Merry Christmas from the Bosbyshells

Dear Friends:

In 2022 we had loads of fun with family and friends! Below, we are celebrating the birthday of Wil’s sister, Fran, in Treasure Island.

In Maura’s first year as a full-time artist, she 

launched Bosbyshell Art+Home, a home décor version of Bosbyshell Art Studio. She’s using her textile skills to design bedding, table runners, pillows, and wall art, and has been awarded grants from the Arts & Science Council and Charlotte is Creative. Maura and Wil collaborated on a set of pillows featuring Wil’s Alaska Midnight Sun paintings.

Wil continued his Climate Conversations series of tree drawings. He participated in the return of Earth Day, with a new installation element called the Memory Tree. After Wil’s 18-month studio residency at the McColl Center, he moved into the Charlotte Art League, where Maura also has a studio. The Art League is open the 2nd Friday of each month. Wil still enjoys teaching graphic design at a community college.

Together in 2023, we will be artists-in-residence at the historic Sautee Inn in the north Georgia mountains. Throughout the year, Wil is releasing a Seasons of the Stag print at the Sautee Inn. Maura is creating custom bedding and décor for the Inn’s themed rooms, and a few items are available for purchase.

Allen is moving to Atlanta after four years in Chicago. We loved visiting him in Chi-town, but we love Atlanta as well. He’s 26 and is energetic, driven, and thoughtful, and he pursues varied skills and interests. Best of all he’ll be closer to us in 2023!

We wish you and your family a safe if not slightly dull 2023! The last three years have been way too exciting for us; peace and calm would be a wonderful change for the coming year.

Your Friends, Wil, Maura and Allen

Saint Nikolaus Day in Germany

 

Saint Nikolaus Day in Germany
by Wil Bosbyshell

Looking to my left, a German shepherd complete with festive Christmas neckerchief sat in the chair next to me. He was very polite, especially for a dog. To my right sat a German boy about 11 years old. There was one other dog further down the table, in addition to grandparents, parents and lots of kids of all ages.

I was seated at a long table with about 45 Germans in the local Brauerei. Several families from one neighborhood gathered together to celebrate Saint Nikolaus Day on December 6th 1987.

I was drinking beer, the dog’s had water and the kids had lemonade or Radler. If I wanted food or another beer I called for an auction. I simply lifted my empty beer stein; I didn't speak too many German words. The emcee would head over to a large Christmas tree in the corner and pull a branch off. The branches were decorated with beer, champagne, and Bratwurst. Holding the branch, he announced the auction. If I wanted a beer, I had to be the high bidder. Hilarity ensued. Controlled chaos with a laugh track.

All proceeds went to the neighborhood soccer club. The event featured sports awards both serious and humorous. Sports awards are the same the world around. The awards were sporadically interrupted by tree branch auctions. If I were bidding too high the German shepherd would put his paw on my hand to keep it down. Dogs know when you are getting carried away with the bidding.

My sister, Mary Helen, walked over at one point to tell me I was buying too many branches. I was staying with her and her husband, Kevin, in Bamberg Germany. Kevin was a US Army Armor officer commanding a tank platoon. I was an Army Artillery first lieutenant on a three month leave between duty stations.

After the awards, a hush fell on the assembled crowd. The door burst open, and two figures emerged from the falling snow outside. The man was the real deal: red coat trimmed in white fur, real beard, red hat, black belt and real black boots. Nothing fake or cheesy looking. Saint Nikolaus or Santa Claus was here in the flesh.

Saint Lucy was at his side with an embroidered full-length dress and a wreath of garland in her long blonde hair. St. Nikolaus had two sacks over his shoulders, one stuffed to the brim with Christmas presents and stockings. The other sack was slack, holding only long tree branches cut into switches. Saint Nikolaus stomped the snow off his boots, walked to the center of the room and made a solemn pronouncement.

I didn’t speak much German, but it was obvious what he said. He placed both sacks on the floor and called the first name of a child. A boy of about seven walked up and stood in front of Saint Nikolaus and Saint Lucy. Saint Lucy produced a book and began reading. She listed the bad things this boy had done during the year. It was a brief list.

