Boutwell is now ‘Official Texas State Artist’

By MINDY POEHL | Central Texas Edition

George Boutwell, a Texas artist who lives in Clifton, has made h is living as an artist for 33 years. Boutwell poses in his art gallery with his larger pieces of original water color masterpieces. His paintings depict everything from old gas stations, landscapes, old cars, western scenes, cowboys, birds and buildings. � Photo by Mindy Poehl�

Dec. 29, 2005 - He is known as Texas' most versatile artist. Using watercolors, George Boutwell's artwork depicts Texas subjects. He paints wildlife, old cars and trucks, fishing, seascapes, old houses, churches, courthouses, cowboys, landscapes, and fifties nostalgia.

Boutwell, who resides in an old Victorian house on a hill of the countryside in Clifton, has made his living as an artist for 33 years.

"Since I was a little kid, art is what I've done. Ever since I could read and write, I've been drawing pictures," said Boutwell. "I was not an athletic kid and I wasn't popular. I got praised for my art from the other kids." Since then, he has never given up his natural talent for art.

"I guess you could say I'm unqualified. I never had an art lesson because I was too poor," Boutwell explained.

But, Boutwell did go to the library and checked out every art book he could find.

"The 1930's impressed me most. I liked Watson- Guptill books and the Golden Age of Realism," Boutwell said. "I did lots of things they suggested, like sketching 100 sketches a day for one year. I carried a sketchpad with me everywhere and during any down time, I would draw sketches."

�When Boutwell was finally able to afford art lessons it was because he had become a full time professional commercial artist. At this point, he finally took a correspondence course in Fine Art from the Famous Artist School which helped him make the transition from commercial to fine art in 1973.

Boutwell defines his art style as "realistic" and he says he paints from "all of the things I've experienced."

He was born in East Hartford, Connecticut, in 1943. Boutwell's mother died when he was two years old, so he and his father hitchhiked across the country. By the time he started first grade in San Antonio, he and his father had lived in Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, New York, Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee, California and Texas. 

Boutwell was Art Director for Texas Highways Magazine from 1966 to 1972, which is where he learned to love the Texas scenery. 

Boutwell and his wife, Martha, moved from Austin to Clifton in 1987.

"We love old houses," Boutwell said. "We had a Victorian house in Austin and we always said if we could pick it up and put it on a hill, it'd be ideal."

In fact, the Boutwell's former home in Austin won a 1983 Austin Heritage Society Award which was presented at the Governor’s Mansion. 

He and his wife just happened to stumble upon their 1904 Victorian home in Clifton, known as Highview, which is set on the crest of a hill overlooking the Bosque River Valley. 

Now, Boutwell travels all over the state of Texas, about 45 weekends a year, on an annual circuit where he displays his masterpieces.

While traveling, he takes lots of photographs, from which he paints many of his pieces. 

"I was 30 years old when I bought a camera and it opened a lot of doors for me," Boutwell said. "Lots of my smaller pieces are made up, and I like to make up my landscapes."

It takes Boutwell about two weeks to complete a large piece of artwork, and he says he actually paints about 30 hours a week. His prints cost anywhere between $5 -$400. His least expensive painting costs $360 and his most expensive painting cost $12,000.

Boutwell isn't sure if he has a favorite thing to paint, but he said, "I don't like to limit myself. I try to be as diverse as I can with my work." 

Boutwell has received many awards, but was recently awarded the title of "Official Texas State Artist" for 2006 by the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Texas State Legislature, which he is proud of.

"It's a nice pat on the back. I've never tried to be a national artist," Boutwell said. "I feel you should focus on what is around you. I have enough around me to keep me here for several lifetimes."

In his spare time, Boutwell enjoys fixing up his house, fossil hunting on his property, bird watching and he's into old cars. But, he will never give up his love of painting.

"Painting is something that is fulfilling and a passion. I'm able to make a living enjoying what I do. It's a form of communication for me," he said.

For more information on George Boutwell and his art, visit www.gboutwell.com; e-mail him at art@gboutwell.com; or call 254-675-6676.