Thinking of You — Remembering Where We Came From

During COVID, the world became strangely quiet. Streets emptied. Restaurants closed. Families waved through windows. Friends kept their distance. And somehow, in the middle of all the uncertainty, the simplest words began to matter more than ever:

Thinking of you.

Recently, I came across an article I wrote during that season and it immediately brought back memories of how much we all longed for connection, encouragement, and reassurance. It reminded me of something my sweet Aunt Kate used to say:

"Remember where you come from and how it used to be."

 April 2007

I thought I would take a moment and share some thoughts and share some inspiring paintings I created.  These are difficult times but they do not have to define us.  A good friend of mine, Ralph Marston writes daily inspiring prose.  I found this one particularly encouraging in light of our current circumstances.

Life will not unfold exactly the way you'd like it to. Of that you can be certain, no matter how much care and effort you put into arranging your affairs.

But that doesn't mean you must be unhappy when things fail to go your way. Indeed, your biggest disappointments can often, eventually, lead you to your most profound joys.

Here's a strategy you might want to consider. Take everything in stride.

Yes, plan, prepare, do the work, give your best. Then be thankful for the result, including all the unforeseen consequences.

Your fate won't ever be precisely the way you envisioned it. Still, it is yours, it is something, and you're better off living and enjoying it, than cursing it.

Let life be the way it has come to be. And let yourself find something good, useful, joyful, and thankful to do with every precious moment.

Wishing you the very best today, Bill

When I paused and simply reflected on "where we come from and how it used to be" I simply had to bow my head and say: "Thank you Lord".

For One Night, Everyone Became an Art Critic

There was a moment during my latest show when I realized something had changed—not with the paintings, but with the people.

Normally at an opening, guests stroll through the rooms, enjoy a glass of wine, visit with friends, and occasionally pause long enough to ask about a painting. But this year, I decided to try something different. I purchased two fine bottles of wine and invited guests to vote for their favorite Contemporary painting and favorite Traditional work in the show. At the end of the evening, we would draw two names from the ballots and award the winners the wine.

That was it. No grand strategy. No marketing experiment. Just a simple way to engage people more deeply with the artwork. What happened fascinated me. Suddenly everyone slowed down. Couples debated paintings like seasoned gallery judges. Guests revisited rooms, pointed out details, discussed color and mood, and studied pieces with an intensity I had rarely seen before. For one evening, everyone became an art critic and honestly, they loved it.

People Love Being Included in the Experience
The moment guests realized their opinion mattered, the atmosphere changed. Instead of simply viewing the work, they engaged with it. They compared favorites, and shared memories certain paintings stirred within them.

Art became less about decoration and more about discovery. It reminded me that people genuinely want a deeper connection with art, they simply need permission to slow down long enough to experience it.

The Most Admired Painting Isn’t Always the One That Sells
Even more fascinating, out of the top five favorites, only one sold that evening, yet we sold fourteen paintings overall.  That says something important about art. Some paintings capture admiration, while others capture belonging. A bold contemporary piece may dominate conversation, while a quieter landscape may feel deeply personal to someone imagining it in their home every day.

The painting that wins the room isn’t always the painting someone chooses to live with.

Great Art Creates Conversation
What I loved most was hearing people explain why they connected with certain paintings. One person loved the energy of a contemporary piece. Another was drawn to the calmness of a landscape. Some responded to color, others to memory.

There were no wrong answers. By the end of the evening, the show no longer felt like paintings hanging on walls. It felt like a room full of stories, perspectives, and conversations sparked by color, texture, light, and imagination.

Conclusion

After fifty years as a professional artist, I can honestly say this was one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had during a show. Not because it changed the way I paint, it won’t. Artists can’t create by chasing votes any more than musicians can perform by chasing applause. Authentic work still has to come from instinct, authenticity, and heart.

But what this experience reminded me is that people are hungry to connect. And sometimes all it takes is a simple invitation, a ballot, a bottle of wine, and permission for one evening to become an art critic.

Even after 50 Years I'm Still Curious 

Last week, Joy and I stepped into one of those moments as we traveled to Nashville for an intensive StoryBrand workshop led by Donald Miller. We expected to learn about branding, messaging, and communication. What we didn’t expect was how inspired we would become simply by being in the room.

