| Bruce L. Williamson |
Bruce L. Williamson is a representational artist whose passion to
paint is inspired by the beauty of the world around him. In his
distinctive "alla prima" style he uses bold brush strokes and
beautiful colors to create striking renditions of people, places and
objects. He believes that good paintings are founded on a strong
underlying pattern of light and shade. His paintings have strong
compositions where objects in light emerge from the shadows.
His portraits seem to capture the personality of his subject.
paint is inspired by the beauty of the world around him. In his
distinctive "alla prima" style he uses bold brush strokes and
beautiful colors to create striking renditions of people, places and
objects. He believes that good paintings are founded on a strong
underlying pattern of light and shade. His paintings have strong
compositions where objects in light emerge from the shadows.
His portraits seem to capture the personality of his subject.
Since overhearing an admirer at one of his shows he has
expressed his goal as, "To help others see beauty";. Someone was
speaking of an object in a painting saying, "Look you can see right
through this bottle, look at the color, the reflections, just like real
glass. It is beautiful!" ; Bruce comments, "The subject was merely
an empty wine bottle that the man would have passed by without
taking notice had it been on a table rather than in my painting. I
helped him to see as the artist does."
expressed his goal as, "To help others see beauty";. Someone was
speaking of an object in a painting saying, "Look you can see right
through this bottle, look at the color, the reflections, just like real
glass. It is beautiful!" ; Bruce comments, "The subject was merely
an empty wine bottle that the man would have passed by without
taking notice had it been on a table rather than in my painting. I
helped him to see as the artist does."
Born in Oakville Ontario Canada, his association with art goes back
a long way. His uncle owned an art gallery where Bruce displayed
and sold numerous paintings. His mother was a watercolorist and
her great grandfather, Sir Sanford Fleming, designed the first
Canadian stamp. After a college level art program under John
Damm ARS, he went to the Art Student's League of New York to
study under Robert Brackman; one of America's most sought after
teachers in the painting craft. He has since broadened his studies
by working under David Leffel, Greg Kreutz, Matt Smith, Dan
Gerhartz, Hongnian Zhang, Joe Anna Arnett, Quang Ho, and William
Kalwick Jr.
As a young adult Bruce left painting to become a Catholic Priest.
During that time he traveled internationally, spending seven years in
Rome where he was ordained by Pope John Paul II. While there at
the University of St. Thomas Aquinas, he had the great opportunity
to follow the remarkable journey of and to work with Mother Teresa.
It was during this period in Europe, studying the great figures of art
history, that his talent as an artist were most influenced.
Bruce has won many awards over the years. In the 2008 entry of the
Houston Civic Art Association (HCAA) show, he won first in
Professional Portrait and Second, along with an Honorable mention
in Professional Oil. He was a finalist in the internationally acclaimed
23 Annual Artist's Magazine Competion.
a long way. His uncle owned an art gallery where Bruce displayed
and sold numerous paintings. His mother was a watercolorist and
her great grandfather, Sir Sanford Fleming, designed the first
Canadian stamp. After a college level art program under John
Damm ARS, he went to the Art Student's League of New York to
study under Robert Brackman; one of America's most sought after
teachers in the painting craft. He has since broadened his studies
by working under David Leffel, Greg Kreutz, Matt Smith, Dan
Gerhartz, Hongnian Zhang, Joe Anna Arnett, Quang Ho, and William
Kalwick Jr.
As a young adult Bruce left painting to become a Catholic Priest.
During that time he traveled internationally, spending seven years in
Rome where he was ordained by Pope John Paul II. While there at
the University of St. Thomas Aquinas, he had the great opportunity
to follow the remarkable journey of and to work with Mother Teresa.
It was during this period in Europe, studying the great figures of art
history, that his talent as an artist were most influenced.
Bruce has won many awards over the years. In the 2008 entry of the
Houston Civic Art Association (HCAA) show, he won first in
Professional Portrait and Second, along with an Honorable mention
in Professional Oil. He was a finalist in the internationally acclaimed
23 Annual Artist's Magazine Competion.
Salon International, sponsored by the International Museum of
Contemporary Masters of Fine Art, at the Greenhouse Gallery
in San Antonio, selected his entry in 2006, and 2008. In 2005
he won First place in the HCAA Professional Oil Show. He
won First Place in the Pasadena League Art Show (2000). A
member of the National Society of Artists (NSA), he has
shown twice in their National Juried Show and was awarded
Best of Show in their Membership Exhibit (1999) A member
also of the Oil Painters of Americas (OPA) he has shown work
in their National Juried Exibition. He completed a very
successful one-man show in Italy (Sassari) and several in
Houston. His paintings hang in homes in Europe, North and
South America.
He travels to give Oil Painting Workshops in Florida and St.
Croix VI. At home in Houston, he gives Demos and
Workshops and, in his studio he teaches oil painting classes.
He is currently represented by galleries in Houston, Dallas,
Salado, St. Croix and Jacksonville Florida. He also donates
works to several charitable foundations.
He has also authored a book: What Shall I Give? A Spiritual
Journey. It is about his own amazing journey. He hopes it will
be published in the new year. See the book page for some
excerpts.
Contemporary Masters of Fine Art, at the Greenhouse Gallery
in San Antonio, selected his entry in 2006, and 2008. In 2005
he won First place in the HCAA Professional Oil Show. He
won First Place in the Pasadena League Art Show (2000). A
member of the National Society of Artists (NSA), he has
shown twice in their National Juried Show and was awarded
Best of Show in their Membership Exhibit (1999) A member
also of the Oil Painters of Americas (OPA) he has shown work
in their National Juried Exibition. He completed a very
successful one-man show in Italy (Sassari) and several in
Houston. His paintings hang in homes in Europe, North and
South America.
He travels to give Oil Painting Workshops in Florida and St.
Croix VI. At home in Houston, he gives Demos and
Workshops and, in his studio he teaches oil painting classes.
He is currently represented by galleries in Houston, Dallas,
Salado, St. Croix and Jacksonville Florida. He also donates
works to several charitable foundations.
He has also authored a book: What Shall I Give? A Spiritual
Journey. It is about his own amazing journey. He hopes it will
be published in the new year. See the book page for some
excerpts.
