ABOUT THE ARTIST

William Welty says that, for him, painting was a part-time hobby that grew into a passion.  As a judge of the St. Joseph County District Court, he began finding fulfillment by creating art in the family’s spare bedroom ‘studio’ as a way to relax, unwind, and de-stress after eventful court proceedings.  Many of his works endeavor to convey a sense of calm tranquility.  A colleague once speculated that perhaps his art is an attempt to counterbalance the frequent ugliness of crime and contentious litigation at work against something of beauty.

Welty paints mainly landscape and still life acrylics, oils, and watercolors.  Many of his works are based upon his original photographs taken around southwest Michigan and on his travels to other states and countries.  The viewer will notice that bold colors often play a predominant role in his work.  Whimsical themes are sometimes present as well.  William Welty has moderate formal art training, mainly a few workshops, and classes at Kalamazoo Institute of Art, but he says that he strives to gain an education from every piece of art he views in galleries, museums, and art fairs. He has been painting for about ten years, but began to earnestly apply himself only in the last several years.  He has attended the New Harmony, Indiana, ‘First Brush of Spring’ events for the past 4 years, where he began to paint in plein air.  The artist is a member of the Three Rivers Artists Guild where he  networks with other local artists.  He often paints with the Plein Air Artists of West Michigan (PAAWM) as well.  Upon retirement from the Bench he hopes to devote even more time to his art.