Wells’ latest achievement is the inclusion of one of his paintings in the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion publication of the Arkansas Calendar Book for 2008. His work has also been used on the cover of the Little Rock telephone book, the Arkansas Game and Fish Wildlife Calendars and in the Arkansas and Texas Trophy Hunters magazines. He has won a variety of ribbons in competitions at the Cossatot Arts and Crafts Association and the Mena Art Gallery, among others.

Wells will take part in the Ouachita Art Trails Studio Tour in the fall of 2008 sponsored by the Mena Art Gallery, so you will have a chance to see his work and watch him painting. Meanwhile, look for his work at the Mena Art Gallery, The New Fisher Gallery in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Common Grounds Gallery in Heber Springs, Arkansas.

Bill's work has been in juried shows around the Arkansas: Eldorado, Fort Smith, Springdale, and Little Rock. One painting was published in the Arkansas Governor's Mansion Calendar for 2007. His work can be seen at the Arkansas Sheriff's Boy's Ranch at Alma, Rich Mountain Community College in Mena, and at the Fine Art Center in Hot Springs. Covering a wide spectrum, from family portraits to wildlife illustrations, his flexibility lets him approach canvas or paper from many different perspectives. A private studio behind his home provides serenity needed to pursue his passion with professionalism.

Like other self-taught artists, Bill has a somewhat unorthodox approach to art. He uses a grisalle method when doing oils, layering oil colors over acrylic underpaintings in black and white. He has lately combined egg tempera with watercolors—tempera being a type of watercolor. His preferred medium, however, is pure transparent watercolor. An avid bird watcher, he observes many of the birds he paints right in his back yard. He recently did a series of snake illustrations for an article in an outdoor magazine written by a friend.

Bill maintains that credibility is often established by hard work and dedication and that too much emphasis is placed on talent. Reflecting on his accomplishments, he states, “Inspiration sparks creativity. The magic has to be there to draw my attention. If the magic isn't there, I can't do justice to my work.”

For the past four years, Bill has taught watercolor and pencil drawing as a community service class at Rich Mountain Community College in Mena and this fall semester is scheduled to teach a sixty-plus class in drawing and painting there.