We had the good fortune of connecting with Bill Stone and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bill, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I didn’t really have a choice in pursing an artistic career it’s always been part of who I am. I went to a commercial and fine art school in Boston when I was a young man. I always wanted to be a painter but when I graduated I quickly realized that I needed to make money to survive. My first job was at a publishing company doing paste-up and illustrations for cover pages. My next job was in advertising which lasted for the next 25 years. I worked at a big agency as an art director, a creative director, and an executive creative director on many national accounts. My specialty was creating storyboards for television commercials and I got to travel the world filming and working with a lot of very talented people. I was very fortunate to have had such a good career but I never lost my love for painting. I would paint on the weekends and every chance I got. That became a perfect balance to working in a high stress environment. Now, I get to paint full time and work on art as my love and my business. I have been lucky in that I got to have both artistic and creative careers.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Most of my work is influenced by the color, movement and texture found in the natural world around us. I want you to see something new in the painting every time you view it and I don’t want you to look away. My technique is constantly evolving but I always paint very fast. I attack the canvas and must finish in one long session because I need it to stay wet in order to achieve the desired texture. I use an extra large palette knife with a point at the end, which I use to reveal the layer underneath while applying a new one. Thick layers of oil build on top of each other creating a deep, rich texture that is accentuated by a coat of damar varnish, once the canvas is dry.
I have a huge body of very diverse work that has changed over time. From realism to impressionism to abstract, I like to paint whatever moves me in the moment.
I have learned that you have to please yourself first and foremost.
There is nothing more gratifying than when a collector falls in love with a painting and it really means something to them personally.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Coffee on our deck that overlooks the city. Play tennis at Memorial Park.
Lunch at Swirl in Manitou Springs.
Strawberry Fields hike with my border collie.
Dinner at the Warehouse Restaurant. (where my art is showing 🙂
Back to the deck for after dinner drinks.

First Friday Art Walks.
Tour Manitou and Old Colorado City.
Switchbacks game.
Outdoor drinks at the Broadmoor.
Lots of hiking.

Fujiyama for sushi.
Little Nepal for Indian.
Crystal Park Cantina for Mexican.
503West

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There’s always one great teacher. Mine was Bill Brady, an artist and instructor at Vesper George School of Art in Boston. He made every assignment exciting and inspirational. He was so passionate about art and love of life that it was hard not to be inspired.

Website: info@billstonestudio.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billstone13/

Other: https://www.saatchiart.com/billstone https://www.artfinder.com/artist/billstone-13/#/ https://www.zatista.com/artist/bill-stone https://www.singulart.com/en/artist/bill-stone-8961?ref=ts

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