“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Bill realized that, at some point in his life, he became a teacher more than a painter. From that point on, it became important to him to share the techniques he learned throughout his career with others.
Bill’s techniques were at odds with many traditional painters at the time. He suffered the cruel barbs of their criticism in silence. In spite of that, though, Bill kept on doing what he felt was the right way for him.
“To be nobody-but-yourself —in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.”
E. E. Cummings
Bill’s celebrity came late in life but gave him the opportunity to teach so many more people than he ever thought possible. In the first year of his television program he taught more people how to paint than he did in his entire career. Bill’s passion was to share his techniques with everyone who wanted to learn.
Bill often said he wished he could reach out and touch his television audience. He wanted to talk with them about their stories and their dreams. Of course he wanted to talk about painting. Television was wonderful. Twenty seven minutes, though, was just not enough time to share all he wanted with his fans.
His fans continued to write and ask for more techniques and materials. Many more wrote to ask Bill to speak about creative power, the happiness and joy of painting, and his philosophy of life.
The chronology of Bill’s life – up until 1982 – is over, but the next part of Bill’s story speaks to these questions. Bill hoped that if you are a painter, these thoughts will help you to see with new eyes. If you aren’t a painter, but have always wanted to be one, this last part of the story may be just what it takes to get you started. If you are neither, you may just want to wait for the Epilogue.
Next week: Freeing Your Creative Power
I stared to paint with Bill early on when my kids were small. I wanted to paint so bad and the things I learned help me survive being alone with two little boys during the Vietnam era. I served in the Navy, and married a career Navy man. After finishing my tour I had two boys. The youngest child was less than a month old when his dad was shipped to Vietnam. The boys were 18 months apart. I would put my easel in the play pin, and put the babies in their play pin to paint. After the oldest boy Learned to walk and climbed out of the play pin I kid proofed the living room and still painted in the play pin.
After my husband came home I would fly up to Oregon to take classes from Bill. I enjoyed the classes, and contact with other artists, I moved to Oregon and was privileged to attend Silver Falls work shops and became an Alexander’s certified teacher. I would teach on was ends in my home studio. I now am waiting for a kidney transplant and have dialysis, 5 days a week. For mothers day my kids bought me an easel for those he dialysis room. So I can paint while on Dialysis.
Being an artist is my passion. It gives me a reason to continue fighting to live each day. What Bill started so many years ago continues to touch my life. I am so greatfull for or all I learned from all the master artist at Alexander Art. Virginia Esmond
I’m an old man. I recently took a Bob Ross class. When I discovered that Bob learned from Bill, I quickly looked for Bill on YouTube, maybe a couple three weeks ago. How I would love to put my almighty arms around, hug and be that old man’s friend. I became very emotional when I read that when he walk out on the Mall’s stage, for the first time in his life, he did not know what to say or do. I could almost experience the feeling he must have felt at that moment in his life. I look forward to seeing Bill and Bob and being their friend in the Earthly resurrection where we all will have the opportunity to be “The Meek who will inherit the Earth.”
I have thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful and remarkable life story of Bill Alexander. Thank you so much for sharing it. I feel as though there is some special reason for me to have found all this. I enjoyed his TV show as a young person and as an aspiring artist. But I never knew about the life that he lived. I have much greater respect for his legacy now. A deeply moving and important biography of a great man and artist who made art history in our modern world. Thank you.
Amazing to read about Bill Alexander and his life. I some how stumbled across his story, I enjoyed reading it, its fascinating to learn about his struggles and successes – As I was reading it to my surprise – I remembered I have The Magic of Oil painting book which I bought way back in my teens when starting out as a painter. I still paint and can understand some of those things Bill shares…. Thankyou for sharing Bill’s life with us…….
Hi Bill.
I could not put down your story, it was facinating. You had determination to continue, after a hard early life, and made it.
I have watched yourself and others for a longtime, and wondered if I could paint like that. I have decided I must try. I bought a sheet of hardboard and cut it up 24 x 18. Next to get my gesso, witch will be a start for me. Then to sort what oils and brushes to get.
I will let you know when I do my first one, so untill then. Bye bye.
I had the privilege of taking two series of lessons, of six sessions each, from Bill Alexander during his days in Downey, California during the winter of 1973-1974. Bill was giving lessons in a studio he had there, when he wasn’t spending his summer months in Canada. Listening to his running comments and explanations during those two hour teaching sessions were so memorable. His witty stories and genuine nuggets of wisdom, all in his German/ Prussian accent and expressions are treasured memories. I also remember Bill telling us about those first plans to compress a painting into the 25 minutes necessary for a possible TV series. At the time, I was pastor of a local church, the Immanuel Mennonite Church in Downey, and Bill’s technique revolutionized by approach to painting. It also shaped my ministry of “inspirational chalk art” using soft pastel lecturer’s chalks to do a drawing in 25 to 35 minutes. I was able to use Bill’s techniques in both oil painting and chalk talks when we moved to southern Africa later in 1974 where we lived in Lesotho until we returned to the States in 1981.
In 1983 it was a honor to speak to Bill on the phone while visiting British Columbia and I thanked him for the influence he had been on my life. I was disappointed that we could not meet in person, but Bill was working with his Pacific salmon conservation project and my travel arrangement didn’t permit our getting together. I still have and use my original wooden palette and the palette knife that Bill designed. Bill Alexander’s creativity was truly “magic” in many respects, and he is still greatly missed.
Pastor Robert W. Gerhart
Great story! Thank you. I had the pleasure and the honor of going up to Powell River for a week with the tv crew from KOCE to do the documentary on Bill. We spent time with him that I treasure. His wife and my mom in Iowa became pen pals!
I read your explanation of how Bill spent time in Seal Beach withe friends that opened a place called the Glider Inn, I wonder if that’s also a reason that many of his paintings were in a small Art shop on Main St. I bought 3 of them, which I still have.
He was a wonderful host, had a great personality, and my pictures from my time with him are very special to me..
William Alexander was an interesting, wonderful teacher of his painting techniques.
Are there any of Bill Alexander’s paintings for sale? If so, how much are they?
Shelia,
Thank you for asking. At times there are paintings for sale. Where are you located and approximately what size of painting are you looking for? The paintings are different prices based on size and difficulty.
Laurie
I enjoyed reading about Bill. Was a student when he lived in Langley and Aldergrove. Bill and Margarete were family friends. My Grandfather was George Davison and although outgoing with a booming voice, was not a dapper Englishman but actually born in Canada. Margarete painted beautiful florals. I learned from her as well.
I am happy to own a framed original William Alexander and an unsigned original Margarete.
Joan,
It is wonderful to hear from others who knew them. I would love to see the paintings that you have. What year did they paint them? If you wouldn’t mind showing me you can send images to laurie@alexanderart.com. I have some of his paintings. Ones that he painted when we worked together and a few from his earlier years. It is so fun to see how his technique changed over the years. Do you paint Joan? I’d love to see what you do as well.
Thank you for making Bill’s biography available: it’s such an inspiring journey. Like many people, I started with Bob, but Bill is now helping take me to the next level with my paintings.