William Abbott Art Show

William L. Abbott  b.1934

William, Bill to his friends and family, started painting in 1958 at age 24. His father, William J. Abbott was an established painter, known in the Fulton and Rochester areas. Bill had watched his father paint and decided to give it a try. His first painting was completed in early 1959 and was of a covered bridge.

Through the early and mid 1960’s Bill worked on landscapes, primarily renditions of fall and winter woodland scenes by artists like Robert Wood. Wet on wet was his most used technique, but by 1968, pallet knife techniques were showing up in his work. Soon, the pallet knife was a primary tool, and the work was taking on a more abstract feel.

1969 was a pivotal year for Bill’s art. He began creating genuinely abstract paintings. By 1973, or so, he began using spray cans and a technique of deflecting…