Bukowskipainting.com

I have a new website: bukowskipainting.com

This photo is the header for the website but due to auto-editing you don't get the whole picture. Dave Norris took this shot in my office at Bethany Lutheran College for an upcoming issue of the Bethany Report. I like the image because there are some nice details that add more to the story. It also shows my office and the collection of junk that keeps me inspired. The website is a stripped down model based on templates and in house design formulas, but it is super easy to update and change. I hope to use it for more to feature my newest collection of available paintings.

A good year for still life.

A Short Journey- an exhibition of paintings

at Bethany Lutheran College by William Bukowski. (ending March 30, 2010)

As I looked at my work over the years, I decided

to hang three still lifes that I still own, in a horizontal arrangement. These were all done in a fairly short period of time after my first sabbatical. The year was 1988 and I was coming off of a great trip with Pete beginning in Rome and ending in London. I tightened up the edges, put some high contrast lighting and added some kid drawings, some toys and some shiny objects.

Jeff decided to make an appearance in the top still life as the masked hero, Zorro.

Faces at 30 year show.

A Short Journey, Paintings by William Bukowski at the Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center, on the campus of Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota on display through March.

One wall of my show is reserved for portraits of the family. The cluster is hung salon style with works from 1977-2004. I had to leave many paintings out of the show.

There is one painting in the show that is not mine- but it is of me. Jenna painted me on a four by four foot canvas.

A Short Journey- 30 Year Show at Bethany

On February 25th, there was an opening reception for the show: A Short Journey. The exhibition is at the Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center on the campus of Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota.

The phrase "a short journey" represents one's life and career and the paintings in this show cover more than the 3o year teaching career of Bethany Professor Bill Bukowski.

Bukowski Painting- Catalog

One of the bonus features of the 2009 Ylvisaker Drawing Invitational at Bethany Lutheran College is that we were able to produce a full color catalog of all of the artwork in the show.

A current Bethany student, Amanda Scharlemann, designed the look, with some editing and input from all of the artists.   Each artist has a bio, a statement, and a full color detail from one drawing.  

They are available from the Bethany College Bookstore. ( Check online for number and address)

Bukowski Painting- Ylvisaker Drawing Invitational

Through March, I have 2 watercolors in the Ylvisaker Drawing Invitational.  This is a very unique show for Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota.  It brings together 27 artists that have contributed to the art culture at Bethany.  Some are professors at Bethany and Wisconsin Lutheran College,  and some are former students (as long ago as the 1980s and as new as last May).  And the rest of the artists in the show have already shown at Bethany or have inspired students, meeting them in places like Paris or Florence.  Next Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. there will be a reception for the artists and a gallery talk by contributing artist Jim Shugrue.  Jim worked with me on the Creation Fresco in 2002 in the Meyer Hall of Math and Science at Bethany.

Bukowski Painting- Makes you paint....

William Bukowski
oil on linen

Melons 2004

There are certain things that bring out the painter in me. In my youth, I was influenced by Manet and some of the great brushstroke painters. I have always liked working from life and simple still lifes by Chardin, Manet, Morandi, and some of the Dutch artists urge you to paint, they beg you to paint and finally they make you paint. In real life, a bowl of strawberries can make you paint any day, and of course how about a few slices of melon?

This painting was in my show at Bethany Lutheran College, called "50 at 50" in 2004.

Bukowski Painting- Studio Wall

I think it is important for an artist to keep taking in ideas and images and constantly filter the information. The studio wall is like a living scrap book where you can keep ideas or inspiration for when you might need it.

This is a photo of a small portion of my studio at Bethany Lutheran College.