| Biography A native of Andalusia, Alabama, Warren has been involved in the creative process since childhood . Born into a family who travelled extensively, he visited museums ,attended concerts , and generally soaked up all that was presented to him . Aided by a gifted art teacher , Warren was exposed to the many ways that art is created and at the same time , how it can be used as an expression of your feelings. Combining his love to explore , his appreciation for architecture and music , his fascination with the natural world and all its beauty , Warren began to paint as a teenager . It wasn't until his early thirties that Warren began to experiment with watercolors . " I was simply afraid of the medium . The transparency of the paint ,the unforgiving nature of the paper and water, as well as the inability to paint over something after making a mistake was daunting to me." An artist friend who painted much of her work in watercolor encouraged him to try , more than once ,she insisted, the process that watercolorists experience. From those early experiments with watercolors , Warren found a new direction for his art . Two thousand paintings later , Warren is recognized for his watercolors and his bold application of the pigments. While Warren enjoys working with acrylic paints ( for the added textural effects) and pastels (for the eye-popping color values ) , he continues to paint nearly a hundred new watercolors each year. Due to his involvement with several galleries , he enjoys the variety of subjects that each gallery encourages . His paintings of the Atlantic coast remain popular in the Wilmington gallery, while his Birmingham Sepia series are his main focus at Four Seasons in Homewood ,Al . His partnership with other Birmingham artists , now known as the Stray Art Salon , allows him to try new ideas , new subjects ,and new techniques . And of course ,he plans to find a renewed arrangement with a gallery in Barbados , where he has built a reputation as one of the island's most recognized artists . Warren's interest and fascination with the island of Barbados began in 2003 ,when he spent a year painting the tropical landscapes and architecture , developing lasting friendships ,and generally absorbing the unique culture of the old British colony . The year in Barbados ,and the many trips back to the island not only provided respite from the harried pace of the US , but taught him the beauty of a simplified pace, a relaxed and self sufficient people , and of course ,the brilliant and colorful hues of the Caribbean, which became more evident the more he painted there . " While in Barbados , I began to push the limits of watercolor pigments to extremes , trying desperately to match the intensity of color and light that I found there. I became more aware of color values ,and less interested in whether folks believed the paintings were made with a transparent medium . Those paintings from the 2003- 2006 period in Barbados became some of my most popular paintings . Especially with the European visitors that take annual trips there." Upon returning to the United States , Warren continued to find new subjects , new adventures and new techniques. In recent years,he began painting in monochrome sepia tones , finding the concept challenging and rewarding . His paintings of Birmingham's familiar scenes , all rendered in these sepia tones , have been as popular as any of his recent works . Warren's original paintings and prints are found in galleries in Wilmington NC, Homewood AL, and at the Stray Art Salon,located recently at Vestavia Interiors near Birmingham on Hwy 31. Most of the work you see on the website are paintings that have already found a home , but Warren continues to offer reproductions of many of his favorite paintings , and is available for commission work for those that have a particular project in mind . "Whenever I begin a painting, my ultimate goal is for that painting to begin a conversation among friends. Whether it is a familiar landmark or someone's favorite place or even a child's portrait, the owner of the painting has a tool they can use to share a story or memory." - Warren Mullins |