Next Saint Lucy listed the good things that the young boy had done throughout the year. The good list outnumbered the bad list. The assembled crowd applauded and St. Nikolaus gave the boy a stocking of candy and wrapped gifts. Everyone toasted, “Prost!” The dogs even smiled.

The kids were called out one by one and they had all been pretty good this past year. About ten kids into the event a small girl was summoned before St. Nikolaus.

Saint Lucy launched into a list of her misdeeds. The crowd sighed and booed as the bad behavior was listed point by point. The girl looked nervous. Her bad list went on and on. She had been an unbelievably bad little girl. St. Nikolaus raised his hand. Saint Lucy stopped reading. He bent over and opened the sack of switches. All the adults, including me, were given a switch.

All the adults waved their switches as Saint Lucy continue reading the girl’s misdeeds. This was a blood thirsty crowd! St. Nikolaus had the girl step into the sack, but the sack was left on the ground around her feet. Saint Lucy began to read the girls good deeds, but it was a light and short list. The crowd chanted for the girl to be put in the sack and switched. I realized this was the girl's fate if the good list was shorter than the bad list.

Tears ran down the girls face but Saint Lucy pronounced that the girl had one good deed more than her bad deeds. The crowd booed; they were ready to switch her. She got a small stocking and ran quickly away back to her seat. One other boy came close to being switched. But all the kids had been good this year, though for some it was a narrow escape from being switched in the sack.

One parent near me assured me that bad kids had been switched in years past, but it was rare. He seemed disappointed with this year’s outcome.

Saint Nikolaus gave the last kid their stocking. He exclaimed a jolly, “Ho Ho Ho,” wishing all a Merry Christmas. Then, he and Saint Lucy walked out into the snowy German winter night.

I bought more branches for dinner, I had no idea how much money I spent. Several boys and I had a water fight in the bathroom. I had stopped drinking beer, not being able to keep up with this German crowd. More awards were given, and we sang Christmas carols. The words were German, but the tunes were the same ones I knew by heart: Silent Night is the same song halfway around the world.

Merry Christmas.

Winter Stag Canvas Print Release Date: December 3rd at The Sautee Inn

 

Winter Stag

Signed Canvas Print by Wil Bosbyshell

Wil Bosbyshell's festive Winter Stag print is ready to hang in your home. Each giclee canvas print is hand-signed by the artist and is gallery wrapped, thus requires no framing.

12 x 9 inches $200 plus tax & shipping
16 x 12 inches $300 plus tax & shipping
24 x 18 inches $400 plus tax & shipping

Larger sizes available on request. Allow three (3) weeks for delivery 

Order: www.bosbyshellartstudio.com

The Story: Seasons of the Stag

Wil was approached by friend Steve Schulman about a series of drawings he had long envisioned. Steve had approached other artists, but was never able to realize his vision. So Wil and Steve collaborated through a series of sketches, which eventually became the four paintings. The Stag is represented by a regal North American species whose antlers become tree branches, a surreal element that ties into Wil’s Climate Conversation series of tree drawings. In the original work, the stag itself is graphite, and seasonal accents are in watercolor. For the Winter print, the Stag is wreathed in holly, with icicles hanging from the branches. Over the next year, Wil will release a Stag print each season.

 

Seasons of the Stag released at The Sautee Inn

The first print, Winter Stag, will be unveiled at the December 3rd (10 AM to 3 PM) Christmas Tour at the Historic Sautee Inn in the northeast Georgia mountains near Helen, Ga. The Holiday Tour, the Sautee Inn and the artist are supporting Friends of the Public Library.

The Sautee Inn is a restored, historic bed and breakfast that features eight comfortable rooms adorned with antique furnishings alongside modern comforts. Guests enjoy a gourmet, country-style breakfast prepared by accomplished chefs daily and top off the evening with decadent desserts.

The Inn features Wil Bosbyshell’s drawings and paintings. Maura Bosbyshell’s custom textiles adorn several rooms and common areas.

