Larry Willis Artist

LARRY WILLIS: The Unauthorized Autobiography

Like many artists I can’t remember when I didn’t draw. I remember as a young pre-school child drawing on the white cardboard inserts that came in my fathers shirts that my mother would give me for that purpose.

Fast forward…

In High school I began performing in rock bands. This carried on through the 1970’s. In my late twenties I decided to give up what I considered a young mans game and turned to painting. Some of the guys I was in bands with went on to work with a member of the Kinks and Michael Jackson. Maybe I was wrong.

Just the same, having misspent my youth chasing the rock & roll dream, that medium has continued to influence my paintings in different ways. Sometimes it’s obvious and sometimes not. It came to me recently why my favorite shape for a canvas is square. It’s the shape of an album cover.

When I began to paint in Ernest in the early 1980’s I was doing southwest themes. With this work I got first place in painting in the first juried show I entered. I soon changed to a dialog with old masters about the decaying nature of art. From there through the 80’s I carried on with a dialog about the transient nature of pop music and icons of the ordinary.

During this time I was a member of the Phoenix Artists Coalition (PAC), a loose affiliation of artist who came together to promote contemporary art in Phoenix. Some of the other artists in the PAC group included Janet Deberge Lange, Jeff Faulk, Annie Lopez, Marilyn Szabo and Peter Mars. Out of this group would emerge the genesis of Art Detour.

In the 90’s I took a detour into doing illustrations for True West & Wild West Magazines. From being an emerging artist I became a submerged artist for a time, (I rarely entered my work in exhibitions unless invited to). From there I moved into doing paintings about the similarities between Heroes of the old west and rock icons in the early 2000s. Emerging again.

I recently went to Paris for the second time. This has sent me off on another artistic excursion, a further dialog with the artists of the past about the art continuum. Paris since the Second World War has ceased being the great center of artistic activity it once was. But, it still holds its heart. It’s museums have much of the western worlds great art, it has inspiring architecture and haut couture. Just to walk the back streets of Montmartre is inspiring. To walk were so many advancements in modern art took place. As the Cultural Atlas of France States, “…despite the comparative lack of native talent, it is still a city where art is eagerly discussed.” Filmmaker Jonathan Demme said, “Paris nurtures creativity” It works for me. While all of my recent paintings may not overtly display Paris, that since of place inspires them.

“Work that shows consistent promise” – Deborah Laake, New Times

"Our best artist in residence at true west" - Bob Boze Bell

Artist's Statement

To paint on Canvas is to carry on a long tradition. Pop culture is constantly changing, discarding tradition. Both the traditions in art and pop culture inform my work. Even some of the old west characters that show up in some of my work, were the pop icons of their day, the rock stars if you will.

Through the years my “style” seems to keep changing. Looking at this progression some may say there is no focus, no direction. But so-called artistic focus can lead to stagnation. Once mastery of a style, subject or technique has been achieved or fully explored, there is no need to carry on a maintenance program for the sake of a signature in style or commercial success.

I have always created because I enjoyed it. Joy should be the main motivation in creation. So when boredom sets in one needs to move on. That said I can see a continuum in my work. Having misspent my youth chasing the Rock & Roll dream, That has continued to influence my paintings in different ways. Sometimes it’s obvious and sometimes not. It came to me recently that my favorite shape for a canvas is square, the shape of an album cover.

I recently went to Paris for the second time and was able to spend more time there and visit Giverny. This has sent me off on another Artistic adventure. Paris since the Second World War has given up being the great center of creativity it once was. But, it still holds it’s heart. As the Cultural Atlas of France States, “…despite the comparative lack of native talent, it is still a city where art is eagerly discussed.” Filmmaker Jonathan Demme said, “Paris nurtures creativity” It works for me.