Hello Reader,

It’s been a minute since I share some behind-the-scenes sneak peek so I wanted to show you some fun things I’ve been cooking up lately. This week I hit the ground running with some art projects utilizing a variety of my creative skills. I have entered the special code and pushed my multi-media skills into Beast Mode! Speaking of video games, I have begun work on a video game in my spare? time. (more on that in the future)

From painting, to sculpture, to digital design, and animation, it’s been a wild ride these last few weeks successfully satiating my ADHD and OCD. Everything from painting a bulldog (which I told myself a while back I would never do, hah!) to sculpting a bucket style electrical transformer (to go with the bulldog), animating an opossum for the video game, multiple commissions, and sketching for a new mural.

Recently I was asked about my trajectory as an artist. And you know, it hasn’t been very linear. Some might say it’s been all over the place through the years, and I am okay with that. I love that. Art is a process. It’s a journey. It isn’t the destination. I simply LOVE creating.

Add Sprinkles,
-Will

P.S. Please be sure and check out the latest prints I just posted on the website as well the new Da-na-na-na-na-na-na-na Donuts! Uni-sex T-shirt in the gift shop. (pictured here) Doc approves!

Take a look at what’s been cooking in the oven:

​

​

​

THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW

The Batmobile from the original 1960’s show was originally a failed $250,000 prototype: A Lincoln Futura concept car.

Upcoming In-Person Events and Exhibits

October 12th, 4-8 p.m. – Oconee County Bat Festival, Heritage Park, Watkinsville, GA
​September – October – Sweet Cinema Sunsets, Curo Cocktail Lounge, Athens, GA

Are you loving these letters and want to help?

Here are 2 Easy Ways You Can Help keep donuts in the oven and bats flying above:

1 Share this letter to a friend who loves donuts!

2 <<<Tap Jimothy to LEAVE A TIP!​

Hey Reader,

I turned 50 earlier this month. As with any birthday, it’s always a time of reflection and introspection. I have this deep-seeded need to make people laugh (or at least smile). I think it comes from my dad? He was a jokester in a very thought-provoking way. You would slap your knee while pondering the absurdities of life. Clearly that stuck with me.

Through my paintings, I like to weave a bit of a yarn: A screaming bat being blessed by a donut as a halo surrounded in gold leaf. An initial play on religious icon paintings, it twists the narrative around by featuring a maligned, yet natural creature like the bat as a saint. A donut (a food that almost everyone craves) as a halo hovers above. The twist? Which is good and which is evil? The bat is a part of this world. An evolved natural creature and a necessity for our ecology (pollination, natural pest control, seed dispersal, etc.) The common donut, on the other hand, is a highly processed, man-made sugary treat with all the makings for an unhealthy life choice.

At the end of the day I just want to watch some bats and eat a donut. The painting is simply a screeching bat with a donut. Surreal. Funny. Smile-inducing at worst. Laugh out loud, thought provoking at best. What do you think?

​

Add Sprinkles,
-Will

​

​

THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW

The largest donut ever made weighed 1.7 tons and was 16 feet in diameter. It was created in Utica, New York, in 1991.

Upcoming In-Person Events

October 12th, 4-8 p.m. – Oconee County Bat Festival, Heritage Park, Watkinsville, GA

Hello Reader,

Dad famously didn’t care for chocolate. “It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just not my go-to.” This drove Mom crazy of course because she loves chocolate. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, molten lava chocolate cake (with a scoop of ice cream) and of course death by chocolate cake are absolute heaven for mom. Us kids definitely got Mom’s side gene when it comes to this versatile culinary creation.