See more about the historic Sautee Inn at their website: www.thesauteeinn.com

Contact Information

The Sautee Inn

Rebecca Hollis, Ron Geraneo           thesauteeinn@gmail.com 706.878.8217

2178 GA Highway 17, Sautee Nacoochee, GA 30571

Wil Bosbyshell

Bosbyshell Art Studio mbosbyshell@aol.com 704.458.0600

Purchase Art: https://www.bosbyshellartstudio.com/

Portfolio: https://www.behance.net/wilbosbyshell

Blog: http://bosbyshellart.blogspot.com/

Instagram: @wilbosbsyehll https://www.instagram.com/wilbosbyshell/

New Studio

 

New Studio Space

I moved into the studios at the new Charlotte Art League, at 4237 Raleigh Street in NoDa (next to the Independent Theater). You’re invited to see my studio on the Second Friday of each month (Nov 11th), or I can arrange to meet you. It will be a work on progress for a few weeks. www.charlotteartleague.org @charlotteartleague

"All things come to an end," to misquote Star Trek. I had a productive 18 months at the McColl Center, completing 20+ Climate Conversation drawings and creating the Memory Tree art installation.

The 1st event at my new studio is Saturday afternoon November 19th at the Sycamore Brewery Fall Beer Festival. I'll be there all afternoon, come by and join me for a beer. 

Contact Information

Email: mbosbyshell@aol.com

Instagram: @wilbosbyshell

Store: www.bosbyshellartstudio.com

Climate Conversation Tree Number 21 - Its BIG!

This is the 21st drawing in my Climate Conversation tree series and it is very large. It is six by three feet in size on paper. I began this drawing by going into the woods near Penland and finding this very scared tree. I rolled the paper into thirds and rubbed different parts of the tree. Then I came back into my studio and used the marks provided by the tree to add details and contrast. 

So it is representational of a real tree, but the interior marks become very abstract. 

Stag in all Four Seasons Drawings Finished

I finished up the four Stag drawings by completing the fall season. Each drawing and painting combines vivid color with high contrast black and gray pencil. The fall leaves create a lot of action and fill the page. I used many different types of leaves: oak, maple, cherry, etc. I added a chipmunk to the fun! 

The summer Stag is very vibrant in the use of greens. Also the wreath around the Stags neck is filled with daylilies. 

After finishing up all four drawings, I went back into this drawing, which was the 1st completed and added more icicles and holly berries

. 

Also, after completing the summer and fall drawings I went back into this one and added more buds and blooms to the daylily wreath. 

 

Drawings and Paintings on display at Southern Strain Brewery

The closing reception for my exhibit at Southern Strain Brewery is this Sunday September 18th from 2 to 5 PM. Many of my Climate Conversation Tree drawings will be on display. There is great beer from a new local brewery and a fun food truck. Hope to see you there. The artwork ranges in prince from $90 to $5,000. 

 

Southern Strain Closing Reception - Sunday, September 18th 2 to 5 PM

 

Join me for the closing of my exhibit at Southern Strain Brewery. Have a cold beer in the afternoon from 2 to 5 on Sunday afternoon September 18th. Hope to see you there. 

Seasons of the Stag Calendar about 90% complete

The calendar with the Stag in each of the four seasons is nearing completion. I am about 90% complete. I need some light fall colors in the black and white leaf areas. All are 24 x 18 inches, graphite and watercolor on paper. 

 This is lush, summer leaves and lillies. 

Winter with icicles and holly leaves. 

Spring with lily buds and leaves. 

 

Midnight Sun Silk Screens!

Alaskan Sun I began a series of silk screens and paintings of the Alaskan Midnight Sun at Arrowmont this summer. In the arctic summer, the sun rotates in the sky coming close to the horizon, but never actually setting.

The Mindsight Sun print at the top of this post is currently in an exhibit in Chicago’s Bridgeport Arts Center near the White Sox stadium. I layered three different screens. This piece and three others from the series sold before the exhibit in Chicago even began. Many more are available.

These silk screens are 10 x 10 inches. 

Silk Screen Trees at Arrowmont

 

It’s been a fun summer at Bosbyshell Art Studio. The weather has been hot, so I’m making plenty of Art. Good news! The McColl Center offered to extend my studio there for a second year, so I will be there through May 2023.

