October 29, 2017

The Work of Clifford Wilton

The Work of Clifford Wilton

My father passed in October of 2016 and in honor of his life and his current show at the Schneider Museum of Art in Ashland, Oregon, I put together this little video. I thought it would be nice to share with you a little about the man, and his work.

If you’re interested in attending the show, it will be up from October 6th to December 16th, 2017. You can learn more about it by clicking here.

In gratitude, Nicholas

64 Comments

  1. Carol Beth Icard on October 29, 2017 at 6:51 am

    What a lovely gift you have shared this morning. His work and your words really touched me deeply.



  2. Judy Shreve on October 29, 2017 at 6:52 am

    Beautiful work and a beautiful tribute! The tone of his work and your voice – a nice way to start a Sunday morning! Thanks for sharing.



  3. Nicole Reddington on October 29, 2017 at 7:11 am

    Thank you for sharing your fathers beautiful soulful work – I enjoyed hearing your tribute along with the images. Very inspirational variety of images- wish I could see it in person!



  4. Robyn Gold on October 29, 2017 at 7:12 am

    I have admired your father’s abstracts for a few years now. What a treat to see it in the video. I wish I could get to Oregon for the show. Thanks for this.



  5. Francine Dressler on October 29, 2017 at 7:34 am

    Nicholas, I am so moved by your father’s work. The paintings are stunning and so wonderful to see the progression. Thank you so much for sharing your words and and thoughts from a proud son.



  6. Kelsey Woodward on October 29, 2017 at 7:39 am

    Thank you for sharing your father’s adventure in the world of art making. He clearly was passionate, a gift he has bestowed on you as well. Your’s was a lovely tribute and a perfect start to my day.



  7. Kathleen on October 29, 2017 at 7:47 am

    This was wonderful! Did you and your Dad talk about art a lot?



  8. Gordon Studer on October 29, 2017 at 7:48 am

    Nicholas, Thanks for sharing this. I met your father briefly, he came across as curious and gentle. His work teams with life, powerful forms and colors. I loved your quote of his about time being of the essence – so true. Thanks again for sharing his beautiful work.



  9. Colleen Ray on October 29, 2017 at 7:50 am

    A beautiful tribute to your talented father. Thank you for sharing his work and his passion for painting with us. It is fascinating to see the progression of his thinking and his style as he matured as an artist and the soulful work that resulted. Very inspiring!



  10. Wrinda Light on October 29, 2017 at 7:53 am

    What a beautiful and loving tribute to your father….his art is amazing and if i lived closer….hahahah, i’m in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia…i would surely make the trek to view his wonderful contribution …. it must have been so rich growing up with a father who made art….and i’m sure it also had it’s challenges…thanks so much for showing us his paintings. cheers, Linda



  11. Debby Alphin on October 29, 2017 at 7:54 am

    What a wonderful inspiration he must have been to you. The greatest tribute to your father is your continued work as an artist. His spirit and influence lives on through you. Beautiful and moving video.



  12. Kim Amrine on October 29, 2017 at 7:59 am

    His work suggests a man of great passion and thought. Thank you for sharing



  13. Diane Novosad Sandlin on October 29, 2017 at 8:00 am

    Thank you, Nicholas – what a beautiful tribute for your father. Because of your video, I can feel his spirit though the lovely art. This is quite inspirational and a great way to start a Sunday.



  14. Catherine Morrisey on October 29, 2017 at 8:05 am

    Chip off the old block! What a wonderful survey of paintings done during the transition of modern painting toward abstraction. He left a legacy of beautiful art.



  15. Suzanne Lewis on October 29, 2017 at 8:08 am

    What an extraordinary artist. Thank you for making this inspiring video.



  16. dorothy on October 29, 2017 at 8:17 am

    Wonderful, wonderful, he must have been a great inspiration to you. It shows in your thoughtful comments.You have been blessed.



  17. Marti Grace Ashby on October 29, 2017 at 8:17 am

    I am so sorry for your loss, Nicholas. How amazing that you shared a love of painting with him. The pieces shown in this video move me so much that I wish I could see them in person. They are incredible. As much as you are proud of your father, I’m sure he was very proud of you: of not only your work but your heart and generosity as well. Thank you for sharing this.



  18. Roxane Wilson on October 29, 2017 at 8:23 am

    A wonderful tribute. I love the line, “…free from the tyranny of painting recognizable things.” Thank you.