However, one of my favorite quotes from Dad when confronted with this chocolate conundrum was, “Well, that’s why they make chocolate and vanilla… and Neapolitan.” We are different. Equal, but different. Some like their hair short, some like their hair long. Some love the color pink, some prefer a cooler tone, like teal. Some think the pilot episode of Miami Vice is the best episode, others feel the Season 3 opener starring Liam Neeson and Jeff Fahey reigns supreme. 🙂

We are all on this party planet just trying to do the best we can with what we’ve got. I like the concept of inviting instead of exclusion. The party where everyone is welcome. Those that like chocolate, will scoop out chocolate. Those that like vanilla, will scoop out vanilla. Those that like strawberry will scoop out strawberry. And those that like it all, will indulge in all three.

This is what the painting , “Party Wave” represents. It’s the invitation. The ice cream cone is a neon welcome sign alerting “all are welcome”. Let’s catch these crazy waves of life together!

​

Add (all flavors!) Sprinkles,
-Will

​

​

THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW

No Bats? No Chocolate! Bats are major allies protecting the cacao tree (whose large seed pods are what is used to make chocolate). Bats provide major pest control (and the most natural) by consuming hordes of bugs that destroy the cacao tree.

Upcoming In-Person Events

October 12th, 4-8 p.m. – Oconee County Bat Festival, Heritage Park, Watkinsville, GA

Hey Reader,

His compressed and hunched body may seem grotesque to some. His cryptic scurry might seem like some horrible monster in a scary movie. To me, there was beauty and inspiration. He knows no different. It is all he has known. And after it all, he is simply a playful, fun-loving creature of the world. No more, no less.

By now, you may have heard of Jimothy, the sweet raccoon hanging in the neighborhood streets of Seattle. Jimothy lives with short-spine syndrome. With some backyard low-grade footage, he playfully scurries across the screen like a mythical cryptic. Immediately he took the internet world by storm, peaked our curiousity, and has melted our hearts. Jimothy is a testament to nature’s perseverance, beauty in all forms, and an extension of humanity’s wonderful ability for empathy.

As an advocate for the downtrodden and lover of raccoons, this wonderful muse is right up my alley (trash cans included!) I was immediately inspired to celebrate Jimothy in all his glory, and blessed him with my signature donut halo. I do need help titling the painting. I have a few ideas rolling around in my head, but wanted to see what you could come up with!

Scroll down below to check out the fresh-out-of-the-oven painting of the unforgettable Jimothy. You can tap the images for more details and to purchase this piece. A portion of proceeds from the sell of this original painting will go to the local Food Bank of your choosing.

​

Add Sprinkles,
-Will

​

​

​

THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW

Raccoons are 25 million years old. These masked trash pandas have existed since the Pliocene epoch to the present, with their earliest ancestors dating back about 25 million years.

Upcoming In-Person Events

Currently gearing up for the Fall – stay tuned!

Hello Reader,

Sweet Cinema Sunsets is officially live and out in the wild. It was a beautiful evening shared with new and old friends alike. The evening was spent chatting about favorite movies, impeccable scenes, and iconic actors.

I thought I would share my official Sweet Cinema Sunsets artist statement:

In a world where donuts and other sweets reign supreme, tragedy and comedy coexist in perfect harmony.

I revel in the magic of movies. Movies are more than entertainment; they are an experience I immerse myself in, savoring every moment. Everything from “How’d they do that?” to “That shot is gorgeous!”and of course my wife’s favorite: “Oh that’s so and so, they are in that other movie with that other actor who was in…” You get the picture. Everything about the movie experience is near and dear to me. It’s a massive team effort to put even the worst ones together. It’s truly remarkable how these wonderful stories are brought to life on celluloid.

My first movie experience was our dad taking the whole family to see Raiders of the Lost Ark at the Flick in Shelby, NC in 1981. From that moment on the moving image had a hold on me. Going to the movies all the time with my siblings, friends, even by myself. I love it all.

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on my dad’s camcorder at family functions. While working out at his office during slow times, I would sit at the front desk sketching out characters and drawing In the corners of notepads, turning them into flip books. While in art school studying painting, I discovered a massive love for Super-8 filmmaking – shooting, developing, and editing claymation and art-house style films. One of my painting class assignments for the word “movement” was a large abstract painting of one of my Super-8 cameras.

