Spotlight On The Artist: William St. George

-- by M. Y. Mim

William St.George’s very name destined him to become an equine artist.

The historical St. George lived in the late third century and was canonized as a saint between 492 and 496. Usually depicted on horseback, St.George is often revered as the patron saint of horseback riders.

When artist William St.George visited the Camargue of southern France to view the wild horses, he discovered the horses’ guardians referred to themselves as members of the Order of St. George.

Many of William (Bill) St.George’s canvasses depict these wild white horses that run freely through this beautiful part of France. Bill took many photographs and videos. To paint his horses, he often refers to photos and stills from his videos, from the Camargue and elsewhere.

With a photo as reference, Bill first applies an acrylic undercoat to his canvas. Then, using oils, he paints an abstract in the colors he’s decided will be predominant in the finished painting. Only then does he superimpose the painting of the horse, allowing the elements of the abstraction to emerge.

“By making the background and the horse one, I am able to create more depth and energy,” said Bill. “I want the light to come from within, rather than from without. Although accurate anatomy is first and foremost, my goal is to emphasize mystique and capture mood. Humility is important in painting. I seek to allow the viewer to participate in my paintings. I accomplish this by allowing the abstraction to come through and I like a certain unfinished sense.”

Bill cites Cézanne as one of his influences, adding “Cézanne left whole passages unpainted. Those spaces and areas without paint add so much energy.” In fact, Bill is fond of quoting Gustave Guffro, who says of Cézanne, “They say Cézanne’s paintings are not finished. It doesn’t matter as long as they express this beauty and harmony he has felt so deeply. Who will say what precise moment a canvas is finished? Art does not proceed without a certain incompleteness, the life it reproduces is in perpetual transformation.”

At this point in his long career as an artist, Bill St. George paints quickly.

“A single painting may take from a few hours to a few days. I paint full out, with great energy. I usually listen to music while I paint, something that goes deep and moves me.”

Bill studied technique at the College associated with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. For the last 14 years, he attends one class a week, painting with fellow artists and engaging in critiques. He believes strongly that an artist must continue studying and growing.

 “I don’t want to become frozen as an artist, locked in one style. It’s up to me as an artist to continue expanding and learning. I look to contemporary painters and techniques and, mostly, I simply paint and paint and paint. I paint all the time. I paint in my studio and I paint en plein aire. Painting is my means and my goal.”

When he’s not painting, Bill manages the St.George Gallery, now in its eighth year. The beautiful 19th century brownstone is located on famous Newbury Street in the heart of the prestigious Back Bay area of Boston. St. George Gallery stands out among the upscale restaurants, boutiques and some thirty other galleries by displaying an ornate sign featuring a hand-carved dragon hanging above the front entrance and Christmas lights adorning a smaller sign beckoning customers from the sidewalk. The planter boxes in his front windows are filled with tubes of paint rather than flowers. The gallery showcases St.George’s work and that of a few other artists. Through the Gallery, Bill also teaches classes and workshops.

While Bill has painted all his life, he worked in advertising as an art director and designer until 1991. The turning point came with the success of his first one-artist show, held that year at a gallery in Wellesley. This gave him the confidence to quit advertising and become a full-time artist.

As an equestrian artist, Bill started in the fourth grade drawing, from memory, pictures of rodeos. The prestigious Menlo Charity Horse Show, Northern California’s premier hunter/jumper horse show for years and involving more than 600 horses, awarded St. George the Equestrian Artist of the Year in 2005. That was the first and only juried equestrian art show Bill has ever entered! Quoting from the Menlo Charity press release, the club noted that “Mr. St.George was selected from a group of eighty artists based on his obvious love of horses which is often reflected in his work.” The selection committee felt there was a natural synergy between Mr. St. George’s works and the Menlo Charity horse show, especially this year’s theme, ‘The Magic of the Horse,’ said Grayson Martin, chairman of the art committee. “He genuinely loves and appreciates horses and captures their beauty and spirit in his work,” she added.

“I liken the beauty of horses to the beauty of a woman.” Bill said. “They are two of the most beautiful creatures in the world.”

To see more of his work and to contact him, visit the fascinating St. George Gallery website, www.stgeorgegallery.com, or call him at 617-450-0321. Source: William St. George, Menlo Charity Horse Show.

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About the Author: M. Y. Mim is a free-lance journalist based in Santa Barbara, CA. She may be reached at mymim3@cox.net, or through her agent R. Almqvist, 805-705-5349. The author wishes to thank Mr. Almqvist for his assistance in making this article possible.
Reprinted from the Equestrian Network Magazine with permission from the artist.