Bill Farnsworth

Artful Painter Podcast

Dec 19

Written By Carl Olson

The Story Within a Story

Episode 18

Episode length: 1 hour, 34 minutes

Also available on:
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Bill Farnsworth, a fine art artist and illustrator residing in Venice, Florida, likes to start a story in his paintings, and let the viewer finish it.

Imagine this scene: Your feet are tired from walking the beautiful streets of the Mediterranean island of Elba. Your palette is thirsty. Just ahead you see bright umbrellas signal the presence of a small street cafe. You decide it’s time to enjoy a refreshing drink under the cool shade of the cafe umbrellas while you rest your feet. As you approach to claim your seat - though you cannot see them - within the doors of the tiny cafe, workers clean and tidy up its cramped interior. You hear the sounds of clinks and clatter as they replenish and stock the pantry and refrigerator with the latest goods that arrived just before you eyed the cafe and decided to stop there. For just a moment you imagine you have lived here all your life. It is this story within a story that artist Bill Farnsworth seeks to imbue within his oil paintings.

As a 1980 graduate of The Ringling School of Art and Design, Bill Farnsworth has spent more than 34 years as an Illustrator and Fine Artist. Born in Norwalk Connecticut in 1958, Bill spent most of his life painting landscapes of rural areas, while supporting himself and family as an illustrator. He has illustrated more than fifty books for children. Bill's extensive illustration experience provides a rich vocabulary for creating his beautiful, emotion-filled fine art paintings. He is a Signature member of The Oil Painters of America, and The American Society of Impressionists. He is also a Fellow in The American Society of Marine Artists. Bill is also an active member of Plein Air Painters of the SouthEast - having served a stint as its President.

In our conversation today, Bill explains how he endeavors to paint what he loves and to convey that honestly so that viewer can feel it as well. Bill talks in-depth about the importance of painting on location and the importance of being a keen observer of the scene and life that happens in that place. The result? Heartfelt paintings emerge that are full of emotion.

“Spending two hours outside observing - even if you don’t paint - you will begin to understand the scene, the area, and from understanding comes empathy. That finds it way into your painting in a way that a photograph can’t give you.”

— Bill Farnsworth