Artist Statement by William North

Being a fine art painter has been a life-long dream. As a youngster, I visited art museums and marveled at the work of the great masters from the Renaissance to the French and American impressionist era. It is safe to say that I have traditional and realist tendencies. I use only traditional materials, oil paints and oil primed linen canvas mounted on wooden stretcher bars. In landscape painting my goal is to create a reasonably literal impression of the scene. I sometimes rearrange subject matter such as trees, bushes and the turn of the road, but not to a degree that the view is unrecognizable. I usually select a view that is by its nature eminently paintable. I also try to portray the essence and character of the subject through the interpretation of the atmosphere and light. Regardless of the subject, the dominant element of my landscapes is the Florida sunshine and its effect on the sunlit and shaded areas that make the picture. I'm also concerned with the painted surface and take great pains with the brushwork to make it look effortless and clean. I try to make each painting better than the last. Sometimes I succeed. I'm often asked which is my favorite and I reply, "the next one." Actually they are all my favorites and I feel a touch of sadness when they leave, even when I know they have found a good home.