For some people, it is the sound of waves crashing on a lonely beach or the grandeur of great monuments that enhances the need to create. For artist William S. Phillips, the majestic sound of fighter planes and their journey through the sky has inspired him to travel across the world and invent masterpieces from his experiences.

Yet, of all the places he has seen, those paintings which stem primarily from his imagination have become his main focus. On June 4, he will travel from his Oregon home to give Long Islanders the chance to view his work on display at the Natureworks Gallery at 275 Main St. in Farmingdale.

Phillips' initiation into the art world came about in 1971 while attending law school. He was able to sell four of his aviation paintings. He was extremely elated, he said. From there he knew his course in life was about to be turned upside down. He earned a degree in criminal justice, yet put off his plans for a law career to venture into a life of creativity.

"I knew where my life had to go at that point," he said. "I then became infatuated with flight."

His very first obsession was with WW I aviation subjects, painting for collections all over the world. One of his most notable experiences was painting for the Royal Jordanian Air Force Collection under the direction of King Hussein. In 1997, he created a series on the classic US Aircraft for the United States Postal Service which was a full sheet of postage stamps.

Phillips grew up in Los Angeles, California, and now lives in Ashland, Oregon. It is one of his favorite places.

"I love the real American style of the desert southwest," he said. Phillips has ventured into new waters with a strong focus on "Phillips' Bay," a series of paintings that have erupted from an imaginary town that Phillips invented. He will enhance one of the pieces, Rejoice, at the show.

"Phillips Bay is a place of simple joys, where life sets a gentle, easy pace," said gallery owner Paul Posillico. "It reflects Bill's gratitude for a life filled with many blessings, especially the opportunity to see a new century begin."

He recently became enchanted with the nostalgia of the '40s, creating a series which portrays the beauty and heartache of that time.

"It really started with a trilogy I did on servicemen being away at war," he said. "I really wanted to capture that feeling of a house being left behind, and the joy of returning."

One of the paintings depicts a dog waiting for a soldier to return. The next depicts a warm feeling conveyed after a tired soldier comes home. The last one, entitled The Dream Fulfilled: Where the Love Light Shines, embraces symbols of the effects of war on family. It portrays a post-war scene with a celebration with fireworks. Some children have separated themselves from the party to sit above a hill watching, with their dog. It conveys the feeling that whoever the children were waiting for, did not come back.

"I try to tell a story of some type," said Phillips. "I am striving for that warm homey American feel."

Phillips will soon be bringing his paintbrush to the seashore, with a new emphasis on lighthouses. When he comes to Long Island in June, he plans on exploring the aesthetics of its vast terrain and landmarks.

Phillips has shown his work nationwide, but never in New York. He had a one man show in 1987 at the Smithsonian. That show was so successful, he wound up going on a four-year United States tour.

Phillips' book, The Glory of Flight, which includes 80 full-color pages of artwork and sketches from Phillips' personal collection, will be on sale at the show. This special edition will also feature a signature page. Accompanying the book is Into the Throne Room of God, a limited print of an F-14 signed by Phillips. The show is from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, call 293-2020.