SHELDON FINE ART
William Hobbs
The 19th century saw the development of great American landscape and seascape traditions. Spreading out from the Catskill region of New York, this style of powerful realism became known as the Hudson River School. It is upon these historic foundations that I ground my painting style, envisioning it as a continuation and extension of their endeavors. Following in the traditions of Frederick Church and Albert Bierstadt, my paintings explore the power of the natural world.
The natural content of my work is driven by a fascination for wilderness. As an avid hiker, backpacker, and water-sport enthusiast, my art grows out of countless hours observing in the field. Further, my graduate level education and research in biology and ecology informs my art. My paintings are both scientific studies and artistic renderings. I see no difference between the two. In the deepest of scientific explorations, I find aesthetic beauty. My art is a process in which I interact with and explore the intricacies of nature. Moving water is a common theme in my paintings. From crashing surf and the rolling waves of the sea, to the flow of forest streams and waterfalls, my paintings often explore the patterns of water in motion. It is my desire that these studies impress upon the viewer a wonder for nature and the God who developed it. I believe wonder is the heart motivation for productive admiration and protection of the natural world.
My artistic style has become known for detail. I am most inspired by natures complexity and thrive on exploring the intricate detail of the natural world in my paintings. Since I find nature to be fascinating at every scale, I seek to create paintings that can be appreciated up close as well as from a distance. I render these scenes in oils on canvas. I appreciate the permanence of oils and find this time-tested media to be the best method to capture the facets of nature that intrigue me.
I studied and painted for a number of years along the coast of New England, where I was active in the Seacoast Art Association of New Hampshire. I now paint from my home in northeastern Pennsylvania where I am associated with the Pocono Mountains Arts Council. My art is represented in a wide range of private and Corporate collections throughout the United States as well as in Germany and France, including the collections of Sanofi Pasteur, Portland Steel, and the Weiler Corporation. My paintings have won many awards and I exhibit in a growing number of shows and galleries. It is my hope that the viewer will discover in my paintings, the bright optimism of a world full of the life and motion that inspire me.