Silkscreens I spent two weeks at Arrowmont School of Art. The first week was devoted to silk screen printing. A few examples are below. I plan to continue the tree prints this fall in my McColl Center studio. This type of silk screen creates one print and one ghost print that I will use as a base for a watercolor painting. The silk screen print looks amazingly like a pencil drawing.

All the silk screens above are 8 x 10 on printing paper. 

New Storefront Website for Bosbyshell Art Studio

Bosbyshell Art Studio

Please visit my new storefront website! Kate McAlister set it up for me! It currently features all my drawings and paintings for sale at Southern Strain Brewery in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood in Charlotte. 

Stag Calendar of the Four Seasons in Progress

This is a series of images of a commissioned calendar of a stag during the four seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall. It is a combination of graphite drawing and watercolor paint. Above is the beginning of the Winter Stag. This series of drawings is a great take off of my current climate conversations tree drawings, yet with a surreal touch. The antlers become tree branches or limbs. 

Winter with icicles added. 

Color added to the wreath.

This is the Winter Stag at about 95% complete. 

Beginning of the Spring Stag. 

Lilly buds in the wreath and lilly and tree buds in the antlers / tree limbs. 

The above image is the Spring Stag 95% complete. 

This is the beginning of the Summer Stag. Lilly flower blooms in the wreath and many different leaves in the antlers / limbs. 

 

Family Tree Commission

A good friend of mine asked me to draw the tree in his grandmother's backyard. This was the family home in Charlotte. I did two preliminary sketches: one close up with the swing and one of the entire tree. The family decided to go with teh entire tree with details of the yard included.  

The above image is of my progress at about half way. 

Here is the final drawing. It is 14 x 11 inches. This is a giant willow or pin oak tree. 

 

Climate Drawings at Southern Strain Brewery - Opening Reception Saturday July 16th

Join Maura and I for a fun casual evening at the newly opened Southern Strain Brewery on Central Avenue in Charlotte. The beer is great, there will be a food truck and live music from 4 to 7 PM. My Climate Conversation Tree Series drawings will be on display through the fall.

 

Art & Trees are the Answer!

Art & Trees are the ANSWER!  

Trees AND Art are the Answer! – Julia George

Wil Bosbyshell is a local artist we recently partnered with and we loved this connection because he is also passionate about spreading awareness of the importance of trees! His work engages his audience to take a more personal look at trees. His studio right now is located at the McColl center in uptown. He does unique artwork by tracing trees and turning them into magnificent works of art. We had the pleasure of getting to know him at the recent Earth Day festival in first ward park. His exhibit encouraged people to reflect on their memories with trees and to share the knowledge of how trees show their age by rings of growth. We provided Wil with tree “cookies’ ‘ or slabs of wood to show the growth rings. Here’s some more information on Wil. Please feel free to check out his work!





What about trees inspired you to make them your focus with art?

My particular fascination with trees lies in my belief that trees are not proverbial abstract things but individual, living beings with personalities and stories to tell. Bringing those stories into daily consciousness is at the heart of my drawings. I am fascinated by the interaction between the texture of the bark, the natural design of the limbs and the depiction of scars left by time and weather. The drawings in my current series are complex so I can achieve an asymmetrical balance that stimulates our minds and invites us to develop our personal relationship with trees. I hope my drawings lead to greater understanding of their importance in the ecosystem and the spiritual place they hold in the world.

  

How long have you been practicing this version of your art?

I have drawn all my life. In kindergarten, I drew dinosaurs instead of learning my ABCs. My teachers bribed me to study Monday through Thursday by promising to let me draw all day Friday. I turned my artistic focus to pencil drawing in the past two years. Pencil really helps me capture the different textures of the different trees that I draw.

What is your favorite memory of a tree?

I grew up in Florida near the west coast surrounded by a lot of very tall, full longleaf pines. When the wind blew the pines made a whispering sound. I would fall to sleep at night listening to that soft, peaceful sound.

Anything else you want to add?

People are welcome to visit my studio to see my Tree Series of drawings at the McColl Center for Art in uptown Charlotte or on Instagram @wilbosbyshell.



Portfolio: https://www.behance.net/wilbosbyshell

Blog: http://bosbyshellart.blogspot.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wilbosbyshell/