Bill Buchman

Bill says of his artwork: “The human figure has been one of the main sources of my art since I began seriously painting and drawing in 1962. My goal is to portray its vast array of moods, harmonies, melodies and rhythms,… its poetic qualities, freedom and expressiveness, with a Zen touch that speaks to the eye, touches the heart and stimulates the mind. Using the same foundation and principles I explore the infinite world of abstraction focusing on color, spontaneity and musicality. I use a synthesis of ideas and techniques of European Modernism, Chinese and Japanese Zen painting, as well as Renaissance and Classical concepts in this cause.”

EAST MEETS WEST IN COLOR THAT SINGS
Bill Buchman is a popular and prolific artist whose expressive work draws on his extensive musical background. An intimate familiarity with what is meant by a harmony, a melody, and a rhythm informs his every move with the brush. He is known for his abstractions, characterized as “symphonies of space, form and color” and his figures, described as “lightning bursts of energy condensed into a fine line”. His paintings and drawings offer a paradox: the works are bold and assertive yet their openness invites viewers to enter them and imagine their own stories.

Bill says, “ I make art as a way to transcend everyday experience. My painting language is built around the idea of communicating harmony, optimism, joy and meaning through a fusion of painting and music. My aim is to make paintings that are inspirational and therapeutic. My art is based on a lifelong immersion in Zen painting, Jazz, 20th century Modernism and Dada. These have led me to the only place possible… to myself. It is from from here I paint the rhythms, melodies and harmonies of my body and spirit.”
Bill Buchman’s career spans more than 50 years as an artist, musician, educator and author. A native of New York State, Bill started his art education in his teens studying painting and drawing with well-known teachers Victor D’Amico, at the Institute of Modern Art, East Hampton, NY, and Fletcher Martin, at the Albany Institute of Art, in Albany, NY. Later, he attended Cornell University, School of Fine Arts, studying with abstract expressionist Robert Richenburg and playing with the Mojos, a popular Ithaca rock band. As a true participant of the 60’s, Bill’s spirit of adventure and Zen approach to life soon led him to new explorations and endeavors: living on the Lower East Side of New York playing with blues bands, in Alaska fighting forest fires, in Boulder and Aspen, doing street portraits, playing free jazz, being a natural foods cook and even becoming a practicing astrologer. Three days at the culminating event of that time, the Woodstock Music Festival, was a inspiring moment for him, confirming his unshakeable optimistic and spiritual view of life, a hallmark of his activities to this day. In 1971 Bill entered the New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) and dove into the great jazz milieu in Boston of that period, studying with piano greats Jaki Byard and Ran Blake and receiving both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from NEC’s pioneering Third Stream Program (AKA Contemporary Musical Arts). Active musical years in Boston, Cape Cod and Los Angeles followed playing with some great musicians. In LA, Bill had private studies with art teacher David Pacheco that inspired Bill to realize his art aspirations. From that point, while continuing to play music, Bill returned to visual art as his principal focus. In service of this goal, in 1981, he relocated to Europe, first in Amsterdam, then in Paris. After four years of European travel, research and continuous education, Bill settled in Copenhagen, Denmark and then worked, exhibited, and performed with success in Scandinavia for the next 16 years. In 2001 Bill moved to Sarasota, Florida where, in addition to painting, exhibiting and performing, he became an in demand teacher of figure drawing, abstraction and creativity. Along with many years of teaching locally at the Ringling Longboat Key Center for the Arts and at the Venice Art Center, Bill travelled the US as an ambassador for Savoir Faire (the leading purveyor of European art materials) giving workshops and seminars demonstrating his unique approaches to realizing his paintings based on the principles of musical composition, Zen and Modernist techniques. He has made five instructional DVD’s on these subjects as well as written a popular and innovative book on drawing, “Expressive Figure Drawing” (Watson-Guptill/Random House 2010). With many exhibitions to his credit, Bill’s art may be seen in private and public collections in the US, Denmark, Sweden, and England. Bill now lives in New York City, where, as a gallery-represented artist and active jazz musician, his ceaseless artistic and musical activities are thriving.

