Artwork copyright William Winden. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2016.

Artwork copyright William Winden. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Rhododendrons, 2000

William Winden
American (born 1931, died 2009)

Location: Representative Lillian Ortiz-Self's Office, Olympia

About the Artwork

In creating realistic and richly detailed imagery in his watercolor Rhododendrons, artist William Winden articulates the expressive power of painting. He states "my depiction of the experience of nature, its forms, colors, and textures, suggests elemental human qualities and emotions of the kind which might also be communicated through music and literature."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Washington State House.

About the Artist

Northwest artist William Winden (1931-2009) created expressive landscape paintings and prints. Winden grew up in Tacoma in Western Washington, swimming and boating on Puget Sound, and hiking in Washington state's woods and mountains, eventually climbing to the summit of Mount Rainier. He believed that “stories are told by music and art, often in a way of which words are incapable.” His artworks communicate the beauty, strength, and fragility of the natural world.