H. Dean Willis is a Chicago-area artist whose work portrays his interpretation of the Midwestern farming environment. He has been concentrating on one property owned by a third-generation dairy farmer, but he has recently ventured onto other farmlands to fully engage himself more intimately in what is the disappearing landscape of our communities. In capturing moments and feelings, he is not limited solely to landscapes, but depicts the farmers, animals, and the strong foundations of stone and weathered concrete that have survived over many generations. Dean's paintings, in his eye, are an honest representation of our heritage.

His work is often mistaken for a photograph, but photorealism is not his objective. Dean is a painter who embraces the unforgiving nature of watercolor. The medium is challenging, and often frustrating, but with perseverance is the most rewarding for him.

When Dean researches his subjects, it is either early in the morning or late afternoon when shadows and contrast are the most dramatic. This interaction of light and form reveals compositions that otherwise could be overlooked. He is able to feel the strength of the stone walls and parts of a rusted old fence, occasionally put together in abstract compositions.

His technique is a combination of "dry brush" and washes, which are applied in many layers. The result is a style of intricate detail and touches of subtle looseness that compliment each other. There is an overall sense of tranquility in his final pieces with underlying emotions of a more complex nature.

Painting is Dean's way of rediscovering his world - a learning process involving the ability to see, which is much more than looking with the eye.

Rediscover our American heritage in a way you've never seen it before - through the eyes of H. Dean Willis.