From the very first evening, there was an unmistakable energy among the participants. At the opening reception, we found ourselves surrounded by an incredible mix of people. There were cybersecurity specialists, wealth managers, horse ranchers, creatives, consultants, and entrepreneurs all gathered for the same reason: to grow.

What struck me most was that success had not caused these individuals to become complacent. If anything, it had made them more curious.

Throughout the week, Don did an exceptional job helping everyone understand the importance of clarity, connection, and storytelling. One of the highlights was an intimate dinner at his home where country music artists shared the stories behind Grammy Award-winning songs. Listening to the inspiration behind those songs was a reminder that whether you’re building a business, creating artwork, or standing on a stage, meaningful connection always begins with story.

By the time Joy and I headed home, our minds were racing with anticipation for how these ideas could shape our websites, future presentations, and the way we communicate what we do.

But beyond the strategy, the experience reinforced something even more meaningful.

Three Things the Experience Reinforced

Growth Begins the Moment We’re Willing to Learn Again
No matter how long we’ve worked in our profession, there is tremendous value in becoming a student again. After nearly five decades as a professional artist and years of speaking across the country, I could have easily convinced myself that I already understood branding and communication. But sitting in that room reminded me that meaningful growth often begins when we willingly place ourselves back in environments where we can listen, learn, and stretch. 

The people who continue making a difference are rarely the ones who believe they’ve arrived. They’re the ones still curious enough to grow.

Your Story Matters More Than Your Sales Pitch
One of StoryBrand’s greatest reminders is that people are not looking to be overwhelmed. They’re looking to connect.  Whether through art, business, leadership, or speaking, people respond to authenticity. They want clarity. They want meaning. They want to understand not just what you do, but why it matters. 

That resonated deeply with me.  For years, I’ve realized that some of the most meaningful conversations I’ve ever had with collectors or audiences had very little to do with technique, accolades, or accomplishments. They centered around stories, shared experiences, memories, struggles, and inspiration.

Connection will always outlast promotion.

Sometimes the Greatest Investment We Can Make Is in Ourselves
Many people hesitate to step into new arenas because they feel uncertain, intimidated, or perhaps even undeserving of being there.  Yet nearly every breakthrough in life begins with stepping beyond what feels familiar. 

Watching accomplished leaders from vastly different industries gather with open minds reminded me that growth is never reserved for one profession or one age. It belongs to those willing to continue evolving.

Joy and I left Nashville energized not because we suddenly had all the answers, but because we could see new possibilities.   And sometimes, possibility is exactly what rekindles purpose.

A Moment I’ll Never Forget

Before leaving, I had the opportunity to present Donald Miller with a copy of my book, Making a Difference. It felt especially meaningful because, in many ways, that’s exactly what he had done for us that week.

Not simply by teaching strategy or branding, but by reminding everyone in that room that our gifts, experiences, and stories still have room to grow and impact others in even greater ways.

That’s a lesson worth carrying home.  Because no matter where we are in life or business, there is something deeply refreshing about realizing we are still becoming.

What’s Behind the Art: Preparing for my New Show – "Reflections in Color"

Over five months, thirty-two paintings emerge landscapes rooted in memory, and contemporary works driven by instinct. Some came easily. Others demanded patience, revision, and a willingness to push into unfamiliar territory.

Staging, prepping, new supplies, at times I feel like I’m in a dance marathon, weaving a palette of colors between traditional landscapes to bold contemporary creations.  The paint flows accordingly through the vibes of the Beach Boys, Doobie Brothers to Simply Red.  Then there are subtle moments when simply listening to an inspirational message is the fodder for the day. 

Titles began to appear along the way Defining Moment, What’s the Forecast, Just Beyond Sunset. Each one felt less like a label and more like a reflection of where I was in the process. 

But somewhere in the middle of all that work, another realization surfaced.  Creating the paintings is only part of the experience.  Helping someone find the right painting, that’s something entirely different and where the art truly begins!

The Work Behind the Work
Preparing for a show like this is a process most never see.

