"Wounded Warriors" Auction and Drive in Key West.
William Welch's print of the Rambo Rooster brought $425.00!!

New show "Fair and Square" - Thursday January 5th from 5-9

Well-known Key West artist and painting teacher William Welch returns to Stone Soup Gallery, 802 White Street, with his new show "Fair and Square" on Thursday January 5, 2012 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. He will be exhibiting his new works in oils and acrylics. You are invited to come and meet the artist and see his mostly square and multiples of square format works of our fair Key West houses, streets and gardens. Added to these his favorite subjects are new sunset sky scenes so familiar and stunning of our skies here. There is also new pieces from his trips to Venice and Provence.
Welch's technique and palette recall the impressionist movement of the late 19th century here and in Europe. A well-traveled and avid outdoor painter, he has a wide variety of subjects dealing with sunlit streets, architecture and gardens. Many awards and memberships in painting clubs are credited to Welch, and his works are in corporate and private collections alike, including the US State Department's "Art in Embassies" Program . He was honored along with other American artists in the program by President Clinton and Sec'y Warren Christopher in Washington DC.
One of Key West's iconic art figures for over 25 years, William Welch has contributed tirelessly to local auction benefits, fund-raisers and other community efforts for as many years. Please join the artist for a reception and chat over refreshments on Thursday January 5th. For information please call Stone Soup Gallery at (305)294-2080.

William Welch begins thirtieth year as Nantucket artist

This year marks the thirtieth season of Nantucket artist William Welch's painting, teaching and exhibiting on Nantucket Island. Many islanders and visitors will remember his first years with Gallery One on Candle Street owned by Robert and P.M. Wilson. From 1982 to 1986, Welch's watercolors were widely collected as his depictions of island streets and architectural details made for a unique body of work. In 1886, he opened his own named studio at 14 Easy Street and became one of Nantucket's principal artists. He travelled extensively in the "off-season" visiting and painting in France, Italy, Portugal, Mexico, and recently in Cuba under a special cultural visa. His final year on Easy Street was 2004, thereafter he was represented by the Brigham Galleries on Main Street and later on Center Street. In 2008, he opened a studio at One New Street in 'Sconset. This marks his fourth year in that location. He begins this season with a showing of new works at the Nantucket Wine Festival, May 18th to May 22nd, at the three tasting events. www.nantucketwinefestival.com. Opening weekends beginning Memorial Day, he invites you to come and see his new collection of Nantucket and Sconset scenes. "The roses are always in bloom at the William Welch Studio," quips the artist. For information you can call him at (508)361-3117.

"SOUVENIRS", An exhibition of New Works
by Key West Artist William Welch
in Oil and Watercolor
Opens at Frangipani Gallery,
Wednesday, January 5th from 5-9PM.

A show of recent works featuring Key West, Cuba and Mexico by Key West artist William Welch will open at Frangipani Gallery, 1102 Duval Street. The public is invited to meet the artist and view a variety of oil and watercolor paintings including Havana’s Spanish Colonial architecture, Mexico’s doorways, and Key West’s classic icon structures. The show runs through January 15th.

Artist William Welch has been involved in the local art scene for over 30 years. With many collectors here and abroad, he spends the winter in Key West painting and teaching privately and through the program at The Studios of Key West.

Welch has had 14 solo shows and is best remembered as a prominent artist at Gallery on Greene for ten years. As a contributing artist to the "Art in Embassies" program sponsored by the United States Department of State, his works have graced embassy offices including Moscow. He is recognized in art publications such as "The Best in Oil painting" by Rockport Publications and is in the archives of the Foundation Claude Monet at Giverny, France.

Welch's style and palette are reminiscent of the 19th-century impressionists: in fact, he travels extensively in Europe and the Carribean painting open-air on the spot. His technique makes use of the broken-color application of pigments with small strokes favored by the impressionists. His six-color palette duplicates those of Claude Monet.

