Bill
Botten

An original idea, if there is truly such a thing, and storytelling are what I try to achieve. If a painting speaks to me or speaks to you then I feel good. That applies even if the reaction is negative. I’d prefer any reaction rather than indifference. Happily I accept that I cannot control your reactions. That is why it’s best just to paint for myself and treat it as a bonus if someone gets something from it – an emotion, a memory, perhaps something just felt rather than articulated in verbal language.

Whilst I paint for myself, I derive enormous happiness when a painting finds its way to a home. That is to say I’m not distant or selfish about my paintings except in the process of painting. I want to like it and then I hope some others will also connect.

Starting a painting sometimes scares me. Finishing a painting nearly always scares me. The middle part of painting can be rotten. Often it feels like there are a thousand decisions to be made, and that only one decision is correct –and yet, or because of all of this, I love painting. Occasionally it moves to a different plane – where suddenly you are painting without conscious thought, just watching the brush. It’s wonderful and all the sweeter that I seem to have no control as to when that state switches on or turns off.

I’ve had plenty of exhibitions, commissions, people popping past and taking a painting, home, and charitable donations. I’ve produced and sold more paintings than I ever thought I would. While never the ambition, it is so pleasing that sometimes others also enjoy some of the paintings and that the lucky ones have found a happy home and are to some degree part of people’s lives.

My favourite artists are Ian Fairweather, Fred Williams, John Olson, Jackson Pollock, Joan Miro, Karel Appel, and many young children.