Bill Watson
The Saturated Palette
May 11 - June 1, 2010
Reception:
Thursday May 13, 2010 6-8 PM
Press Release
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.
Artist Statement
Santa Fe is a place of art, science, fact, mythology, spiritualism, history, and great cultural diversity that stimulates my imagination. These stimuli, when combined with my background in science and investigations of herbal medicines, and talks with shamans in remote areas of the world, define my approach to art. I create a body of work with bold colors, swirling lines, connectivity, and rhythms, and my paintings often utilize animal or spirit forms as subjects. These representations frequently are variations of folk tales or beliefs of native populations in the Americas. I want my bright acrylics to capture your attention, and the content to cause you to pause, reflect and sometimes laugh.
Invitation to the exhibition
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Artists in this exhibition
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