William E. Frates 1896 - 1969

Falkerson Ranch

Portland Head Light - SOLD

Coastal Farm

Will Frates was born in Hayward, California in 1896. He studied painting with William Otto Emerson. He was an active Bay Area artists from the 1920's onward. He is noted for both his oils, watercolors, and pastels. His subjects were mostly Bay Area and Mother Lode landscapes, but he painted scenes of other parts of America. He was active in numerous art associations and exhibited throughout the region. His paintings hang in the Hayward Public Library, the State Museum Resource Center, and the Salinas City Hall. Will Frates died at the age of 73 in Myrtle Creek, Oregon while on a painting excursion to the Northwest. Will maintained a Hayward gallery with friend and fellow artist, Elmer Stanhope.

Some ex-Maine residents who have viewed this painting in California have identified this lighthouse to be the Portland Head Light near Portland, Maine, although it is difficult to make a certain identification from recent photos of Portland Head Light. Taking into account Will Frate's artisic licsense and that the surrounding structures of the lighthouse may have changed over the years, it may well be Portland Head Light. We encourage anyone with historic knowlede of Portland Head Light to contact us and assist in further identification.

Source: Askart