SKIP WILLITS FINE ART

Skip Willits, a native of Eastern Pennsylvania raised to the west of Philadelphia, is a noted American artist known for his unique blend of photography and digital oil painting techniques. Born into a family with artistic influences, Willits spent his formative years exploring the expansive terrain of his family’s 100-acre farm, his curiosity about nature forming the cornerstone of his creative inspirations.​Raised within the confines of a one-room schoolhouse until the third grade, Willits moved with his family to New Jersey and graduated from Westfield Senior High School before pursuing higher education at Penn State University. Willits’s initial career pathway, however, was not one of art; he spent two decades involved in the corporate world at Merrill Lynch in New York City. Life took a sharp turn when Willits turned 40. Following the death of his father, he found himself tasked with the management of multiple estates located across NJ, MD, and FL. It was during this period of his life that he developed an aptitude for photography, a pursuit encouraged by the demands of his new responsibilities.​ Inspired by light and the beauty of the world surrounding him, his works became not just an artistic end in themselves, but a means to deliver customer satisfaction.​ His love for travel was reflected in his selection of subjects, which initially centered around the wildlife and maritime images accessible during 50 year residency in Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay. He found a particular passion for photographing lighthouses, admiring their historical significance and finding inspiration during his travels to capture over 230 of them on camera. Willits’s creative process is an intuitive one, starting with the photography of scenes that interest him, followed by meticulous developing and processing, until he creates a final image with which he is pleased. Over the years, he developed his unique artistic trademark: adding digital oil paint techniques to select photographs. This technique has played an instrumental role in establishing his unique identity in the art world.​Willits’s work has also been highlighted in numerous books and magazines and even by the Smithsonian Institution. His website, Fine Art America, has attracted over 70,000 positive comments about his work from viewers around the globe. He has drawn over 8.3 million visitors thus displaying the broad appeal and popularity of his unique art. In reflecting on his art journey of 40 yeare, Skip Willits demonstrates how it is never too late to discover a hidden passion and talent. His life serves as a compelling example of the transformative power of art, in creating not only compelling images but also in shaping the course of an individual's life. His art serves as testament to his exploratory spirit, showcasing the beauty of the world that surrounds us, shared through the lens of a truly unique artist.