Drawing inspiration from science, shamanistic ritual and medicine and native art, Bill Watson creates dreamscapes of exploration and connectivity. Highly stylized, many compositions feature animal or spirit forms and illustrate variations on folk tales and Native American beliefs. Watson’s themes are emphasized by the intense, joyous colors he uses, running through a wide range of bright earth tones juxtaposed so as to create high impact and luminous draw. The various elements of the paintings are linked – often by lines or strings of abstracted shapes – and fill the canvas organically. Watson employs deftly blended brushstrokes that give his surfaces a warm dappled feeling and leave a light surface texture that adds depth to the otherwise linear represented forms. The overall effect is of a narrative journey - a mysterious one, but one which arouses intense curiosity, pleasure, and sometimes even amusement.
Bill Watson has enjoyed a varied life that has taken him from cowboy to Chemistry PhD and researcher within remote lands and cultures. He currently paints in Santa Fe.
