ARTIST STATEMENT

“I find great fulfillment in the challenge of developing an inspiration. I consider my work to be "soft" abstracts which radiate color and texture. My images are created purely from my imagination wlth a high regard for the directional element of the design. Since my images are a direct result of my creative spirit, they are (as they must be) influenced by my life - they are an extension of who I am. They are purely nonrepresentational and many times I elect not to title them because of the influence a title may impose upon the viewer. The viewer must look within to encompass any “meaning” which they may translate into my work, because each person is viewing my work through a different window of life experiences. My objective is to create beauty in the eye of the beholder - beauty in color and beauty in feeling - a work of art that is pleasant to see, to enjoy and to experience in ones' own way.”

The creative aspect of working non-objectively is fascinating. The artist must constantly challenge his creative nature to capture that “perfect” image. Working abstractly is both natural and foreign in the creative sense. Natural because it is through this subject matter that he can express his "self' in total, his full range of emotions, his spirituality, his health and well being, even his day to day outlook on life itself. Foreign because there is nothing externally visual from which to pull that illusive imagery, no point of origin to the human eye. Rather, he must pull together all that is within him and paint from the “minds' eye”. He begins in basic form, one stroke of the brush and from that beginning .... the painting evolves.

MATERIALS & TECHNIQUES

Oils on paper, ragboard and canvas.

William uses both traditional and experimental techniques in his paintings. Painting grounds are prepared with an undercoating of acrylic gesso. This preparation prevents the absorption of the oils into the cotton surface. Oils are thinned using a nonyellowing (alkyd) medium, forming a thin, smooth, transparent consistency. A glazing technique is used to create the abstract design. Each painting ls created in layers, adding color over color and creating textural content as each layer of the painting evolves. Works in progress are dried for one or more days before the next layer of oil is applied. This process is repeated until the painting ls finished. Textural areas of the paintings are created in a variety of ways; some are conventional and others are developed from instruments of his own invention. Other painting techniques used may include traditional brush, wlpe out and blending and oil over oil sgraffito.

Works by William are available in originals only. Biographical information available from the artist.