The artist - Bill Market
William (Bill) Market was born in Montreal into an anglophone family in 1949. He spent more than 40 years of his life in a mental institution, only to get out at the age of 65. He has been participating at the workshops of the association Les Impatients since 2002, where he devotes his time to a wide range of art, including beautiful musical creations. His inspiration centers mainly around two themes; depictions of weavings and landscapes.
The first comprises beautiful quilts on paper that Bill invented himself with the help of a mysterious equation, of which he is the sole proprietor. He starts these pieces by tracing a complex system of lines with a lead pencil, carefully counting each line, followed by him filling in the gaps with pastel colored markers or crayons to create psychedelic and geometric gems.
Market’s landscape art works in a similar fashion. With precise borders first drawn in lead, he then fills in once again shapes with different colors. The contrasting colors lend a geometric beauty to nature. For a man who spent a large part of his life in an institution, the lush landscapes are a reminder of a beautiful vacation in Western Canada, which represents freedom.
To find more about the non-profit organization Les Impatients who support the artists through therapeutic art programs, visit the website here.