WFWS43 Best in Show

Bill Dale – “Deanna”

I began my art training as a kid with my mother who was a fashion illustrator in Kansas City in the 1950’s and 1960’s. From my her, I received valuable support, training and criticism. I graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Industrial Design in 1969.  I began my professional career working in a design office in Wichita Kansas. There I learned the commercial side of art and honed my technical drawing and rendering skills. After 20 years, I opened my own design office in Texas. My primary profession is ‘Product Design’, specializing in exterior and interior styling, color, graphics, and illustration of aircraft and other transportation products.

For the last year or so, I have been trying to paint full time. I began with oils but since my wife Krystyna was doing watercolor, I gave that a try. I find the medium much more to my liking. It seems to me that with oil painting every stroke must be consciously placed using the correct color value etc. The best description of my oils is “dull”. Watercolor, on the other hand, is much more spontaneous and alive. It does a lot of the work for you. The paint has a mind of its own as it moves, granulates and diffuses before drying. Very difficult to get the results you want but when it happens it’s amazing.

Reflecting on my inspirations and influences; I credit the artists that we all admire: Sargent, Sorolla, Zorn, Homer, etc. A list artist of today’s artists must include: M.Stabin, C.Read, J.Zbukvic, A.Westerman, K.English and all of the talented Chinese watercolorists that I can’t name but love their work. I also credit my “watercolor coach” Ann Winchester who has been so generous with her painting knowledge.