The artist is also a member of several art clubs; among them, the Copley Society of Boston, The Philadelphia Water Color Society (signature member) and the Artists Association of Nantucket. The island of Nantucket has been his summer home for thirty years, and he has had his own studio there since 1982. For further information and images of the artist's work you are invited to go the gallery website: frangipanigallery.com or call the gallery (305)296-0440.

AAN 27- year member artist and past president William Welch has started a new venture in Provincetown with a Key West friend and watercolor artist Sean Callaghan. Bill is busy organising the new space, dubbed the Callaghan-Welch Studio, with a handfull of oil paintings and local scenes in watercolor. The space is part of an artist complex at 237 Commercial Street in the Whaler's Wharf second floor. There are several other galleries in the building and Bill says there is much friendly interchange and he feels most welcome. He has maintained an off-season studio in North Truro since 2003, which he uses in the fall and spring before the trip to Key West where he shows in a local gallery called Stone Soup, and teaches through the winter as welll. Bill will return to Nantucket in late June for the season.

"Taking It To The Street"

It was a festive gathering of friends and clients at Square One Restaurant on Monday, March 23rd, to see Bill's new collection of small watercolors and some oils of Key West from this winter's season. The show was a success and paintings that remain can be seen in the 2009 section.
As of March 28th, Bill has joined the stable of wonderful artists of Stone Soup Gallery and Frame Shop on 802 White Street (305)296-2080.
A solo show is planned for Feb. 18th, 2010 at this gallery during the "Walk on White - 3rd Thursday." Meanwhile, Bill returns to his studio in Nantucket and looks forward to seeing his friends and clients this summer season.

Couple Successful Bidders of
"Sorting Tobacco Leaves"

Pictured with Debbie and Peter Batty, the artist, William Welch, (right) congratulates them on their purchase of his Cuban piece entitled "Sorting Tobacco Leaves," in the Pinar del Rio area of western Cuba. The Batty's were the successful bidders at the Annual Hot Havana Nights Gala to benefit the Tropical Gardens of the Key West Botanical Society and was held at the Marriott Resort Beachside, Key West, Florida, on Saturday, February 7, 2009.

Photo courtesy of Martha Robinson.

William Welch – A New Start on New Street!

Close to Pump Square in ‘Sconset, William Welch is opening a summer studio on the island of Nantucket, June 1st. Located at One New Street in the same building as artist Barbara Kauffman-Locke, Welch’s studio will be a painting venue as well as an opportunity to display new works, some of which have recently been posted on his website at: www.williamwelchgallery.com. He will be available for private painting lessons in the lovely ‘Sconset scene until October, and has plans to teach weekend seminars through the Artists’ Association of Nantucket. His works can also be seen and purchased at several restaurants: The Summer House Inn in ‘Sconset, The Ship’s Inn and 20 Fair Street Bistro (both on Fair Street downtown), Cioppino’s on Broad Street, and he will have paintings and small items for gifts at three locations on the wharf: Capizzo Gallery on South Wharf, Leslie Lindsley and European Traditions.
Other activities of the artist include a recent salon show in Key West, Florida at the McKibben Studios at 1111 Duval Street, which was a nice success and a healthy turnout. You can click on the link: www.Mckibbengalleries.com for a look at the artist’s Key West’s work. A show next year and teaching will be scheduled in the Old Town also. This new association after 11 successful years at the Gallery on Greene Street promises to put Welch in closer contact with the public and patrons new and continuing alike.
A very special trip to the Napa Valley brought William face to face with one of the painted and beautiful regions of the U.S.. Aside from the culinary treats, connections with friends and lots of wine sampling, the artist visited his niece, hubby and new baby in lovely Benicia, California – a former and first Capitol of the state in the early 1850’s. Lots of charming Victorians and Napa scenery will materialize in future works, no doubt!
This October perhaps into November, Welch plans to return to Italy and of course – Paris and Province. He has never painted much of the Fall in that region of the world and is very excited at the prospect. We will keep you posted on the next phase!! Stay well and stay in touch.