The singer/songwriter/musician Billy S began painting one day after calling in sick to work at one of his waiter jobs. Walking across the room that day to the phone, he noticed the box of acrylic paints that he had still failed to experiment with after receiving them for a Christmas gift nine months earlier. “Hmmm, I think I’ll try to paint something today”, he thought to himself. “The dust on top of the box was pretty thick, it made me laugh”, the artist said later. Not having any idea where to start, he opened the tube of blue, squeezing some onto the fresh new brush and then scratching it onto the canvas. Soon appeared a smiling crescent moon, with comical “z’s” drifting off from it out into outer space.Not sure how, or even if to sign the painting, he decided to use up the least possible space, so as not to conflict with the artwork. Using a funny–shaped triangular “b”, the first painting by the new painter Billy S, was finished.

At that same moment, a new life for Billy as a visual artist had also begun. At the prompting of friends, family, and some fairly important members of the area art community, Billy created more of these colorful and interesting images. “I just go to the blank canvas and start painting. Sometimes it is like I am hurrying to put the thing in my head down onto canvas, some other times I will be experimenting and all of a sudden there is a finished painting in front of me. It can be exhausting, but the process is always enjoyable. Now a staple at the “House of Blues”, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina bi-annual “outsider art festival”,(his paintings are available for sale on premises), he is continually showing in many area restaurants, salons, galleries, bookstores and even a music store. His paintings can be found as far away as France, Hawaii, L.A., and all over the southeastern U.S. After countless shows and openings, Billy says there are a lot of pieces out there, but it still sometimes seems like there are never enough paintings to go around. People want art that makes them feel good and they say that my art does that and more. I am very happy that so many people dig what I am doing, it keeps me very busy. And since I love to paint, I am happy with my work schedule. I am usually up late, while most others are sleeping quietly, painting away. Pauses between paintings usually include the playing of a few musical instruments and/or possibly watching an episode of The Simpson’s or Seinfeld, or maybe a little of “the wizard of oz” or “the cat in the hat”. “I always have music playing while I’m painting. It might be anything from 311 to Dave and Mayer, jazz to Celtic, even Sinatra, the Beatles or “zeppelin”. Music makes the paint flow better.” “I find painting to be a release, as well as rush of energy. I love what the colors do to us. I’d hope to help the viewer see or feel something in a different way. And maybe even get a smile out of them.”

We think he has succeeded. But take a look for yourself. You may be pleasantly surprised. You might find out that you are an artist too. Billy loves to hear those “oh, I can do that” phrases, because you really can paint if you try. “We all are unique, so the way we paint or create art will be just as unique. I can only paint my way. So I do.” Like the lyric line from his song “perfect day” says, “decide what you believe, I am not here to judge or deceive, just to show another way to be”.

http://www.billysworld.net