Over the past 35 years Bill has had successful exhibitions in Sweden, Denmark, England and the US and was represented for 18 years by the international gallery, Gallerihuset in Copenhagen. Bill's recent book (2011), "Expressive Figure Drawing", published by Watson-Guptill/Random House is popular around the world as are his five instructional DVD's on creativity, figurative and and abstract painting. Bill has been the juror of many Florida shows. Bill is also an instructor/ambassador of Sennelier, Cretacolor, Lascaux and Fabriano fine art products for European importer, Savoir Faire and has given many creativity workshops around the US in that role. Also, Bill has, in cooperation with Jerry's Artarama, his own unique signature line of Sumi Brushes and Reed Pens.

Bill's teaching has an extensive reach through his popular book, "Expressive Figure Drawing' and his five instructional DVD's (nearly 10 hours of instruction) on figure drawing, abstraction and creativity.. Bill has been the juror of many Florida shows and is also an instructor/ambassador of Sennelier, Cretacolor, Lascaux and Fabriano fine art products for European importer, Savoir Faire and has given many workshops in drawing , abstraction and creativity around the US in that role. Bill has, in cooperation with Jerry's Artarama, his own unique signature line of Sumi Brushes and Reed Pens and has been a long time faculty member of the Ringling College - Longboat Key Center for the Arts, Longboat Key, FL and the Venice Art Center in Venice, FL. and is now a full time gallery artist in New York City

SELECTED SOLO AND GROUP EXHIBITIONS
“Ombre” • Debbie Dickinson Gallery • New York, NY, 2022
Chasen Art Gallery • Sarasota, FL 2021, 2022
Mac Art Gallery • Ft Lauderdale, FL 2021
“The Independent Eye”• Art Ovation Hotel • Sarasota, FL 2019-2020
Sarasota Visual Artists Studios (SVAS) Studio Tour • 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017
SVAS Exhibition • Art Center of Sarasota • 2019
SVAS Exhibition • Arts Alliance of Sarasota • 2018
SVAS Pop Up Gallery • Lakewood Ranch, FL 2017 • Sarasota, FL 2018
Allyn Gallup Gallery • Sarasota, FL 2016, 2015
Ringling College, Longboat Key Center for the Arts • Longboat Key, FL 2016, 2011
The Studio at Gulf and Pine • Anna Maria, FL 2014
World of Art Showcase • Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas, NV 2012
Gallerihuset • Copenhagen, Denmark 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993
Longboat Key Club • Longboat Key, FL 2010
Herning Kunstmesse • Denmark 2009
State of the Arts Gallery • Sarasota, FL 2006, 2007, 2008
Lauritzen/Rush Galleries • Marco Island, FL 2005
Art Copenhagen • Denmark 2004, 2000
Gallerie Des Artes • Sarasota, 2004, 2003, 2002
At The Loft • Omaha, Nebraska 2003
Longboat Key Art Center for the Arts • Longboat Key, Fl, 2003
United States Embassy • Copenhagen 2000, 1998
Galleri Aalborghallen • Aalborg, Denmark 1999
Galleri Caramel • Helsingborg, Sweden 1999
Louise Rimington Gallery • Faversham, United Kingdom 1997
Roskilde Town Hall • Roskilde, Denmark 1999
Kunstkorridoren Nådada • Copenhagen 1996
Landskrona Konsthall • Landskrona, Sweden 1995
Galleri Anesen • Hillerød, Denmark 1992
Gammelgaard Kulturhus • Herlev, Denmark 1991
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Art Society • Kastrup, Denmark 1990
Galleri Gaia • Copenhagen 1989, 1988, 1987
Blomsten • Copenhagen 1988, 1987, 1986
Mærsk Data • Copenhagen 1989
Kreditforeningen Danmark • Copenhagen 1987
Det Øst Asiatisk Kompagni • Copenhagen 1986
Handel og Kontorforbund • Copenhagen 1986
Danish Ministry of Energy• Copenhagen 1985

“The human figure has been one of the main sources of my art since I began seriously painting and drawing in 1962. My goal is to portray its vast array of moods, harmonies, melodies and rhythms,… its poetic qualities, freedom and expressiveness, with a Zen touch that speaks to the eye, touches the heart and stimulates the mind. Using the same foundation and principles I explore the infinite world of abstraction focusing on color, spontaneity and musicality. I use a synthesis of ideas and techniques of European Modernism, Chinese and Japanese Zen painting, as well as Renaissance and Classical concepts in this cause.”

figure drawing, life drawing, sumi painting, zen, expressive figure drawing