William "Bill" Crosby is an abstract landscape painter whose works evoke the movement, light, and emotion of the natural world. Rooted in his early studies of photography and architecture, Bill’s paintings reflect a unique balance of structure and spontaneity. “I start with a line,” he says. “Then I just let things happen. One brushstroke leads to the next.”Bill studied photography at the University of Michigan in the 1960s and taught for more than three decades at SUNY Plattsburgh, where he inspired generations of students to explore the possibilities of visual expression. While his photography emphasized precision and formal composition, his painting embraced freedom and improvisation. The tension between these two modes—controlled clarity and abstract emotion—continues to animate his work.Each piece uses the familiar elements of landscape—land, sea, and sky—to draw the viewer into a meditative space.Often inspired by the landscapes of Maine, New York’s Adirondacks, and even Alaska, Bill works primarily in acrylics. His process is deeply intuitive: building layers, letting paint run, reworking forms, and allowing space for the viewer to enter the composition. His paintings suggest rather than define—water, light, tides, foliage, and rock formations may emerge, but never dominate. “It’s emotional,” he says. “Some people compare it to jazz. There’s a rhythm. A mood. You feel your way into it.”Bill and his wife, designer and builder Pat Crosby, divide their time between South Thomaston, Maine, and upstate New York. They kayak, recycle architectural materials, and support one another’s creativity. Their teamwork is foundational—Pat is often the first to offer feedback on a painting-in-progress. “She doesn’t say much, but I know from her look if something isn’t working.”A longtime contributor to the Portland Art Gallery community, Bill is also represented in collections and exhibitions throughout the Northeast and beyond. His work, whether referencing Mount Katahdin, the Saint George River, or imagined coastal moods, invites viewers to pause, reflect, and finish the painting in their own way. Learn more about Bill’s creative journey on Radio Maine.