown, PA"Horses Feeding" is an Equestrian painting by American Impressionist painter Joseph Thurman Pearson, Jr. The 40.5" x 56.25" oil on masonite landscape is framed, signed middle right ...Category
1920s American Impressionist Animal Paintings
MaterialsMasonite, Oil
- "The Rivers Edge"By Evelyn FahertyLocated in Lambertville, NJJim’s of Lambertville is proud to offer this artwork. Signed lower right Evelyn Faherty (1919-2015) Evelyn Faherty was born in the early 20th century and made her home in Yardley...Category
20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Paintings
MaterialsOil, Masonite
- Sailing Boats in Harbor (Possibly Mohnegan Island, Maine)By Paul Bernard KingLocated in Rancho Santa Fe, CAMounted in a period, hand carved, gold leaf frame. Signed lower right "Paul King"Category
Early 20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Paintings
MaterialsOil, Masonite
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Mid Century California
Mid Century Vintage Large Painting
Large Mid Century Oil Paintings
Mid Century Majestic
Art 28 X 35
Southwest Scenes
California Seascape Painting
Vintage Mountain Scene
Vintage Double Sided Sign
Seascape Vintage Signed Oil Paintings
Moving Mountains
Arizona Landscape Oil Painting
Mid Century Seascape
Large Seascape Oil Paintings
California Seascape Oil
Oil California Seascape Painting
Southwest New Mexico Paintings
Formula Vintage