Every piece is cataloged, photographed, wired, and positioned. Invitations go out in layers, some broad, some deeply personal to collectors who have followed the journey and are eager to see what’s next.  And then comes the challenge of bringing it all together.

Hanging a show isn’t just about filling walls, it’s about creating flow. One painting has to lead naturally into the next. Color, scale, light, and spacing all have to work together so that the room feels intentional, not overwhelming.  Even pricing, placement, and lighting play a role in helping someone move from simply looking,  to truly connecting.

A New Way to Experience the Work
At the same time this collection was taking shape, so was something else.  The new williammangum.com website.

Not as a gallery, but as an experience.  A place where, even before stepping into the studio, someone can begin to sense what kind of work speaks to them. Where navigating the collection feels natural. Where finding the right piece doesn’t feel overwhelming but intuitive.

Because the truth is, most people aren’t just looking for art.  They’re looking for something that reflects a memory, a feeling, a moment they don’t want to lose.  And when that connection happens, it rarely needs explanation.  As I often say, the right piece speaks before it explains itself.

When It All Comes Together
There’s always a moment usually late, when the room is quiet—when everything is finally in place. The paintings are hung. The lighting is right. The space begins to breathe and you realize something important.

This isn’t about presenting what I’ve created. It’s about what someone else is about to discover.

An Invitation
If you’ve ever walked into a room and felt like something was missing  or found a piece of art that made you stop without knowing why, then you already understand what this show is about.

I would love for you to experience Reflections in Color—whether online or in person.

You can preview the collection here:

And if something catches your eye, or you’d like to receive an invitation to the show or schedule a private viewing, simply reach out. Joy and I would be glad to help.  Because sometimes the right piece isn’t something you go looking for.  It’s something that finds you.

joy@williammangum.com

 Where Wisdom Finds Its Way Home

The room had just begun to quiet when the energy shifted. You could feel it before you saw it the subtle pause between courses, the anticipation of what was coming next. My painting had just been placed under the lights at the Spiro Ball, and for a moment, it felt like time slowed.

I had chosen this particular piece for a reason. It wasn’t just a painting, it was a reflection. Years ago, during my time at University of North Carolina at Greensboro, I was always drawn to Minerva, the enduring symbol of wisdom and guidance that quietly watches over the campus. That connection stayed with me. So much so that in my own backyard, I’ve placed a sculpture inspired by Minerva statue at UNCG, originally created by my friend, the gifted sculptor Jim Barnhill. In my garden, she stands over a koi pond, pouring forward—an image that has come to represent wisdom shared, not kept.

That evening, I shared that story briefly before the auctioneer began. And then  it happened.

The bidding started gently, then quickly took on a life of its own, hands rose, voices followed. What began as interest turned into something far more spirited almost as if the room understood the deeper meaning behind the piece. Back and forth it went until, with a resounding crack of the gavel, it was done.

A woman in the back row had made the final bid. Moments later, I found her to say thank you, not just for the purchase, but for what it represented. That’s when I met Glenda Schillinger, a fellow alum whose life’s work has been devoted to serving others through her foundation, healthcare service, and advocacy for women and children. In that moment, the painting found exactly where it was meant to go.

Three Reflections Worth Holding Onto

The things that move us most often come full circle
What begins as a quiet impression, a statue on campus, a moment in passing can take root in ways we don’t fully understand at the time. Years later, those same impressions resurface, not just as memories, but as inspiration to give something meaningful back.

Art becomes powerful when it carries a story beyond itself
A painting on a wall can be beautiful. But a painting with meaning one tied to memory, purpose, and shared experience becomes something more. That night, it wasn’t just about the image of Minerva. It was about what she represents: wisdom, generosity, and the passing of knowledge from one life to another.

Generosity has a way of recognizing itself
There’s something remarkable about how the right piece finds the right person. Glenda’s life has been defined by service, compassion, and impact. In many ways, she embodies the very spirit of Minerva. It felt less like a transaction and more like a moment of alignment where intention met purpose.

A Thought to Carry With You

Sometimes the most meaningful things we create are not meant to stay with us. They’re meant to move through us finding their way into the hands and hearts of others who will carry the story forward in ways we never could.

And perhaps that’s the quiet beauty of it all… When something is created with purpose, it rarely ends where it begins.