In kindergarten, Wil drew dinosaurs instead of learning
his ABCs. His teachers bribed him to study Monday through
Thursday by promising to let him draw all day Friday.
Wil earned a Bachelor in Fine Arts from the University
of Georgia. Taking a detour from the artist path, he served
in the army as a Field Artillery captain. He lived in
Alaska, Oklahoma, and Georgia, and visited Canada, Germany,
France, Austria, and Mexico. The army was good for his
spirit and his adrenal gland – it was an opportunity
to experience different cultures, cities, and people (as
well as jump out of airplanes and helicopters).
After leaving the army, Wil took on another challenge.
He earned an MBA and spent several years in the insurance
brokerage industry. Finally, while living in Chicago,
his creative drive caught up with him and he’s been
painting ever since.
Wil's love of travel led him to explore the impressions
of humans on the earth. Wil’s architectural work
centers on the interaction between ornate architectural
silhouettes and the vast, changing sky behind them. He
looks for deep city shadows seen only at dusk. He transforms
architectural detail into massive, solid shapes, achieving
unique perspectives from common, but overlooked vantage
points. Jane Grau of the Charlotte Observer wrote, "Wil
has the uncanny ability to infuse life into totally inanimate
objects. One hears baroque music in the curves and curlicues
of the rococo cupids on a Paris bridge and deep resonance
in a dinner bell high above the Smokies…"
In his primitive works, Wil paints fires and cave imagery
from our collective past in vibrant and dark colors.
Wil paints for your aesthetic pleasure. He hopes that
you will be mentally transported to another city or a
unique part of the world by his paintings.
Bon voyage.
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"Painting is an attempt to come to terms with
life. There are as many solutions [to this issue] as there
are human beings."
—George Tooker
I paint because I feel bad when I don’t. Yes, I can
get by without painting for weeks and—as I did when
I was a young, stubborn man in my twenties—even for
months. But eventually, the drain of not creating drags
me down and I must create by painting. My life works well
when I am creating. Painting is the oil that lubricates
all the parts of my life—studies, relationships,
etc. As a child, I knew in my heart and stomach that I
was an artist. It felt good; it felt right. So painting
is what I do.
When I work in watercolor it is because of the clarity
of the process. Even in a finished watercolor painting,
it is possible to see exactly how and in what order I
accomplished each part. I am a direct (some would say
blunt) person, so I enjoy the straightforwardness that
watercolor affords.
Sometimes, I am seduced by the dark side of a painting,
then I work in oil and acrylics. I am drawn to fires,
shinning lights, and reflections at night. It is the depth
and feel of the thick oil paint that makes these scenes
exciting to me.
True to my straightforward nature, I paint what I see.
I travel in order to see and paint new subjects with new
colors. Occasionally, I paint directly from life and nature,
but I usually work through photographs. This allows me
to explore more places and capture more inspiring scenes
when I am traveling.
I share my work with others with the hope that my experiences
find common ground and add meaning to other people’s
lives.
"I have yet to meet a prejudice that travel could
not cure."
—Mark Twain
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"Why did I have to learn what I learned the
way I learned it: all by trial and error, all by walking
into walls? We artists should be more teachable, I thought.
Shortcuts and hazards of the trail could be flagged."
—Julia Cameron
I am called a teacher, but my aim is to inspire. It
is a great and wondrous thing to see the proverbial
light go on over a student’s head as they make a sudden
leap forward. It is just as wonderful to see the slow
steady growth of a student achieving his or her artistic
goal. So I try not to teach through lecture, but to
encourage, lead, and inspire.
In artistic endeavors, most learning occurs with solitary
time and practice. However, I believe teachers can and
should share techniques and short cuts or long cuts
with students to speed up the learning process.
It is the responsibility of all of us, not just artists,
to share our knowledge for the good of the whole. Teaching
sharpens the focus of the artist. It may be said that
an artist who cannot teach, cannot do, and does not
fully understand.
I believe learning is cooperative – not competitive.
Very little in life is accomplished alone—everyone
needs support and encouragement. So, cooperate and graduate,
in school and in life.
