Artist William B. Hoyt loves to share the stories that inspired each piece of work with us. And, of course, we love to share them with you.
Below, you will find Hoyt's stories in his voice. Read on.
The Race is On 21x48 Oil on Linen $15,500
Among my paintings this year are the results of several stays in Maine. All my visits to Maine and beyond, including a January visit to a John Singer Sargent show, inspired my work for this exhibit.
The Race is On
It’s always a good day if I can get out on the water to watch the classic Dark Harbor 20s race.
A visit to Islesboro coincided with this not-to-be-missed race. The officials decided not to allow spinnakers because the wind was blowing hard, and every boat had a reef in the main. Laying in the islands and watching the sails on the Dark Harbor, twenty sailboats appear.
This is a race of boats designed for the Islesboro Tarratine Club by Olin Stephens II in 1934. The sails lean this way and that, the boats overlapping and moving with grace among the islands and waterways. A little close-up pan on another wide-angle painting. Sparkles like diamonds.....so many dots of paint.
On the Thread of Life
Kathy is so patient with me. There I was, lingering with a cup of tea in bed in a rented house on Rutherford Island, Maine, with the best view in the world. She’s just minding her business, looking for a book or her glasses or picking her clothes for the day while I grab my camera and take her picture. She was a living painting right there in the room.
This bedroom is in the rustic beauty of a house and one I used to admire as I approached the shore by boat. Who knew my brother-in-law would rent it and invite us to join him there? We’ve now been going year after year. It will be the setting of many more paintings, no doubt.
All that is left to paint is the rattan on the rocking chair. Now, how to tackle that??? I thought I had misstepped in my approach to the rattan. I probably should have painted it dark first and built up the light colors of the weave on top. But I talked it through with a friend and had an AHA! Moment: paint the grid in a light hue and dot in the dark spaces afterward. It worked like a charm.
On the Thread of Life 16x20 Oil on Panel $3600
Basket of Shells
We stayed for a week in a small cottage in a former Methodist Camp on the shores of Penobscot Bay. There were so many shell collections in the house we could stumble over them while reaching for the tea or putting on the kettle.
I moved one to the outdoor table and was spellbound by the interaction of the handmade clam gathering basket with the fog-shrouded water. One moment, it was in my way; the next, all was forgiven—wonderful inspiration for a painting.
Before I painted the wire basket details over the shells, I knew it would be fun and drive me around the bend. Whoever made this basket also needed patience to bend to their task. The Methodists used to stay in tents on this shore, leaving the cities and rusticating, singing, and praying. Later, they built small cottages, each with a porch and Victorian gingerbread trim. They have charming names. One is called Squeezed In.
Did one make this wire basket to pass the time on a foggy day? I like to think so.
Basket of Shells 16x20 Oil on Panel $3600
Hoyt’s work will be on display from August 31 through September 25. The Gallery at the Grande is open daily at 10 a.m. Though Hoyt’s art is best viewed in person, it can be viewed virtually at maine-art.com. For more information, please contact 207-967-2803 or info@maine-art.com.