“Low Tide in the Harbor” is one of Bill McCutcheon’s oil paintings. He will show his work in Artist Alley at the Madison Street Festival on Oct. 4. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Madison visual artist William ‘Bill’ McCutcheon will exhibit and sell his paintings in Artist Alley at the Madison Street Festival on Oct. 4.

For the street festival, McCutcheon will bring about 20 oil paintings of landscapes and seascapes, along with matted prints of other artwork.

“I’m a landscapist. I love working mainly with mountains, but I’m forcing myself to branch out to keep from being repetitive,” McCutcheon said. Currently, he only works in oil but previously used pen and ink and watercolor.

What is his favorite painting? “The last painting I finished … until I finish the next one,” he said. “I have a strong feeling of ownership with each painting and experience a small reluctance each time I sell one.”

However, sharing a scene “with someone who appreciates it enough to buy it” is more important to McCutcheon.

His interest in art started early. “I can’t put a year on it, but I know it was more than 50 years ago,” McCutcheon said. “My mother was motivation, and my father was my first critic.”

While working for Lockheed-Martin Corporation, he completed art classes at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He studied with a Bob Ross instructor for two years after he retired.

After growing up on Long Island, N.Y., he entered the Air U.S. Force in 1955 for four years. He studied at the University of Southern Mississippi and then went to New Orleans “to take part in the fledgling space program and ultimately came to Huntsville and retired in 1998.”

He and wife Liz have been married 38 years and lived in Madison for 27 years. Liz also will participate in the Madison Street Festival with her “Made in Madison” jewelry and other merchandise in the Arts & Craft area.

For more information, call 256-461-8004, email to billmccutch@aol.com or visit FineArtAmerica.com.