In the Studio with William Hudders
The paintings that I create are all painted from direct observation, without the use of photographs. This is a way of working that I have found to be very conductive to creating a luminous and almost tactile sense of light and a more intimate and personal vision. Working in this way also creates a sense of collaboration as one’s eyes adjust and re-adjust to the endless subtle fluctuations of light and tones in the different images. As I continue to work on this series I find that I am discovering new compositional possibilities and painting ideas almost daily.
For me this is a manner of working that speaks directly and immediately to the sensory stimulus that continually surrounds us in contemporary life. I believe that in my paintings I can record and respond to this stimulus and create an image that has the sensation of a deeply felt event; whether it is a house plant or a shirt on a shelf. The subject matter exists as a device to create an investigation into the reality (or unreality) of the surrounding appearances. The painting itself then becomes a record of this investigation and a symbol of the process of observation.
The Plant and Shirt paintings are my attempt at creating compelling imagery without the use of overly defined subject matter. By focusing on one specific image, I am hoping to create an image that will allow the viewer to discover the more subtle and elusive elements in the colors and tones of paint that I feel can create an almost infinitely interesting image. Although the plants and shirts are real and tangible images, I feel that this is a type of subject matter which is neutral and open enough to allow for the viewer to have a greater depth of visual involvement with the paintings.
As a painter, I am deeply committed to the art of painting and feel that there is still much to be explored within this discipline. The problem for me is how to create paintings that communicate with a contemporary audience, yet also address and expand on the issues brought up by the paintings of the past. I feel that by using the imagery of the contemporary world and combining it with my own personal reactions, I can create paintings that will address a contemporary audience on many different levels. To create any group of paintings with this in mind is a task I find endlessly fulfilling and satisfying. Hopefully viewers of my work can share in this sense of fulfillment and see within my paintings the exploration and discovery of these ideas.
How is self isolation due to the virus affecting your work?
This self isolation is actually allowing me to concentrate on a number of painting ideas that have been rolling around in the back of my mind for some time. I somehow found an old kids bicycle before all this started and the complexity of the forms and reflections is providing a new series of challenges with which to create a new still life painting. I am also digging deep into a new extension cord/garden hose still life.
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William with his painting in the Cogswell Realty Group Lobby
