“I am an Ohio native, raised in CT and educated in New York. My father inspired my interest in painting due to his own interest in painting. I attended Silvermine Art School as a high schooler, taking classes in figure drawing and painting. I went to college at Pratt Institute. I initially studied advertising, but then changed my major to painting against my parents' wishes. During the early 1970s I left Pratt and went to California. I did an apprenticeship with Fletcher Benton in San Francisco and also worked as a paste-up artist for the “Bayviewer,” an advertising magazine in Oakland. I returned to New York and began working as an apprentice scenic painter at Atlas Scenic Studios. At the same time, I was creating sets for local theater groups in Connecticut and Long Island. During summer downtimes at Atlas, I began “plein air” painting around the local area. After garnering awards and sales of paintings, I decided to focus on painting as a career. In the late 1970s, I began teaching painting classes in Milford, CT. Soon I became “artist in residence” for the school system in Milford enabled by the government program, CETA. In the early 1980s, I became the executive director of the Milford Fine Arts Council and held the position for 30 years, establishing a Center for the Arts in the historic Railway Station. As director I was involved in all aspects of the arts, but painting remained my center of attention. My position allowed me a great deal of time to focus on my own work. Currently, I live in New Haven and paint full time.” - William Meddick