"Trust that still small voice that says, this might
work and I’ll try it."
—Diane Mariechild
Wil Bosbyshell is a graphic design instructor at the
Art Institute of Charlotte, NC.
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EDUCATION
- 1983 BFA, Graphic Design, Univ. of Georgia
- 1990 MBA, University of Georgia
JURIED RESIDENCY
- 1998 Hungarian Multicultural Center Balatonfured,
Hungary
GRANTS AWARDED
- 2000 Mint Museum of Art, Mentor Grant
Arts & Science Council, Charlotte
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
- 2003 Eggstravaganza! Art Institute of Charlotte
Gallery
- 1999 Cave Paintings to Versailles By Hand Gallery,
Charlotte, NC
- 1999 Down the Road – Travel Paintings Central
Piedmont Community College
- 1998 Hungarian Works By Hand Gallery, Charlotte,
NC
- 1998 Architecture 98 Himal Gallery, Charlotte, NC
- 1997 Landscape 97 Applewood Gallery, Charlotte,
NC
- 1996 Europe 96 Studio Open House, Charlotte, NC
- 1991 Grace Place Chicago, IL
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
- 2008 Art Institute Gallery, South End, Charlotte,
NC
- 2007 Cabarrus County Gallery, Rural Route,
Concord, NC
- 2006 Microcosm Gallery, Charlotte, NC
- 2005 Gallery 5, New Work-14 Artists, Rock Hill,
SC
- 2005 Art Institute of Charlotte, Pastel Landscapes,
Charlotte, NC
- 2005 Shain Fine Art Gallery, Small Works, Charlotte,
NC
- 2004 Charlotte Art League, South End Cityscapes!,
Charlotte, NC
- 2003 Art Institute of Charlotte, Faculty Show, Charlotte,
NC
- 2002 Visual Trilogy, Charlotte, NC
- 2001 The Human Form, Hart-Witzen Gallery Charlotte,
NC
- 2001 Vizivarosi Gallery, Summer Exhibit Budapest,
Hungary
- 2000 Multiple Perspectives Charlotte, NC
- 1999 Balatonfured City Hall Gallery, Balatonfured,
Hungary
- 1999 Five Perspectives Charlotte, NC
- 1998 8 International Artists, Art-East Galeria Balatonfured,
Hungary
- 1998 Truth in Form, Gallery 9 Banner Elk, NC
- 1997 Freedom of Expression, Spirit Square Charlotte,
NC
- 1985 Student Show, Univ. of Alaska Anchorage, AK
- 1983 Portfolio Show, Univ. of Georgia Athens, GA
INSTRUCTION
- 2000-present: The Art Institute of Charlotte Graphic
Design Faculty
- 2003 Braitman Studio Life Drawing Instructor
- 2000 Mint Museum / Arts & Science Council Mentor
Program
- 1999 Mint Museum of Art Teen Art Camp
- 1998 Central Piedmont Community College Guest Lecturer
- 1998 ArtWorks Painting Instructor Jacksonville,
FL
- 1997 Mint Museum of Art Young Affiliate Lecture
TRADE EXHIBITIONS – GRAPHIC DESIGN
- 2001 Surtex Design Show New York, NY
- 2000 Surtex Design Show New York, NY
JURIED EXHIBITIONS
-
2007
Art League (Juror: Herb Jackson) Charlotte, NC
-
2006
Central EU Gallery (Curator: Katalin Geller) Budapest,
Hungary
- 2004 Art League (Juror: Larry Elder) Charlotte,
NC
- 2001 Art League (Juror: Herb Jackson) Charlotte,
NC
- 1999 Art League (Juror: Barbara Spradling) Charlotte,
NC
- 1999 Artworks 99, Jacksonville, FL
- 1998 Mainsail Art Show, St. Petersburg, FL
- 1998 Center City Fest, Charlotte, NC
- 1998 Artworks 98, Jacksonville, FL
- 1998 Art League (Juror: Skip Lawrence) Charlotte,
NC
- 1997 Southeastern Spectrum Winston-Salem, NC
