Blog | Christopher Stott

Good Society

My family took the dogs for a walk, and when we rounded the corner to another block, I spotted this shabby old chair on a driveway with a sign saying “FREE.” I knew I could make it work in a painting or two the second I saw it. So, I told my family to go on without me as I lugged the old chair back home.

I set it up in my studio and took out several antique books. And three of them were just given to me by my brother-in-law. A set of three volumes titled “Good Society.” I like that these two paintings are comprised of found and given objects.

Good Society No.2 / 36 x 24 inches / oil on canvas / on the easel / 2024

The Billis Williams Gallery will exhibit these two new paintings at the upcoming Seattle Art Fair, which will run from July 25 to 28.

2024 Hamptons Fine Art Fair

Two new typewriter paintings made it to the East Coast for the upcoming Hamptons Fine Art Fair. The George Billis Gallery will show the paintings, and the fair runs from July 11-14.

1937 Remington Noiseless Portable Typewriter / 36 x 36 inches / oil on canvas / 2024 / on the easel

I enjoy blowing up the scale of these bird’s eye view typewriter series. The next ones I do, I think I’ll go even larger. You can get so much detail worked in when they’re extra large.

1967 Olivetti Lettera 32 Typewriter / 36 x 36 inches / oil on canvas / 2024 / on the easel

Ten Cameras

I was excited when this commission came my way — the client gave me a dream scenario. It would be a challenge pushing me to work very large and maintain precisely what I convey in my work entirely. I am pleased with the final result.

Ten Cameras by Christopher Stott — Ten Cameras / 40 x 60 inches / oil on canvas / 2024 / on the easel

2024 San Francisco Art Fair

I’ll have new work showing at the upcoming San Francisco Art Fair with the Billis Williams Gallery from April 25 – 28.

1957 Royal Quiet De Luxe, From Above / 24 x 36 inches / oil on canvas

Last year, I had a few bird ‘ s-eye view paintings of typewriters at the fair, so this year, I returned with a few more.

1915 Corona No.3, From Above / 24 x 36 inches / oil on canvas

I am now working on a very large 60-inch x 40-inch complex commission. It will take me a long time and I’m excited to share it once I’ve worked past the difficult first few layers of paint.

Blacking Out

Last month, I visited the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and saw an exhibition that displayed numerous Dutch paintings from the 17th century. They’re always so striking with the details, and the very dark settings make the subjects emerge from the depths. So, on my return, I decided to keep experimenting with my subject and paint this Corona No.3 typewriter. My technique has always been an adapted indirect Dutch master’s style approach, but I settled on a high-key bright setting for my subjects. Sometimes, it’s nice to step out of your comfort zone and take a trip back in time. This painting is currently showing in New York City at the George Billis Gallery.

Corona No.3 / 24 x 30 inches / oil on canvas / 2024 / on the easel

Corono No.3 / 24 x 30 inches / oil on canvas / 2024 / framed

Fresh Off the Easel

I just finished this fifth painting in my Memory: Facts and Fallacies series. It’s on the way to New York to be shown at the George Billis Gallery.

Memory: Facts and Fallacies No.5 / 24 x 30 inches / oil on canvas / 2024 / on the easel

A Quick Trip to Los Angeles

Billis Williams Gallery / Los Angeles / February 24, 2024

Seven Clocks / 36 x 30 inches / oil on canvas / 2023

I have returned from a whirlwind trip to Los Angeles to attend the opening reception of my current solo exhibition at the Billis Williams Gallery.

I went to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where I saw an exhibition called “The World Made Wonderous,” showcasing 17th-century Dutch collections, including many paintings from which I draw direct influence. I won’t get too nerdy here, but I was entirely in my element and wandered through the gallery twice to absorb as much as possible.

Then, it was off to the gallery for the reception, where I met and talked with artists, collectors, and curious gallerygoers. The conversations I have during the receptions are always so encouraging. The best part is connecting with Tressa Williams, principal director of the gallery, who has shown my work for thirteen years. The key to any artist’s success is having a team of enthusiastic people who share your work with the world — that is precisely what Tressa does.

Piles of Unread Books

Several years ago, I painted a small series of “tsundoku” paintings. You can read about them here.

I am including a few new piles of unread books in my upcoming Los Angeles exhibition at the Billis Williams Gallery.

What Must I Do to Get Well? And How Can I Keep So? / 12 x 24 inches / oil on canvas / 2024 / framed

Now that I fully have a phone-brain and a mild dopamine-scrolling addiction, I find it more and more difficult to read books the way I used to. But I am up for the challenge and work my best to set aside time to read like it’s the olden times.

The Distressed Mind / 12 x 24 inches / oil on canvas / 2024 / framed

The exhibition of new paintings opens on Saturday, February 24th. I will be at the reception from 4pm–7pm that day.

Recent Clock Paintings

These two pieces will be part of my upcoming exhibition in Los Angeles at the Billis Williams Gallery, opening on February 24th.

My last exhibition in New York involved many large paintings, so this time around, I decided to work on a slightly smaller group of canvases.

Three Clocks & Pelican Classics / 18 x 36 inches / oil on canvas / 2024 / on the easel

Also, the black. Let’s talk about it. Years and years ago, I regularly set my work on deep black ground. I gradually phased that out and worked exclusively on white — or near-white grounds. In the past few years, I have done smaller paintings in black; it revealed my subject in a fresh and new way. So, above is the first of a slightly larger painting of what will become a new direction for my work.

Below, we have a neutral grey approach. Another way to make the subjects pop right off of the canvas.

Six Clocks – Folk Tales and Fables / 18 x 36 inches / oil on canvas / 2024 / on the easel

Upcoming Los Angeles Exhibition

At the end of February, we will see the opening of an exhibition of my latest paintings in Los Angeles at the Billis Williams Gallery. I have been working on tiny details for months now.

Memory: Facts and Fallacies No.2 paintig by Christopher Stott — Memory: Facts and Fallacies No.2 / 16 x 20 inches / oil on canvas / 2024 / on the easel

The subjects will be familiar to anyone who has seen my work before. Perhaps this time, you will catch new groupings of subjects with more contrast and depth in the lighting.

Memory: Facts and Fallacies No.3 painting by Christopher Stott — Memory: Facts and Fallacies No.3 / 18 x 24 inches / oil on canvas / 2024 / on the easel

In a word, the theme of this body of work would be Memory.

I will share more of the new paintings in the coming weeks.