Billy Ray
Watercolors
WATER FOUNTAIN - CENTRAL PARK - NEW YORK CITY
VIEW FROM STATEN ISLAND FERRY
BRIDGE AND BOATERS - CENTRAL PARK - NEW YORK CITY
PURPLE FLOWERS - PURPLE KISSES
.jpg)
TUXEDO LAKE, NEW YORK
.jpg)
STRAWBERRY FIELDS
BRIGHTON BEACH, NEW YORK
BRIDGE FROM STATEN ISLAND FERRY
BOY WITH POPSICLE
PORTRAIT OF DANA
CHILDREN AT THE BEACH
MAGIC MOMENTS
NUDE 1970
HANSEL & GRETEL
YOUNG GIRL
GIRL AND BOY
WILDFLOWERS
In his early years, Bill would often do a quick watercolor study of a subject before he returned to his studio and painted the subject on canvas with either oil or acrylics. He also used casein and other water based paints as seen with Hansel & Gretel which Bill painted for his Book Illustration Class in college using a matchbook cover instead of a brush to apply the paint.
In his later years, he had spent time working on his watercolor technique and produced several watercolors that were kept on their own merit and not produced in other media. The Water Fountain Central Park New York City was one of his last works and a favorite among the family. This painting must be seen to truly appreciate its beauty.
Bill's illustration on a Birthday Card to his sister Theta
Bill often teased Theta that she was spending too much of her time cleaning.
His sense of humor frequently found its way into his art and correspondence. This is the only example the family has of work in pastels by Bill.
CLEANING LADY
(Original in Pastels)
"The leaves began to fall. One by one I picked up each leaf and placed it
on a tree with clear plastic tape so as not to spoil the view.
November came and with November came the snow,
but I had taped each leaf back to the place that it had fallen from
with clear plastic tape - so as not to spoil the view.
People in passing said: This is a remarkable sight,
however he has put Oak leaves on Elm trees and Elm leaves
on Oak trees so nothing much can come of it."
Billy Ray McCauley (1982)
