Local Artist
                                           Cecily Willis
                                           Presents
                                          People...Places...Things
                                         

Notes From the Artist:
I grew up in the Fairfax/Hollywood area of Los Angeles, and later lived in South Pasadena before I moved to the Santa Clarita Valley. I received my MFA in Painting from the Otis Art Institute. I have been a professional artist for over 40 years in the fields of textile design, fashion illustration, and newspaper and corporate graphic design. I am proud to say that I was an advertising artist for the Los Angeles Times during that newspaper's heyday.

I am now retired, living in Newhall, California and devoting all of my free time to painting and grandparenting.

I am very grateful for my commercial art background. I hope that I convey the same kind of commitment, devotion and integrity in my own personal work that I used to give to my commercial art clients.

 I love watercolor—it’s like a partnership with a Higher Power. I take care of the layout, the details and the drawing, and H.P. handles the washes, the drips and the drabs, and the running colors. I love the “mistakes.” I love the great adventure of visualizing what you would like a painting to be, and then have it turn out entirely different from what you imagined. That is the great fun of painting for me.

I love old buildings and signs. I feel the need to paint them before they all disappear. As a native Californian, I have seen far too many landmarks torn down and/or destroyed. Through my paintings, I hope to bring a new and deserved respect, awareness and attention to these old, familiar subjects before they are all gone.