Wheeler, Bill (born 1948) — Emerald 2. First Edition of the Color Etching

1988. Color etching on thick rag paper. 30 x 30 inhches. One of 25 signed, numbered and titled impressions.. Bill Wheeler is a printmaker and painter. He creates his artwork as a kind of visual music, tensions in balance, inspired by the musical elements of the fugue, counterpoint and thematic variations. And as Time is a major component of music, his interest in archaeology and the passage of time plays a major role in many of the pieces. "Printmaking is my primary medium of expression. I usually try to incorporate some kind of print media in most of my art. Even my paintings and drawings usually incorporate elements of or are influenced by the techniques of the original print, especially viscosity prints and relief prints. Artists traditionally test the limits of their preferred media, and printmakers have always been known to experiment. The inherent unpredictability of printmaking leads me to explore in new directions. I choose such a demanding form of expression because the visual effects made possible with the many print processes cannot be achieved by any other means. "For me, my work must convey a feeling of playfulness or I'm not interested in doing it. There is already enough angst in the world today without this artist contributing to it. Like Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky, two artists whose works have greatly influenced my style, I try to create my own fantasy world and invite my viewers in for the party.".. Provenance: Suzy R. Locke & Associates, Oakland. .