AWARDS
- 2007 Second Place, Fast Forward: Charlotte's Changing
Landscape, Charlotte Art League
- 2006 Third Place, Spring Juried Show, Charlotte
Art League
- 2005 Purchase Award, Spring Juried Show, Charlotte
Art League
- 2005 Honorable Mention, RadioVisions, Charlotte,
NC
- 1999 Purchase Award, Beth El Art Festival St. Petersburg,
FL
- 1998 ArtWorks Purchase Award Jacksonville, FL
- 1996 & 97 1st Place, Festival in the Park Charlotte,
NC
CORPORATE COLLECTIONS
- Advanced Pain Center, Charlotte, NC
- The Ari Group, Charlotte, NC
- Helms, Mullis & Wicker PLLC, Charlotte, NC
- EnPro Industries, Charlotte, NC
- Kanuga Conference Cntr, Hendersonville, NC
- Elliot Davis, PLLC Charlotte, NC
- Carley & Rabon, PLLC Charlotte, NC
- The Vendue Inn Charleston, SC
- ISPAT America Charlotte, NC
- Chateau Szechney Balatonfured, Hungary
- Channel 12 NBC Jacksonville, FL
- Bryan Wall, DMD Charlotte, NC
ARTICLES & REVIEWS
- 2007 HistoricSouthend.org, Art & Soul Poster,
James Mathis
- 2007 CharlotteTrolley.org, Art & Soul Festival,
Lisa Gray
- 2007 Charlotte Weekly, Celebrate Art in Southend
- 2004 Shield of Phi Kappa Psi, Artist Brings Light
from Darkness
- 2004 Carolina Arts, Publicity for Artist: You can
do it!
- 2003 Watercolor, American Artist Magazine by Edward
McKeown
- 2003 Carolina Arts, Eggstravaganza
- 2001 Charlotte Home Design, This Artist’s Way
Barbara Thiede
- 2000 Charlotte Observer, Artwork for Charity…
Richard Maschal
- 2000 Creative Loafing, Fall Arts Preview Linda Luise
Brown
- 2000 Art Calendar Magazine, Publishing… Barb
Dougherty
1999 Charlotte Magazine, Collected Wisdom Lori E. Krimminger
- 1999 Charlotte Observer, Artists’ take action
Steve Lyttle
- 1998 Charlotte Observer, 5 weeks in Budapest…
Jane Grau
- 1998 St. Petersburg Times, Art Beat Cover Mary Evert
- 1998 Charlotte Magazine, Moroccan Sunshine…
Lori E. Krimminger
- 1997 Creative Loafing, Visual Hooks Jane Grau
ILLUSTRATIONS
- Art & Soul Poster 07, Charlotte Center
City
- Art & Soul Poster 06, Charlotte Center
City
- Garrison at Graham, Hawkins & West
- South End Map, Greater CharlotteBiz Magazine
- Cover Illustration, Greater CharlotteBiz
Magazine
- Art Stage Prop, Davidson Community Theater
- Dining in Comfort Cookbook
- Phillip's Place Fountain, TBA2 Architects
- Camp Cheerio, High Point YMCA
LICENSED
DESIGNS
- Children Cross Stitch Pattern, Jeanette
Crews Designs
- Trolley Map, Charlotte Center City Partner
INVITATIONAL
EXHIBITIONS
- 2007 Rockus Bacchus, Durham, NC
- 1999 Spotlight Southern Artists Atlanta, GA
- 1999 Beth-El Art Festival, St. Petersburg, FL
- 1998 Rising Stars Art Auction, Charlotte, NC
- 1996 - 99 American Cancer Society, Charlotte, NC
CORPORATE EXHIBITIONS
- 2008 Aquesta Bank, Corneillus, NC
- 2000 Elliot & Warren PLLC, Charlotte, NC
- 1999 Marsh & McLennan USA, By Hand Gallery,
Charlotte, NC
INTERNET
EXHIBITIONS
- 2004 Webzibit: Sketches in Pencil, Ink, and Conte
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
- PHOTOGRAPHY
- 2005 A Day in the Life of the Charlotte Trolley,
Art Institute of Charlotte Gallery, Charlotte, NC
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