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William (Bill) Douglas (b. 1967) hails from Knoxville, Tennessee, and
draws upon his Tennessean heritage as a substantial creative foundation
in his work. Tennessean local artworks based on folk and craft
techniques, and personal, spiritual stories have a special resonance in
the artist's extensive array of objects and images. His compositional
strength comes not only from drawing, but also from collecting and
fusing objects and materials. Through woodcarving, bone painting,
assemblage, collage, and on canvas and paper, Douglas masterfully mixes
melancholy with humor. He reminds us of the fragility of our lives, the
elusiveness of memory, and the beauty of nature.
Douglas says, 'As a kid growing up in the country, I used to collect
organic matter in the woods and make small structures, and I've been
drawing since I could hold a pencil. Once I moved to Chicago in 1993, I
started collecting inorganic items as well. I am inspired by
craftspeople in my family - quilt makers, fiddle-makers. I am also
inspired by comic books and have made a few of my own. In college, I
intentionally avoided drawing classes because I liked my own style. I
still focused on drawing, however, as well as printmaking, ceramics, and
painting dream imagery from dream books that I started in high school. I
never did get into 'theory'. I'm interested in B-movies, reading,
science fiction, outer space, nature, and beauty, animals, love, death,
color. I get bored unless I'm working with many mediums; I use my
intuition and instinct.'
Douglas received his BFA at University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and his
MFA from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He joined Project Onward
in 2014 and lives in Oak Park.
See also:
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Further works by Bill Douglas
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