Beautiful NW ART is Availa-BILL & Afforda-BILL
January 8, 2026 ! Bill would be 99 years old this year
Do Celebrate by acquiring Prints & Paintings, Sumi-e & Watercolors !
Spring and Summer 2026 — see below for BILL’S Sumi-e WORKS.
A portion of proceeds supports the Bill Colby Art Scholarship @ University of Puget Sound, Tacoma
Puget Sound Sumi Artists Present in Downtown Tacoma
Brushstroke Bounty- Asian Art Techniques in the Pacific Northwest
April 14 - June 26, 2026 Opening Gallery Gala - Saturday, April 25, 3:00 - 5:00 PM
Handforth Gallery Inside the Main Branch
Tacoma Public Library 1102 Tacoma Ave. S. Tacoma, WA 98402
Tues - Wed, Noon - 8:00 PM Thurs - Sat 10:00 AM - 5 PM closed Sun Mon
Printmaker, Painter, Professor (1927 - 2019)
“I love my life and making visual art.”
Thank you to fans during 2024 - 2026
You helped donate over
$500 to the Bill Colby Art Scholarship @ annually
University of Puget Sound, Tacoma
T h i n K B I G !
Since Bill’s death in 2019 the Colby family has discovered and re-discovered LARGE works.
Ideal for lobbies, hotel or conference centers, offices and hallways, or condominium spaces, LARGE WORKS BY COLBY range from woodcuts to canvases with dimension, all reflecting his love of Northwest nature. Series pieces look great in sets of 2 to 3.
GOT WALLS ?
In need of attraction, distinction, Northwest reflection, and good taste?
Whom do you know in your business or hospitality interactions who may have tall or wide walls? Let us know. We have a new viewing space in Tacoma.
Please stay in touch, forward this site to friends and colleagues, and join e-mail list: billcolbyart@gmail.com
Colby in his studio, 2018
“Nature is a guiding force in my work. Woodgrain inspires my composition when a concept is established. Themes that have been developed over the years of my work include: family, tavern folk, water, forest, rocks, rain, stairways, birds, spheres, symbols,and cosmos. To attract the viewer and have them pause to look [and] hopefully think…is my goal. “
Colby never stopped creating, amending, adjusting
Decades of shows&showers of praise
Colby’s rich legacy encompasses decades of discovery and dedication. From early artistic exposure to world-wide trips to investigate and enjoy art, Colby’s work appeals to a wide audience. His prints and paintings are in hundreds of collections; he earned accolades and awards almost annually while promoting creative expression and art appreciation.
Sumi Award, Handforth Gallery, Tacoma, 2011
Museums, galleries, and groups
Colby was shown widely throughout the Northwest for over sixty years. He enthusiastically participated in exhibits and arts festivals from Portland to Port Townsend. He buoyed the artists in the Puget Sound Sumi Artists group, and energetically opened his studio for the Tacoma Arts Commission Open House Studio live demonstrations. Fans around the world enjoyed Bill and Trudi at home, at openings, and on art adventure trips around the globe.
