Studio Visit: Art and Alligators
This series of Studio Visits has revealed some very different, but each so effective, creative spaces of local artists. Today takes me to Winn Studios, a collaboration of artists Bill and Sheryl Winn who together are a creative force of nature. I’m here to visit with Bill and check out his new studio. It is a mini version of his previous studio which, shared with his ceramic artist wife, took up the entire top floor of their spacious home. They have recently downsized to a smaller home and found that less space may actually be a blessing. Perhaps they realized what I have found – the bigger the space, the more stuff you seem to accumulate – smaller space, less stuff, less stress!
Bill and Sheryl now occupy separate smaller studios in a lovely one-story, freshly renovated home. The welcoming front door of the house leads into an open but very interestingly shaped living and dining area with angeled walls and arches that lead into the adjoining kitchen and cozy sitting areas. The home is full of work by distinguished artist friends Bill and Sheryl have known throughout the years. Looking straight ahead through the main living area is a set of glass doors that open into Bill’s neat and compact artist’s haven. His wife’s new studio is a different part of the home – a tiny but efficient space with clay and all her tools close at hand. There she hand-builds stunning ceramic pieces, many incorporating our local spanish moss into her design. A new kiln keeps her whole process ‘in house.’ It would be easy to get sidetracked by Sheryl’s charm and her beautiful work, but I have come to interview Bill and gain insight into the surroundings where he creates his gorgeous paintings.
Bill’s studio has large windows looking out to a pretty patio with umbrella-ed table and seating. A French-style door opens up to this delightful outdoor space and perfectly manicured lawn. It is adjacent to a large lagoon with peaceful woods on the opposite bank.
In the tidy studio, Bill first shows me a pair of paintings depicting the same waterway view, one at dawn and one at dusk. Hanging on the freshly painted warm gray walls, they are complete and ready to be displayed at one of the local galleries where he exhibits. Custom-made wood racks on the floor keep other in-progress and completed paintings separate and organized. One gorgeous piece is front and center on his easel. It is a rustic farmhouse in a field of warm browns and ecrus. Bill will be adding glazes to this one – a technique he uses to give the piece more depth and transparency. He has another on his drafting table that he will manipulate with deeper colors and glazes to draw the viewer’s attention to the shrimp boat in the center field.
Bill’s many years of experience as an artist make him an expert at knowing how to focus attention exactly where he wants it. His style is classical realism with care given to the elements of composition and design. His paintings often have moody and atmospheric qualities making the viewer feel as if they were experiencing the setting. With a background in advertising and medical illustration he brings his superb skills to the easel. He creates works in almost all mediums, painting stunning landscapes, strong portraits and luscious still lifes. He works on commission, and for display at local galleries. His paintings show off his talent whatever the medium – watercolor, acrylic, oils or pastels.
Bill is immensely enjoyable to talk to and funny. He has an engaging story to share every time I see him – today it was about an alligator encounter right outside his studio patio. As he watched, a large gator attacked a smaller one for no apparent reason and threw it up into the air. Luckily the gator (and all neighbors) survived the tussle!
All in all it was a fun afternoon getting to learn about the creative space and processes of yet another talented Bluffton artist. Bill Winn is one of six artist/owners of the cooperative La Petite Gallerie in Old Town Bluffton. He generally works there on Tuesdays where he is happy to greet you and talk art. Please visit soon to see his work in person!
Submitted by Murray Sease, fellow artist at La Petite Gallerie
56 Calhoun Street, Bluffton, SC 29910 lapetitegallerie.com
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