Experience captivating Pacific Northwest landscapes through the mesmerizing watercolor portfolio of artist Tim Gault. View more of his portfolio on his website.
“Inn at the Vineyard” watercolor, 16″ x 22″
When I was very young—around second grade—I figured out I had a talent for drawing. By age 17, I was attending two high school art classes daily, plus an oil painting class at Heidelberg University in Ohio.
“Tea and Romance” watercolor, 16″ x 22″
I was lucky to have an excellent art teacher. She introduced me to her professor from her college days, who took me on as a student of painting. As I progressed, I dreamed of becoming the first in my family to go to college. I desperately wanted to become a full-time artist.
“St. Ives at Low Tide” watercolor, 24″ x 18″
However, I came from a very small farming town where art wasn’t considered a viable way to make a living. My father was against the idea of me being a “starving artist” so instead I got a graphic design degree from the University of Cincinnati. I then threw all my worldly possessions into my little economy car and drove to the west coast.
“Vineyard Behind the Lavender” watercolor, 24″ x 18″
Having grown up on the flat plains of the Midwest where mountains, valleys, oceans, deserts and the like were no more than a figment of the imagination, my drive across country was inspiring. I remember flashing by a myriad of stunning landscapes just calling out to be explored and expressed through my art. But I was in a hurry.
“Martini Still Life” watercolor, 12″ x 18″
In California’s Silicon Valley, I took a job as a designer and also worked as a freelance illustrator. It was fun and exciting. But I eventually realized that illustrating magazine covers and newspaper ads wasn’t as satisfying as I’d expected. There was something about those awe-inspiring landscapes encountered during my road trip. The beauty of the West continued to pull at me over the years.
“Vineyard Worker at Legacy Hills” watercolor, 22″ x 16″
After the devastating Loma Prieta earthquake shook the Bay Area in 1989, I chose to move my family to Oregon. I was recently married and had a new child, so wanted my family to live somewhere safer.
“White Wine and Vines” watercolor, 16″ x 22″
Once again, I found myself driving through a gorgeous area of the country I’d never experienced. It reawakened the inspiration I’d felt more than a dozen years previously. Finally, in 1995 I painted my first true landscape. I decided this was the path I wanted to take with my art from that point on.
“Bustling Pike Place Market Afternoon” watercolor, 16″ x 22″
Today I remain compelled by the colors, skies, terrains and moods of the Pacific Northwest. My quest is to capture the spirit and beauty of the best this part of America has to offer, and do so in my own unique way.
“Hillside Vines in Autumn Color” watercolor, 34″ x 21″
Local vineyards have become a favorite subject. That said, I do like to occasionally change up my work to keep things fresh by experimenting with new media, techniques and subjects as a way of pushing the limits of my ability as an artist.
“Vineyard Sunrise” watercolor, 28″ x 20″
My art has won multiple awards and can be found at galleries, art fairs, vineyards, gift shops and restaurants around Oregon, as well as in private collections worldwide.
Tim Gault invites you to follow him on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.