INSPIRATION

I have gathered here a collection of inspiration; podcasts and videos about my work, my paintings installed and some examples of work I have done and the stories behind them and how they came to be. I hope they inspire you!

~Willow

MEDIA

ART ZONE: Willow Bader

Video Interview

3/10/20237:18

Using a technique that dates back to the 5th century B.C., encaustic painter Willow Bader captures the vibrant and sensuous world of Tango dance.

Created for Seattle ChannelArt Zone by Nancy Guppy. Video by Howard Shack at toolboxpix.com

CLASSIC PIANOS PARTNERSHIP

Video, One Masterpiece for Another

Meet internationally-known, Encaustic artist and Classic Pianos partner, Willow Bader. Watch as Willow describes this ancient method of painting from her Seattle studio and how this special collaboration with Classic Pianos came to be. For the past year, Willow has been providing one-of-a-kind commissioned paintings for Classic Pianos and their clients. When one of Classic’s patrons purchases a select piano, she creates an original painting of their hands playing their new piano as a cherished work of art. Come visit Classic Pianos in Bellevue, WA to see many of Willow’s lovely paintings showcased throughout our piano gallery, and see, hear, and play many of the fine pianos available.

For more information about Classic Pianos, visit: www.ClassicPianosSeattle.com

Videography: www.NickEskridge.com

CREATE LIKE YOU PODCAST: Interview with Willow Bader

April 18th, 2022

In this episode of the CREATE LIKE YOU Podcast, Kelsey interviews Willow Bader in a candid conversation about her story as an encaustic artist! Willow also shares some valuable wisdom on ways to find fresh inspiration for any artist.

TANGO JOE’S PODCAST:

What Else Can We Create? Interview with Willow Bader

My guest for this episode is a professional visual artist based in Seattle, WA. And as you can imagine, discovering Argentine Tango opened up many other creative opportunities for her. So how exactly does tango affect a visual artist? Let’s find out!

PAINTING COMMISSIONS

K. Lucas Commission

A painting about a favorite place to kayak

When I met her she told me how she had this very large wall that was just waiting for one of my paintings.

It was a very special experience to make this painting for K. Lucas. We started by flying to the Olympic Peninsula…her partner and a small crew were to receive us at the airport and take us to the beach where they had kayaks waiting…we then paddled and I photographed this favorite place of hers to kayak.

The finished encaustic painting is 36 inches by 12 feet, in three sections.

B. Coppens Commission

Her table set with meaningful objects

This was a commission for a large painting for their farmhouse in Centralia. I was able to visit the farm to see where the painting would be hung and some of the objects special to them which were in the room  We settled on the table set with those objects…

D. Frank Commission

A painting about a wonderful evening with girlfriends

The goal was a large painting for her dining room. She liked my paintings that show the table at the end of the evening with lots of evidence of a good time. For her painting, she invited her girlfriends over for a birthday celebration and I came at the end to take photos of the table to use as a reference. Of course, she got to think about what colors, and objects she wanted on the table… she also liked the gold-rimmed glasses she saw in another one of my paintings and so she made sure to add hers to the table for her painting.

T. Singer Commission

Paintings about what he loves

He loves to play the piano. And I love to paint hands. Just like faces, hands are very expressive. Two of my paintings are now hanging in their piano room, the first was a surprise, the second he posed his hands playing for the photos which I then worked from.

C. Geise Comission

Drawings and paintings of her farm

C. Geise invited me to visit her farm on Whidbey Island in trade for sketchbooks filled with images of her farm. I drew the alpacas in the field by the farmhouse, the seagulls on the beach..the views out the windows.  It was a beautiful three days. I was so inspired I went on to paint three paintings later in my studio. One of the paintings is even about sketching at the farm. See the first image below. 

B. Lewis Commission

Paintings of his wine party

B. Lewis told me he liked the wine so I proposed he through a wine party for his friends and I would come…and take photos to then create paintings from. Partway through the evening, he asked me if I could put myself in the painting and of course, I said yes!

MY PAINTINGS INSTALLED

Here are some examples in public and private spaces…

MY PAINTINGS IN JAPAN

Almost 30 years in the making, Japan’s tallest building is now open! And in the LOVERS LOUNGE of this amazing complex, you will find two of my artworks.   https://www.azabudai-hills.com/en/