The landscapes of William Buffett portray serene, peaceful images: pastel beach houses
ensconced on bluffs overlooking calm seas; pink and salmon-colored stucco villas situated on
peaceful winding streets; and tall yachts moored in tranquil harbors.
Buffett strongly emphasizes design and balance in his artwork and paints only tranquil
settings. He has a theory about art: "because there is enough violence and stressful imagery in
the contemporary work of many artists, I create art that makes people feel good." Buffett began
his art career painting portraits. During the Spring Fiesta in New Orleans where he was
showing examples of his portraits, he met a couple from Jackson, Mississippi, who wanted a
portrait, but who had to get back home. They offered to take him with them and were sure he
would find more work when he arrived. Buffett went and got all the commissions he could
handle. There was such a huge market that he decided to make regular visits. Being a
bachelor, Buffett also discovered that portrait painting was an ideal profession for meeting
attractive, cultured young women. In Jackson he met a wonderful woman, married her and
moved to Santa Barbara. During that period he moved a lot and worked infrequently. But, in
California, with the courtship over and the marriage begun, Buffett started producing his own
limited edition serigraphs and began to prosper.
It was during this time that Buffett perfected his special transparent serigraph print
technique which he continues to refine in his newer works. His prints have a luminosity and
clarity rarely found in serigraphy. This quality is the result of his special foundations and the
pastel palette he frequently employs.
BORN: Lincoln, NB
EDUCATION: Art Center College of Design, Los Angeles, CA
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