Excursions
Exploring Humanity
After years of working with pen, pencil and pastels, Bill began using oils in 1961. Cartoon characterizations of human figures dominated his earlier work, but the switch to oils brought works closer to real life people and situations. His first completed oil, "Lady In The Park" (1962), took 3rd prize in a Greenwich Ct. open art show.
Southwestern and American Themes
The Corning family maintained a home for 17 years in the Sangre de Cristo mountains north of Taos, N.M. They experienced the beauty of the area, the southwestern Native and Spanish cultures as well as the interesting and often quirky lives of their Cabresto Canyon neighbors. Life in northern New Mexico inspired several paintings and renewed Bill’s interest in Mayan glyphs. They maintain their ties in New Mexico with ski trips and visits with old friends.
Water Places
Bill has always enjoyed living near water including the Letchworth, N.Y. gorge, Lake Ontario, the Niagara River, and Long Island sound. Because his early research interests focused on fresh- and salt-water invertebrates, he always sought out ports and beaches looking for suitable research material. The colors, the scenery, and sounds of water place experiences remain a major artistic interest.
Genesis Two - Evolution After the Hominids Have Gone
In Progress: A 12 – 16 piece collection depicting imagined events just before and following the departure of humankind from earth.