Cecil Williams, a contemporary American painter, has made significant contributions to the art world through exhibitions in juried competitions held in prominent cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Detroit. His works have found homes in the collections of universities and individuals across the United States. Williams primarily works with oil, showcasing a mastery of the medium, and he also explores the expressive possibilities of watercolors.
His educational journey is multifaceted, reflecting a diverse range of interests and expertise. In 1972, Cecil Williams earned a Bachelor's Degree in both art and education from Wayne State University, establishing a foundation for his artistic endeavors. In 1982, he furthered his academic pursuits with a Bachelor's in pharmacy from the same institution.
Continuing his commitment to education and personal growth, Williams obtained a Master's degree in both clinical psychology and addiction studies from the University of Detroit Mercy in 1999. This dual expertise underscores his holistic approach to life and artistic expression, bringing a unique perspective to his creative endeavors.
Cecil Williams' artistic legacy is marked not only by his exhibitions but also by his continuous pursuit of knowledge and the fusion of diverse disciplines. His ability to navigate various academic fields enriches the depth and complexity of his artistic creations, contributing to the dynamic tapestry of contemporary American art.
I have exhibited in juried competitions in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Detroit. My works are held in the collections of universities
and individuals across the United States, My primary medium is oil, I also work in water colors.
Artist Vitae
Cecil Williams
3276 Shorewood Avenue
Fort Gratiot, MI 48059
(810) 385-5798
Education
Received a Bachelors Degree in both art and education at Wayne State University in 1972. In 1982 graduated from Wayne State University with a Bachelor in pharmacy.
Obtained a Masters degree in both clinical psychology and addiction studies from the University of Detroit Mercy in 1999.
Exhibitions
Macomb Council for the Arts Prestige Art Show 1993 (Second Place)
Warren Society for the Arts Prestige Art Show 1994 (honorable Mention)
Michigan Annual XXII 1994
Mt. Clemens Art Association 35th Annual Spring Exhibition
Paint Creek 8th Annual Exhibition, Rochester, MI 1994
16th Michigan Artists Competition, Battle Creek Art Center 1994
Michigan Annual XXIII 1995
Art 95, Gallery 54, Soho, New York City 1995
Multiperspectives III, Art Place Gallery, Chicago, Ill 1996
All Media Juried Exhibition, Detroit Artists Market 1996
Michigan Annual XXIV 1996
Arternatives National Exhibition, San Louis Obispo, California 1996
5th Annual Perry House Summer Invitational, Perry House Gallery, Alexandria, VA 1996
61st National Exhibition, Cooperstown Art Association, Cooperstown, NY 1996
Multiperspectives IV, Art Place Gallery, Chicago, ILL 1996
Michigan Annual XXVI 1998
Michigan Annual XXVII 1999
Back to the Future, Art Center, Mt. Clemens 1999
Michigan Annual XXVIII 2000
Fine Arts in the Village, Livonia Art Association 2000
One by One, Art Center, Mt. Clemens 2002 (Honorable Mention)
Michigan Annual XXX 2002
Michigan Annual XXXII 2004
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Creative healing
Fort Gratiot man paints as therapy for painful disease
BY JASON ALEXANDER
TIMES HERALD
• MAY 10, 2009
Read Comments(2) Recommend(3)Print this pageE-mail this articleShare
When the pain becomes too much, Cecil Williams doesn't always turn to pills or physical therapy.
The Fort Gratiot resident instead often uses to his own form of healing.
Painting.
Doctors diagnosed the 58-year-old with fibromyalgia last year, and he has been suffering from the pain and fatigue since.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points.
Williams hasn't been able to work, but has found an escape in oil painting.
"I lose myself when I start painting," he said. "It takes my mind off my physical issues."
Williams always has enjoyed art -- he took classes in college -- but put down his brush for many years before starting again in 1991.
However, when doctors diagnosed him with the disease in June and he had to go on disability from his job as a pharmacist, his painting took on a whole new meaning.
"I love painting, and it helps me pass the time now that I'm not working," Williams said. "I'm giving myself my own therapy."
Fibromyalgia sometimes causes his mind to go into a fog, and there are times when he'll enter a room and forget why he is there.
Williams said sometimes even after simple tasks he has to lie down and rest, but that doesn't stop him from occasionally painting seven or eight hours a day.
He often paints scenes from life or memories from his childhood.
"I put a piece of myself in everything I do," Williams said. "I want my paintings to say something, to make a statement."
Williams -- dressed in his painter's apron -- often sits with his wife, Sheelah Williams, in a small upstairs room-turned-studio to do his craft.
The self-taught artist makes his own paints and colors and uses several of the brushes sitting next to his canvas in old coffee cans.
The room often is silent -- a far cry from when Williams jammed on the bass in a college band called Unholy Beast -- but sometimes Sheelah and Cecil chat and she said she often critiques.
The only time Cecil doesn't respond is when he draws straight lines, during which he holds his breath.
"I sit and I watch. I love it," Sheelah said.
She also has a big say in which paintings are sold and which ones stay in the house.
"Sometimes I can't part with them. Then he starts working on a new one and then I'll change my mind," she said.
The married couple has several of the paintings on display at their home, and Cecil also has paintings on display at Studio 1219, at 1219 Military St. in Port Huron.
His work also has been entered in competitions and exhibited all over the country.
He has his work posted on several Web sites and sells them occasionally, but said the money doesn't really matter.
"I'll do it as long as I can," Cecil said. "I really do enjoy it.
