It is not often that father and sons share a passion and excel in their endeavors together.
Seeing The Wilson Show by Bill, Will and Jeff Wilson, you?d think it was easy.
In their exhibit, opening tonight at the Community College of Baltimore County, the family trio displays more than 60 paintings.
Visitors “won?t walk away disappointed,” said Hal Rummel, chair of the Institute of Art Design and Interactive Media at CCBC.
All of the Wilsons take a realist approach to their work. Will?s paintings are tightly rendered, with uncanny, photographic detail. Bill and Jeff capture a visual reality through the transient effects of light and color, according to Rummel.
Nationally known, Will is an oil painter under contract with the John Pence Gallery in San Francisco. He?s painted record albums for Michael Jackson, designed postage stamps and exhibited his work at more than 50 shows around the country.
“Most of [Will’s] work is done in a classic, ultra-realist way with a lot of humor and some oddness to his imagery,” Rummel said. “It’s all mixed in with such technical mastery that anyone would be naturally fascinated with his work.”
“My father was my first teacher, and both my brother and father are helpful with insightful criticisms,” Will said. “Recently, my brother helped me solve a problem by scanning a painting in progress into his Photoshop and presenting me with new directions. He has a very good eye.”
After graduating from Maryland Institute College of Art in 1957, Bill, the senior Wilson, worked as graphic designer at his own adverting firm.
“It?s very fulfilling,” Bill said about exhibiting with his sons. “I love art and remember [Will and Jeff] always used to sit with me while I worked.”
“Though all the mediums are very challenging, I’ve found watercolors to be a little more exciting because of the risk-reward mindset you take,” said Jeff, a graphic design artist at his Catonsville-based company, Jeff Wilson Design. “Playing it safe will usually result in a dull painting.”
Bill agreed.
“If you want to be a painter, you can?t play around. You have to attack it,” he said.
Bill and his wife, Bonnie, backed Will when he started his professional career. But financially supporting a starving artist was never necessary. Will?s first show sold out; his success story began.
“I am very proud of my dad and brother first as people,” Will said. “They just happen to be great artists. Being in a show with them is extra special.”
The Wilson Show
» Catonsville Gallery
Community College of Baltimore County
800 S. Rolling Road
Baltimore
» Monday through Friday, Noon to 8 p.m. or by appointment
» 410-455-4425
