Anyone viewing a William Colville painting will discern a certain magic that he has with a brush. As a young man Bill delivered groceries to the large estates in Montecito, California and would admire the lush gardens and landscapes. In 1934, budding artist Bill was working on a portrait of Pancho Villa for a school project when a friend's father happened by. "He looked at the picture I'd drawn of Villa with a big hat and embroidery which I knew from Fiesta, a big handlebar mustache and fierce eyes, and bandaleros and bullets with a big knife. And he says "You're an artist - I'm an artist too - I really like your work."

So I tore it off, signed it "Billy" and gave it to him and he said "I'll have to give you one of my paintings."

"A few months later I found the family packing up to return to Mexico. I told my friend's father "Hey you can't leave, you owe me a painting."

So he took a piece of old newspaper and with charcoal drew a picture and signed it "to my dear Billy, Ramos Martinez."

For a while I had my nose out of joint because I had my art on a nice piece of white paper and he used a damn newspaper."

Many years later Bill would find out that his friend's father was the great artist Alfredo Ramos Martinez "The Father of Mexican Modernism", who had been in Santa Barbara to paint the magnificent frescoes at the Santa Barbara Cemetery Chapel.

Now, some fifty plus years after that event Bill was gaining a reputation of his own, specializing in portraits of homes and gardens.He decided to paint what he saw and enrolled in art classes for young people on Saturday mornings. As Bill grew older he took art classes from Rilla Underwood and Jim Armstrong , both of whom still teach in Santa Barbara . Bill continued to attend workshops to perfect his style. Bill traveled to France with Barbara Reeves International Adventures several times and performed his magic with the French countryside. Bill loved to travel to France.. Those who were lucky enough to be on the bus ride from the Loire Valley to Paris will never forget his hilarious "guide monologue."

Bill and Sunny in the garden of Bill's Home Bill's prolific work from shows and commissions transforms landscapes and architecture into magical settings. His watercolors are filled with his trademark generous use of color and ingenious eye catching areas of light. His ability to highlight the intricate details of roofs, windows, gates, flowers and lush vegetation captures the allure of each subject. It has become a status symbol for Santa Barbarans to have their homes depicted by Bill. John Travolta, Kenny Loggins and other celebraties have William Colville paintings of their homes. With a practiced eye he was able to seize the exact perspective the client desired of the home or garden he is portraying. "I enjoy finding the special viewpoint that envisions the warmth, quality and spirit that my clients see in their hearts when they ask me to paint their homes," he explained. "Sometimes it is a whole vista and other times it can be displayed by painting an archway or garden path and showing only a special portion of the house." He was able to work from photos or en plein aire, traveling to the site or working in his studio with subjects from all over the world.

A recipient of numerous awards, Mr Colville was honored by Artists Society International. His work is exhibited in selected galleries as well as in corporate offices.