  19. Pat Muller on October 29, 2017 at 8:24 am

    Thank you so much for creating and sharing this glimpse into the work and life of your father. I know he was proud of you.



  20. Kathleen Theriault on October 29, 2017 at 8:36 am

    This tribute to your fathers art is very inspiring! Thank you for sharing😊



  21. Chris Kondrat on October 29, 2017 at 8:48 am

    Your explanation of your father’s art is beautiful and helps to explain the process of abstraction. I just took a 3 day work shop from Ruth Armitage on abstracting from nature and what you said was what I learned and how I tried to,paint. Looks like a wonderful exhibit.what a neat memorial.



  22. Phyllis Jenkins on October 29, 2017 at 8:49 am

    The brochure and video, but especially your narrative, not only touches the heart but tugs the imagination of what back story to Clifford’s life, how he broke out of ‘organization man’ to ‘artist’, if they are opposites, which I think they may not be. And of course, the father-son story, which is on its own a story worth telling and hearing. The assumption of an idyllic relationship can only be that; I’m always interested in what drives us, what divides us, what pulls us back together, what we learn from our mothers, our fathers,that inspires and drives us. Thanks for this contribution, Nicholas. I’ve been very stressed for nearly a year now and thinking about a ‘getaway’. Now, I know where I’m going. Ashland and your father’s exhibit will be the perfect place.



  23. Jan Davis on October 29, 2017 at 9:02 am

    Thank you so much for sharing this tribute to your father. Your words about him, his life, and his work are loving, and his paintings are beautiful. I wish I could see the show.



  24. Gail Epstein on October 29, 2017 at 9:11 am

    Thank you so much for sharing about tour father. His passion as you tell it is wonderful to hear. Seeing it expressed in his work is exhilarating for me!
    Best
    Gail Epstein



  25. Cindy Miracle on October 29, 2017 at 9:27 am

    What a beautiful tribute! Thank you for sharing about your talented father.



  26. mariette on October 29, 2017 at 9:35 am

    Thank you for sharing your father’s work
    Inspiring!



  27. Janet Jaffke on October 29, 2017 at 9:35 am

    Such a wonderful tribute – just beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.



  28. Just Thinkin on October 29, 2017 at 9:35 am

    Simply beautiful.



  29. Marjorie Claus on October 29, 2017 at 9:36 am

    Thank you, Nicholas, for sharing and reading your passage about Clifford’s work and life. I love your description of how he became less and less controlled in his later work, and ultimately completely describing forms abstractly. Beautiful video.



  30. David Chidgey on October 29, 2017 at 9:37 am

    Thank you for creating this wonderful video and narrative of your father’s work. It is such a beautiful reflection of your dad’s life lived passionately. His art strikes me as so accessible and authentic. Thank you again for this present.



  31. Susan Adame Artist on October 29, 2017 at 9:43 am

    Thank you for sharing this beautiful tribute to your father.



  32. Mary Brown on October 29, 2017 at 10:05 am

    Beautiful. Thanks for sharing this incredible body of work.



  33. Laura Baxter on October 29, 2017 at 10:11 am

    Thank you for sharing this beautiful video and moving tribute to your father and his work. His work is amazing–it’s clear he explored content and color and style with great passion and curiosity.



  34. LindaD on October 29, 2017 at 10:23 am

    What a wonderful role model and source of inspiration. Wish I could get there to see the exhibit. I know where your remarkable talent and lust for art come from.



  35. raveonstudio on October 29, 2017 at 10:25 am

    Beautiful.



  36. Jill Adair on October 29, 2017 at 10:27 am

    How wonderful! What a joy it must have been growing up with your dear father’s inspirational work and his vision. He was and still is a great painter as his life continues on, through his true and passionate art which embraces so many hearts and minds in this present day. Thank you so much Nicholas.



  37. Jingle Li on October 29, 2017 at 11:00 am

    Thanks for sharing!



  38. Annette J. Havens on October 29, 2017 at 12:06 pm

    Wonderful ! Thank you so much for sharing.



  39. Kathleen Kvern on October 29, 2017 at 12:23 pm

    Powerful – Clifford Wilton’s work and your tribute to him and his work. Thanks for sharing this.



  40. Rosalie Roscoe on October 29, 2017 at 12:27 pm

    A beautiful tribute to your father and a great explanation of his art. Thank you for sharing!



