by Natasha Khairullah
Staff Writer
If you haven’t seen one of William O. Milton’s paintings, chances are, you don’t get out much.
The Jacksonville artist specializes in landscape, still-life and portrait pieces and has displayed his work in over a dozen shops and studios around the Westside and throughout other parts of the city over a 50-year period. He has become a well-known fixture to locals and is currently the resident artist at Foster’s on the Avenue, a consignment showroom in Murray Hill.
“I have pieces all over the place, especially in homes,” he said. “In fact the majority of my collection has gone to people who want them to decorate their homes or offices.”
Part of the appeal of Milton’s paintings hanging over a fireplace or in a study, he says, is because of the versatility they offer.
“Whenever people come in and tell me they have a certain piece of decor and they want a painting to match, I customize one for them. That’s why the paintings work so well in homes,” he said.
“I’ve been known to modify existing pieces just to match the color scheme someone has in their living room.”
Milton says though he customizes pieces, there is a large demand for many of his originals, including his most recent “Picaso-style paintings.”
Although he’s been in the local art circuit for decades, he says part of the reason why he’s sometimes referred to as an underground artist is because he’s more of a blend-in with-the-crowd kind of guy.
“I’m a pretty shy kind of guy. I’ve never been too keen on putting myself out there in the spotlight, but the truth is, all artists want their work to be seen,” he said.
As far as being out of the spotlight, Milton can’t say the same for his work.
A large number of his paintings hang in homes all across the country and even in Canada.
Milton started his career nearly 50 years ago at the age of 15. Growing up in Riverside, a place that he says provided him with exposure to a number of great artists, he got his start by shadowing fellow painters.
“I wasn’t necessarily formally educated at an art school, but I was afforded the opportunity to observe some of the greats like Ralph Towin, while at work,” he said.
“He (Towin) didn’t really instruct, but he said I could come in his studio and watch him work if I didn’t interfere or talk and from that, I learned a tremendous amount.”
After his early years of learning the tricks of the trade and traveling around the country, he came back to Jacksonville to work at an art studio at the Villages in Ortega.
His opportunity at Foster’s came after his time at that studio was up. Milton has served as the resident artist there for a little over a month now with his own gallery in the back plus work displayed on the shop’s walls – and hopes that by exhibiting his art there, younger generations will have a chance to become exposed to his work and see his specific style of painting the way he was able to observe the styles of his peers.
“If there’s one thing that I hope they’ll be able to detect in my work, it’s my versatility,” he said. “I would have to say that’s one of my strengths.”