Discover Hidden, Magical Places That Reveal Gifts to Remember

When you least expect it, a visual experience will overcome you, challenging you to slow down, open your eyes, and feel the quiet power of Nature. It will take your breath away, it will bring tears to your eyes, you will feel humbled and grateful. These are moments of natural beauty, generously handed down from above.

William Marvin has been observing and appreciating these gifts since he was a child. He calls them Grace Notes. They are personal reflections on the special moments he was fortunate to see. They are written in a revealing manner that invites you to enter into his world, his vision, captured in small, impressionistic oil painting sketches.

His shadow on these rambles along the backroads of our country is a big, black lab, always ready for adventure, capable of providing protection and companionship around the campfire. Join them and experience the freedom and wonder they have found in hidden, often forgotten places; the North woods of Upper Michigan, the Midwest prairie, the low country of the South and along the rugged coast of Maine. Experiencing the grace of God’s gifts is a privilege and one he is compelled to share.

I am privileged to be able to capture the ever changing moods of nature, out in the open, fresh and unspoiled. I save these special moments, having lived my whole life with one eye on the great outdoors. My childhood was spent in a quiet town along the winding Fox River in Central Wisconsin. Living in a small town environment helped me develop strong Midwestern values and an appreciation for a lifestyle connected to the land. Like Tom Sawyer, I took every chance to explore the rivers, woods, and open fields of the surrounding countryside. My family moved to California and there I fell in love with the Western landscape on many backpacking trips throughout Oregon, Washington, and California, especially Yosemite National Park. I honed my skills at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, taking extensive courses in design, drawing, painting, and illustration. Upon graduating with honors in 1974, I came to Chicago to begin a challenging career as a graphic designer. Telling a story with strong shapes and rich color has been a consistent theme in my graphics and paintings. After a successful career that included illustrating children’s books, magazine publishing, and designing annual reports I returned to painting the outdoors. I started showing my landscapes in 1996 and immediately began to draw attention from collectors. Success in several Regional Invitationals helped develop the confidence to enter National competitions. In 1999 I was asked to become Vice President of Oil Painters of America and remained in that position for two years. I have painted extensively on the East coast, throughout the Midwest and Southwest, primarily in California. Today, I am an active member of the Chicago art scene and continue to paint at pleinair events as a member of Plein Air Painters Chicago. My work hangs in private and corporate collections throughout the United States.