Will Noel
born on July 18, 1950 - Santa Rosa CA
My late husband, Will Noel, began his artistic career as a wood sculptor. For the last 10 years of his life, he developed a passion and great skill for rendering pastel landscapes. He delighted in exploring the interplay between color and light, and his artistic process evolved over the years from faithful depictions of the natural world to imaginative scenes such as the “purple phase” with brilliant lavender skies.
Will always focused on the positive and the beautiful. He had a gentle, welcoming spirit and a soft voice. Will loved his family-his wife, his two sons, his sister, niece, 2 nephews and extended family of friends “of the compound”. He saw the best in everyone and in his daily experiences. He often took photos during hikes and used them later in his pastels. He had a firm faith in nature’s power to heal. When he wasn’t tending the large family garden, he could be found in his studio, a converted greenhouse that he restored after the roof was destroyed by a fallen japanese maple.
For many years, Will created wood sculptures and wood relief wall hangings incorporating copper. In the last 10 years of his life, Will developed a passion for rendering imaginative pastel landscapes. His use of color was intuitive and he experimented with watercolor under washes, paper types and textures.
He listened to rock and roll hits from the 60s, 70s and some from the 80s on his radio.
