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Not many self-taught artists can decide they want to paint or draw and, within weeks, garner international attention. But Bill Guffey found a niche that ignited interest worldwide.
He began a blog inviting people to use Google Maps with Street View to “meet him” at the same location, virtually take a 360-degree look at the place, and paint or draw their renditions. He receives hundreds of submissions for the “virtual paintout” a month, and major British newspapers, PBS Television, ABC News, “American This Morning” and many more also took note, writing stories and giving him plenty of exposure.
“Bill's use of Street View, to inspire his paintings and to create a virtual community of artists, is a remarkable example that we hadn't imagined but are really excited to see,” noted Google Street View product manager Stephen Chau on Guffey's website.
Guffey grew up in Kentucky but lived in Breckenridge from 1985-95, where he worked various jobs, including bartending and a seven-year stint at City Market. He returned to Kentucky to “go back home,” opened a bookstore (which he soon found out wasn't a lucrative business in his town) and settled down with his family while taking a job as a graphic artist at a newspaper in Kentucky. At age 46, he's been at his current job for 10 years but is trying to take his artwork to the next level so it can support him financially.
So far, he's been oil painting and charcoal drawing for three years and is already in galleries in Denver and Kentucky.
“I progressed kind of quickly,” he said modestly.
He also taught himself graphic arts, so self-education isn't a foreign concept to him.
Guffey has been at the Tin Shop for a week, and he's already completed five plein air paintings in Breckenridge. He began learning his craft through oils, then went to charcoal.
“I kind of did it backwards — painted in oils and then went to charcoal,” he said.
He uses white and black charcoal for intricate portraits, particularly of old men.
“I like the whole character of that and putting in lines and wrinkles,” he said.
When he's not working on portraits, he tries to convey the feeling of what caught his attention when he chooses a landscape.
“I love getting outside, setting up my easel and finding a scene that interests me right off the bat,” he said.
While he's at the Tin Shop, he'll host a public reception (today) and a workshop Wednesday, the latter of which will demonstrate how he prepares paper and uses pastels, charcoal pencils and erasers to work in black and white. He's also enjoying seeing a few familiar faces he met when he lived in town, and though he says the town has changed, he adds, “It feels really good (to be back).”
“Bill's portraits are stunning,” said Arts District coordinator Jenn Cram. “He can really capture the character of his subjects. I think his workshop will really provide some new tools for those artists that are interested in portraits. He is also an accomplished plein air artist, so it will be great to have him painting around town.”
He began a blog inviting people to use Google Maps with Street View to “meet him” at the same location, virtually take a 360-degree look at the place, and paint or draw their renditions. He receives hundreds of submissions for the “virtual paintout” a month, and major British newspapers, PBS Television, ABC News, “American This Morning” and many more also took note, writing stories and giving him plenty of exposure.
“Bill's use of Street View, to inspire his paintings and to create a virtual community of artists, is a remarkable example that we hadn't imagined but are really excited to see,” noted Google Street View product manager Stephen Chau on Guffey's website.
Guffey grew up in Kentucky but lived in Breckenridge from 1985-95, where he worked various jobs, including bartending and a seven-year stint at City Market. He returned to Kentucky to “go back home,” opened a bookstore (which he soon found out wasn't a lucrative business in his town) and settled down with his family while taking a job as a graphic artist at a newspaper in Kentucky. At age 46, he's been at his current job for 10 years but is trying to take his artwork to the next level so it can support him financially.
So far, he's been oil painting and charcoal drawing for three years and is already in galleries in Denver and Kentucky.
“I progressed kind of quickly,” he said modestly.
He also taught himself graphic arts, so self-education isn't a foreign concept to him.
Guffey has been at the Tin Shop for a week, and he's already completed five plein air paintings in Breckenridge. He began learning his craft through oils, then went to charcoal.
“I kind of did it backwards — painted in oils and then went to charcoal,” he said.
He uses white and black charcoal for intricate portraits, particularly of old men.
“I like the whole character of that and putting in lines and wrinkles,” he said.
When he's not working on portraits, he tries to convey the feeling of what caught his attention when he chooses a landscape.
“I love getting outside, setting up my easel and finding a scene that interests me right off the bat,” he said.
While he's at the Tin Shop, he'll host a public reception (today) and a workshop Wednesday, the latter of which will demonstrate how he prepares paper and uses pastels, charcoal pencils and erasers to work in black and white. He's also enjoying seeing a few familiar faces he met when he lived in town, and though he says the town has changed, he adds, “It feels really good (to be back).”
“Bill's portraits are stunning,” said Arts District coordinator Jenn Cram. “He can really capture the character of his subjects. I think his workshop will really provide some new tools for those artists that are interested in portraits. He is also an accomplished plein air artist, so it will be great to have him painting around town.”
