Meet Bevel artist, Bill Thompson, as he answers our version of the Proust Questionnaire.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
75* sunny slight breeze, a nice pinot noir, a cheese and charcuterie board. These wonderful things would be shared with Tracy, my wife.
What is your greatest fear?
My greatest fear is dying before I do what I am trying to do. Fighting being insignificant is a driving force for me. Leaving a mark is very important to me. That is why I put so much effort in furthering my industry through teaching and my involvement with professional artist's associations. Oh, yeah and spiders...and clowns.
Which living persons do you most admire?
Walter Urie, a photographer, who taught me so much about loving pictures. I’ve been told by students who’ve had both of us that we are so similar and that makes me smile each time.
What is your greatest extravagance?
I love to experience the menu. If you’ve dined with me you know what I am talking about. That can get expensive sometimes I think. I wouldn’t know, I never look.
What is your current state of mind?
My current state of mind is gratitude. It is so corny, I know but I am often blown away by people just trying to help me achieve. I can point at 6 people who have helped me today and it’s 9:30 am.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Probably the f-word. F-this, f-that.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I’d really like to spray paint graffiti. I’d love to take a concept—in the dark—with a limited color palette, condense it down into a bite sized social comment of great size.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Being married 22 years and still in love.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
I’d love to come back as me but I’d have to have the knowledge I have now. I could totally redo somethings way better having learned a lot of things the hard way.
Where would you most like to live?
I’d love to live in a place that has a nice view, a large studio out back and clear change in seasons with access to great restaurants.
What is your most treasured possession?
My camera kit.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Committed. I like to think that I am committed to friends, partners, deadlines. Although I’ve been accused of being difficult and a hot head by people very close to me, I reject their input.
What do you most value in your friends?
Loyalty. I can forgive and look past a lot of things but loyalty is a deal breaker for me.
Who are your favorite writers?
Anyone who writes a personal note with a pencil.
Who is your hero of fiction?
Willy Wonka or Clark Griswold. They both have a vision of the way things should be and work very hard to make sure it turns out in line with the vision without regards to the opinions of others.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Hard to say, a photographer of course. Irving Penn, Master of light working in the advertising field, always working on something cool.
Who are your heroes in real life?
Every nurse I’ve ever met.
What is it that you most dislike?
Poor craftsmanship and companies that don’t do or perform the way they promise to.
What is your motto?
"I can do that."