William Armstrong (American artist)
Encyclopedia
William Armstrong (born May 10, 1930 in Maplewood, New Jersey
, United States
) is an American artist who works primarily in painting and sculpting. He is represented by the William Armstrong Art Gallery and Studio, the Reynolds Square Fine Art Gallery http://www.reynoldssquarefineart.com/ located in Savannah, Georgia, and World Wide Arts Resources http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/w/williamarm/.
. He went on to become one of the world's leading scenic artists, creating dozens of major movie sets.
An accomplished artist, painter, sculptor and craftsman, Armstrong has worked with Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee and Woody Allen. Among Armstrong’s ornate movie sets featured in Architectural Digest have been Meet Joe Black and The Legend of Bagger Vance, the project that brought the painter to Savannah, Georgia
which he and his wife Monique now call home.
Armstrong typically works from pen and ink drawings and pencil sketches, carefully observing the landscape and people around him. He also creates watercolors on location, en plein air
.
Armstrong is best known for his low-country landscapes, figurative painting and cutting-edge scenic work.
among other major films. His work was also central to the look and feel of legendary Studio 54
. Of Armstrong's earlier work, most memorable is the famous Moon Man with spoon that swung back and forth over the dance floor.
Maplewood, New Jersey
Maplewood is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 23,867.-History:...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) is an American artist who works primarily in painting and sculpting. He is represented by the William Armstrong Art Gallery and Studio, the Reynolds Square Fine Art Gallery http://www.reynoldssquarefineart.com/ located in Savannah, Georgia, and World Wide Arts Resources http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/w/williamarm/.
Life and work
William Armstrong started out at 14 painting signs for butcher shops, in Newark. Armstrong studied at the Newark School of Fine and Industrial ArtsNewark School of Fine and Industrial Arts
Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts was a city-run vocational and art school in Newark, New Jersey. Opened in 1882 as the Evening Drawing School, its name was changed in 1909 to the Fawcett School of Industrial Arts, and changed again in 1928 to the Newark Public School of Fine and...
. He went on to become one of the world's leading scenic artists, creating dozens of major movie sets.
An accomplished artist, painter, sculptor and craftsman, Armstrong has worked with Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee and Woody Allen. Among Armstrong’s ornate movie sets featured in Architectural Digest have been Meet Joe Black and The Legend of Bagger Vance, the project that brought the painter to Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
which he and his wife Monique now call home.
Armstrong typically works from pen and ink drawings and pencil sketches, carefully observing the landscape and people around him. He also creates watercolors on location, en plein air
En plein air
En plein air is a French expression which means "in the open air", and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors.Artists have long painted outdoors, but in the mid-19th century working in natural light became particularly important to the Barbizon school and Impressionism...
.
Armstrong is best known for his low-country landscapes, figurative painting and cutting-edge scenic work.
Appearance in popular culture
William Armstrong's work has been featured in films like Meet Joe BlackMeet Joe Black
Meet Joe Black is a 1998 American fantasy romance film produced by Universal Studios, directed by Martin Brest and starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins and Claire Forlani, loosely based on the 1934 film Death Takes a Holiday...
among other major films. His work was also central to the look and feel of legendary Studio 54
Studio 54
Studio 54 was a highly popular discotheque from 1977 until 1991, located at 254 West 54th Street in Manhattan, New York, USA. It was originally the Gallo Opera House, opening in 1927, after which it changed names several times, eventually becoming a CBS radio and television studio. In 1977 it...
. Of Armstrong's earlier work, most memorable is the famous Moon Man with spoon that swung back and forth over the dance floor.