  41. Rose Irelan on October 29, 2017 at 12:46 pm

    Wow he is an amazing artist! Thank you so much for sharing his work and his story. A true inspiration. I can see where you get some of your inspiration. I am all the way in San DIego … so I don’t think I will get to see it in person. I would love to though.
    -Rose Irelan



  42. Patricia Deck on October 29, 2017 at 2:26 pm

    Such an amazing artist! I love his later years of abstracts….especially of the ‘junker’ cars and his use of lines and shapes even later! What a wonderful artistic journey you shared with him. Thank you for sharing.



  43. doc wight on October 29, 2017 at 2:46 pm

    Lovely images – too far away to visit from
    Australia – but inspiring just the same. Thanks cheers doc



  44. Claudia Rose on October 29, 2017 at 3:43 pm

    Thank you for your love-filled tribute to your father. In some ways, I view your life and work as a continuation of his life force energy. Individual, yet deeply connected.



  45. Dee Curran on October 29, 2017 at 3:45 pm

    Thanks for sharing Nick. What a great tribute….to a fascinating artist! I bet he would’ve cherished it.



  46. Jeff Kahn on October 29, 2017 at 5:06 pm

    Your words were heartfelt.



  47. Nicholas Wilton on October 29, 2017 at 6:44 pm

    Thank you all so much for your comments. They all mean so much to me…



  48. Stephanie Dalton on October 29, 2017 at 8:53 pm

    Nicholas, what a wonderful video and narration you gave to your father’s history through artmaking. I’m glad his work is on exhibit at the museum. It’s a lovely tribute to his life, and thank you for sharing this with us. I see subtle similiarities in both your strokes and mark making, i don’t know if anyone has ever told you that, but there is a connection there to my eyes. I remember you shared a story about him years ago when he told someone at a party that there’s plenty of money to be made in art. I think it was around the time you were graduating. He seemed to be a great catalyst for you through his words and actions as you were growing your career. Now, you are giving his work a voice. Full circle.



    • Nicholas Wilton on October 30, 2017 at 4:42 pm

      thanks for that memory Stephanie…



  49. marion evamy on October 29, 2017 at 9:12 pm

    In gratitude – wonderful tribute to your father and creativity.



  50. joan elliott on October 30, 2017 at 2:56 am

    Absolutely beautiful! Thank you… and your father who remains a part of you.



  51. Karen on October 30, 2017 at 4:28 am

    Thanks for sharing this was a pleasure to watch and learn from.



  52. Carolyn Hanson on October 30, 2017 at 6:03 am

    Your father’s images + your words = a wonderful field trip for my Ohio Monday morning



  53. Kymee Martinak on October 30, 2017 at 7:33 am

    Thank you for sharing this with us what a beautiful tribute it is fantastic you have these memories of your dad I am sure each painting holds a very special memory. My mom loved to paint she just dabbled but I hold everything she did close, even my children do so I know that they will live on.



  54. Marcia McDonald on October 30, 2017 at 8:33 am

    Beautiful work, hopefully you will leave this link up a long time, it is so inspiring.



  55. Terry Scopes on October 30, 2017 at 1:08 pm

    What a beautiful offering of love to your father and his art. Thank you for sharing. Wish I lived close enough to visit the exhibit in person.



  56. Cathy Cartledge on October 30, 2017 at 2:10 pm

    Absolutely affirming. His work is inspiring and so full of life.



  57. Geri DeGruy on October 30, 2017 at 3:39 pm

    Thank you for sharing this Nick. I love his work!!



  58. Karen Rand Anderson on October 30, 2017 at 6:35 pm

    This is beyond inspiring, as well as educational… What an extraordinary painter your father was, and clearly you have followed closely in his footsteps. A blessing for the rest of us, for sure. Thanks so much for this, Nicholas.



  59. Glenda Green on October 31, 2017 at 5:44 am

    How wonderful!



  60. Annie OConnor on October 31, 2017 at 10:32 am

    Fantastic for you t have such a predessor . Love his journey



  61. Maurya E. Murphey on October 31, 2017 at 4:45 pm

    Thanks for sharing this! I live in Ashland and am excited to go see his work in person. An inspiring story for sure!



  62. Mary Ann Low on November 29, 2017 at 12:23 am

    Thank you for making this video and sharing this amazing artist that was your father. I heard the love and respect you have for him. WOW



Nicholas Wilton

Hi! I’m
Nicholas Wilton
the founder of Art2Life.

With over 20 years experience as a working artist and educator, I’ve developed a systematic approach that brings authenticity, spontaneity and joy back into the creative process.

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