While some artists find a niche and stick to it, Will Schippert of Grosse Pointe is constantly evolving and trying new things. "Sometimes it isn't just the composition itself but the evolution of the trees or the rocks in the paintings," he says.
Will loves the freedom of being able to look at something and then change it according to what his brain wants to see. "Sometimes things aren't as beautiful as you want them to be or the way you want them to be, and to have that freedom to do whatever you want – that's the passion behind it."
His process has developed over time, and he says he tries to create an emotional experience for the viewer. He's particularly driven by new ideas and new perspectives containing trees. Being in nature not only inspires his creativity but also helps him reboot his brain. Given that he's a computer programmer, too, it's a perfect analogy. "When you're out there, you're recharging, and your problems seem to go away," he says.
Will especially enjoys walking around the National Historic Landmark Ford House property in Grosse Pointe Shores. "It's where all the artists go around here," he says. "It's a massive property on the water filled with unbelievable perspectives. It's designed perfectly with mature trees and all the things that you'd like to see with water."
Recently, he finished Eat Your Cake, a painting inspired by walking these grounds. Filled with trees, flowers, and rocks, his rendering emits a true sense of serenity and beauty.
Using that artistic license, he so embraces, he changed and enhanced some of the details that may not have been evident in real life. "As a Pisces, I paint what I want to see and am constantly using my instincts and imagination when adding or removing items to create balance," says Will. "Light is my main subject matter and how it plays with the items in the composition."
In this particular painting, he thought it was important to portray the water as blue instead of green to create more balance since there was already enough green in the trees and groundcover.
"I also removed some trees and replaced others with one that has a Japanese art feel. I then added a wildflower garden near the rock wall to break up the green and to make the composition transcendent, along with adding more light through the trees when possible, to make them feel lighter and to give the composition a minimalist feeling." He decided to keep the sky a simple white so it doesn't detract from the essentials in the painting.
To create depth in landscapes, he uses blues and grays to create contrast against the greens and yellows. "I use branches to break up these greens and yellows and avoid putting two identical colors (of brush strokes) next to each for the same reason," he says. "I'm of the opinion that nothing is one color, and I'm using a variety of techniques to create depth with this in mind."
Before considering any painting complete, he says he needs to see it in natural light with fresh eyes. "It's best to come back in the morning to see what still requires work because my brain is better prepared to troubleshoot then, making the flaws more easily identifiable."
In addition to nature, Will is also inspired by his in-depth research on other artists, including Van Gogh, Sisley, Cezanne, Monet, Matisse, and Pissarro. These masters have had a big influence on his style. "I combine all the historic art people's ideas in my mind and then try to accomplish something as I see it or build on it so it makes sense," he says. "As I do this, I can feel the evolution of my talent and notice myself getting better."
He says if he tries to paint another Eat Your Cake in the future, it will look much different. "Everything has to do with timing and experience and your ideas, which are changing every day. Each painting is the culmination of all I know, and therefore, each painting will always be new and never the same as the one I painted yesterday."
Will believes art is therapeutic for both the artist and the viewer as well and adds another layer of beauty to everyday life. "The most enjoyable part of painting has to do with coming up with something new, with the little touches only I would make, to make something completely unique. I attempt to make each new painting better than every prior painting, which constantly results in learning. Some experiments may fail, but this makes me grow."
While his other career ensures a steady paycheck, art, he says, is his passion. "I remember painting my first flower and feeling so empowered by that. It was like I was meant to do this. To me, it's the sure thing associated with having a good life.
"Even though I taught myself programming and my background includes an MBA and CPA, it's the art that consumes me. Nothing else in my life can compete with it."
Will's paintings, including Eat Your Cake, can be seen in person at Posteriority Gallery in Grosse Pointe and at Parker Gallery (his friend's house/gallery on Barrington). View more of his works on Instagram @restless_art1.
Will's Painting Tips for New Artists:
I remember how I felt when I first saw Van Gogh's forests and gardens. I'd never felt that way about art until then, and I became consumed with trying to create it myself with cheap materials. For anybody learning to paint, I wish I had known these three things starting out:
- The sooner you learn what each small brush is capable of (normal and long), the sooner you'll find success in creating realistic detail.
- The freedom to paint things the way you want to see them makes the process much more enjoyable and less constrained.
- It's not possible to create good paintings without first creating many bad ones.
"Each painting is the culmination of all I know…"
"I can feel the evolution of my talent and notice myself getting better."