Off the Easel
with Bill Farnsworth
We have all seen Bill Farnsworth's work. But how well do we really know the artist?
Recently appointed a Master Signature Member by the Oil Painters of America, Farnsworth has long been a familiar presence on Palm Avenue. Yet, as familiar as we are with his paintings, it can be surprising to realize how little we know about his daily life and where he draws inspiration for his remarkable works.
This season, I want to pull back the curtain and give our collectors a glimpse into how our artists spend their time, both on and off the easel.
Light Shift by Bill Farnsworth, 16 x 19.5 in, oil on canvas SOLD
For Farnsworth, much of that time is spent in nature.
As a primarily plein air painter, he believes that painting from life is essential to truly understanding light and its many nuances. The studies, photographs, observations, and memories gathered in the field often follow him back to the studio, eventually finding their way into larger, finished paintings.
In February, Bill Farnsworth shared that philosophy with his students at an advanced three-day plein air workshop at North Jetty in Nokomis, Florida. Working directly from the landscape, he encourages his students to do what has remained vital in his own practice: to slow down and observe.
“One of the key building blocks to creating a believable painting is having a direct connection with your subject.”
- Bill Farnsworth
Close to Shore by Bill Farnsworth, 32 x 32 in, oil on canvas
The Opening Reception
Bill Farnsworth and his wife Debbie before the Opening Reception
Last year, we had the pleasure of hosting Bill Farnsworth’s largest exhibition to date. We are always grateful for the opportunity to showcase the incredible range of his work; and personally, I always have a fondness for seeing Bill arrive in his signature bolo tie.
The bolo carries an incredibly heartfelt story. One that I will not spoil for you here.
Instead, I encourage you to ask the artist yourself when you spot him at one of our shows this upcoming season.
Pictured on the right are Bill and his wife of 42 years, Debbie, attending the opening night of another solo exhibition in Charleston.
If Debbie looks familiar, it may be because she is a recurring presence in Bill’s paintings. Often modeling when inspiration calls for it.
In addition to being his model, Debbie also serves as his stylist. Bill made sure to give her credit for selecting the pants he wore to the Charleston opening. As seen on the right.
Family often finds its way into Bill’s work. One of my favorites is Replenish, for which he used his daughter as his model. The way her red scarf catches the last beam of sunlight brings an incredible warmth to the painting.
When discussing this piece, Bill remarked on just how many adjectives we could use to describe a trip to the beach. Replenished was what came to Bill's mind from this piece. I think the same could be said of experiencing his paintings. There is the place itself, but then there is the light, the temperature, the breeze, the time of day, and perhaps even the memory it brings back to you.
Replenish by Bill Farnsworth, 24 x 30 in, oil on canvas
Capturing Utah's Canyons
By May, Bill's pursuit of those moments had taken him far from the Florida coast.
He traveled to Utah to paint alongside the Plein Air Painters of America, surrounded by the landscapes of Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon.
Johnson Canyon by Bill Farnsworth, 11 x 14 in, oil on linen
"My first impression was one of awe and amazement.”
Accustomed to studying the subtleties of our coastal landscape, Bill found himself captivated by an entirely different palette consisting of the blue-green sage set against the rich red earth seen in the American West.
The trip also gave him the chance to cross something off the bucket list: visiting the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
A Summer in Easton
In July, Bill traveled to Maryland to participate in Plein Air Easton, one of the country's most celebrated plein air events.
He stayed in Oxford, the oldest town in Talbot County, where the historic sailing community provided an abundance of subjects to paint. Among his stops was the renowned Cutts & Case Shipyard, where wooden boats are still built and restored using traditional methods.
Ship Shape by Bill Farnsworth, 20 x 30 in, oil on canvas
One smoky morning in Oxford left a particularly strong impression. The haze transformed the sun into what Bill described as an orange ball hanging in the sky. That memory followed him home and became the inspiration for the studio painting Canadian Mist.
Canadian Mist by Bill Farnsworth, 24 x 36 in, oil on linen
Coming Home
After months of travel, Bill returned home to Venice, Florida, where he spent the remainder of the summer developing studies from his travels and beginning new coastal paintings for the coming season.
One of those Florida scenes, On a Wing and a Prayer, has since taken on a deeper meaning. The painting depicts Caspersen Beach in Venice before Hurricane Milton altered the landscape.
Bill's thoughts on the painting say something much larger about why he paints:
On a Wing and a Prayer by Bill Farnsworth, 22 x 28 in, oil on canvas
“It will be beautiful again, just different. Paintings record what used to be, which to me is conservation. We capture these moments in memories and paintings on our wall.” - Bill Farnsworth
It is a beautiful way of considering the role of a painter. A landscape may change, the light certainly will, and the moment itself will pass. Despite this, a painting allows some part of it to remain.
A Year of Recognition
Bill's year has also brought well-deserved recognition from the Oil Painters of America.
In August, The Flats received the Gold Medal in the Master Signature Division at the OPA Salon at Cassens Fine Art. His painting Light Shift also received an Award of Distinction at this year's OPA National Exhibition at the Steamboat Art Museum.
For someone whose paintings have become so familiar to many of us, it has been wonderful to look beyond the finished work and see a little more of the life that creates it.
From teaching along the Florida coast to standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, painting in Maryland boatyards, traveling alongside Debbie, and returning home to his Venice studio, each experience gives us another glimpse into the artist behind the paintings.
And perhaps the next time you stand in front of a Bill Farnsworth, you'll see a little more than you did before.
The Flats by Bill Farnsworth, 14 x 18 in, oil on canvas SOLD
Thank you for reading and sharing in our love of art. Your support allows Thomsen Fine Art to exist as more than just a gallery - it becomes a place for connection, discovery, and inspiration.
by Sadie E. Biegelsen and Emmalee K. Savigne