Artist Statement
I like to paint with bold colors. I accept color and form as independent entities to be applied separately resulting in the interplay of abstractly and vividly rendered color more or less overlapping with subsequently developed interior contour and outer form defining lines. My approach utilizes mixed media to draw, paint, and overdraw with various materials. When I started painting my philosophy was to approach the work as an expression of controlled chaos. My artwork, along with other artists of my time, such as Basquait, Rouschenburg, and Thiebauld, are part of what I believe is an evolution bridging abstraction and linear expression to form a sort of post modern assimilation. Like the artists, who are kindred and who preceded me, namely Pierre Bonnard, Vincent, Van Gogh, and Henri Matisse, I am unconcerned with superficial, shallow originality, which regrettably leads to trends and short lived fads.
My goal is to sustain a life long effort and continue evolve as a painter. It is not a sprint to fame and glory, but rather a dogged lifelong pursuit with the end result being a body of work that is undeniable in its persistence and growth
Biography
William Bradley Thompson (WBThompsonArt) is a mixed media artist whose works are noted for their bold colors and strongly developed forms emphasizing contour and line. His paintings, drawings, and assemblages are in private, corporate, and institutional collections worldwide.
Bill was born in Hudson, New York and lived his early years about a mile from the homes and studios of Thomas Cole and Fredric Church. He attended Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. While at Trinity, he was a student of Texas Artist William Bristow, who gave him the initial early encouragement to avidly pursue painting.
Early successful shows, commissions, and gallery sales paid for Law School, and he briefly practiced Law in the Virgin Islands. The lure of creativity and art proved to be too powerful a magnet and he “retired” from the profession of law at the age of 28 to pursue his passion. He has been successfully painting and exhibiting his works worldwide for the past thirty years as a full time artist. Bill and his wife Lori, reside in the United States Virgin Islands. He lives and paints at their home/studio above Hull Bay, on the island’s beautiful Northside. He also maintains a stateside studio in Bolton Lake, Connecticut.