With these works, my passion for filmmaking and cinema shines brightly. Iconic scenes featuring my own unique humorous take are mixed with select pieces from some of my “animated paintings” which consist of a looping animation of individually painted frames. Please join me in celebrating one of life’s truly magical inventions: Cinema!​
​

All of the paintings in the collection are below. Tap on a painting for more details!

​

P.S. Is there one that speaks to you?

​

Add Sprinkles,
-Will

​

​

THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW

The Empire Strikes Back is connected to Robocop 2. Irvin Kershner, the director of arguably the best installment in the Star Wars franchise, is also the director of Robocop 2.

Upcoming In-Person Events

Saturday, July 25th – Meet and Greet, A.T. Hun Gallery, Savannah, GA

Hello Reader,

I am thrilled to announce my next solo show and collection release, Sweet Cinema Sunsets. These fresh paintings are coming to you live July 9th for the opening reception at Cleveland County Arts Council, Shelby, NC.

I am offering you a sneak peek of a few pieces as well as some in-progress paintings (currently on the easel and yelling at me, “please finish me!”)

This collection is an all around fun celebration of my love for cinema. From my official artist’s statement: “…I revel in the magic of movies. Movies are more than entertainment; they are an experience I immerse myself in, savoring every moment. Everything from “How’d they do that?” to “That shot is gorgeous!”and of course my wife’s favorite: “Oh that’s so and so, they are in that other movie with that other actor who was in…” You get the picture. Everything about the movie experience is near and dear to me. It’s a massive effort to put even the worst ones together. It’s truly remarkable how these wonderful stories are brought to life on celluloid.”

P.S. If there is a piece you want to add to your collection, message me now and I will hold it for you!

​

Add Sprinkles,
-Will

​

​

THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW

The first permanent movie theater was the Nickelodeon. It opened in Pittsburgh in 1905. It charged five cents for admission, hence the name “Nickelodeon.”

Upcoming In-Person Events

July 9th, 5-8 pm – Opening Reception for “Sweet Cinema Sunsets” at Cleveland County Arts Council, Shelby, NC

July 25th – Meet and Greet, A.T. Hun Gallery, Savannah, GA

P.P.S.

Can you guess what movie this is referencing?

​

Hey Reader,

A couple of weekends ago I travelled down south to the hauntingly beautiful land of Savannah to check in with the gallery. I of course hopped over to the sleepy coastal town of Tybee Island to catch some surfing with my beach bum buddy, Nick. It was a calm two days of letting the vastness of the sea fill our souls.

Going way back to since I was a kid, I have wanted to give surfing a try. I am a bit wet behind the ears (pun intended), I only recently picked it up in the last year. But with each session I learn a little bit something more while making sure that I am first, having fun.

This particular surf session weekend, I had a simple goal of catching (trying) as many waves as possible. To not wait. Not wait for that “perfect” wave. Oh sure, Nick and I took our moments to simply tread in the oceanic abyss, watching seagulls and pelicans above as the crescent moon popped up from the clouds. (We swapped our regular “dawn patrol” session for “night beach”) When the waves started firing, I started catching any and every wave.

The immediate wipeouts occurred. Some I couldn’t even get to my pop up and just rode the wave like I was on a beach float. But eventually something cool started to happen. I started to feel my board and understand the connection to the wave. More and more I was able to get to my knees. Then to one knee. Then, eventually, standing.

Some waves were better than others, but all of it is enormous amount of joy. I stopped worrying about catching the perfect wave and simply enjoyed my time because if you wait for that perfect wave, it may never come.

​

Add Sprinkles,
-Will

​

THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW

Ocean waves support a variety of marine life. The tidal pools that are formed by waves, supports the microhabitats of crustaceans, mollusks, algae, and many small fishes.

Upcoming In-Person Events

June 26th – 28th – ATHFEST, Athens, GA

July 9th, 5-8 pm – Opening Reception for solo show at Cleveland County Arts Council, Shelby, NC

​