
Bob Timberlake, born in 1937 in Lexington, North Carolina, is a self-taught realist painter and designer. He is known for his watercolour paintings and his furniture, clothing, and home furnishing designs. Timberlake's artistic process involves determining which ideas in his head he will act upon. He works with watercolour, tempera, and gouache, and pays close attention to light and detail in his paintings. While he has no formal artistic training, his work has been exhibited in galleries and has received numerous awards.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Known As | Realist artist, visionary designer, painter |
| Art Form | Watercolor paintings, tempera, gouache, acrylic painting |
| Themes | Everyday life in North Carolina, landscapes, people |
| Style | Attention to light, detail, and color |
| Printing Method | Offset lithography |
| Notable Works | "White House Christmas", "The Old Feezor Place", "Gilley's Cows" |
| Awards | Albert Schweitzer Medal for Artistry, North Carolina Public Service Award |
| Other Ventures | Furniture design, clothing, home furnishings, postage stamps |
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What You'll Learn

Bob Timberlake's artistic process
Bob Timberlake is a self-taught American realist artist, known for his watercolour paintings and designs for home furnishings and clothing. Timberlake's artistic process involves determining which ideas in his head he will act upon. He describes his eyes as being "like cameras", capturing and storing images of nature and everyday life in North Carolina.
Timberlake's creative process is continuous, comparing it to "writing a book, reading the book and then illustrating the book". He often retreats to a barn south of Lexington to paint and sketch. The barn, built in 1809, was purchased by Timberlake in 1986 and renovated into a cabin. In 2006, he founded Linwood Furniture, LLC. His primary studio is located in a historic barn from the same era as the cabin, which was moved to its current location in 1986.
Timberlake's paintings are created directly by him, and reproductions are made by a printer. He has used offset lithography for reproductions, as it provides clear and detailed images that allow people to appreciate the intricacies of his work. Timberlake's prints often portray everyday life in North Carolina, and he is praised for his use of colour and detail. He pays close attention to light and works with various media, including watercolour, tempera and gouache.
Timberlake's work is globally renowned, and his paintings have sold out exhibits worldwide. He has designed postage stamps for the United States Postal Service and was named the official artist for the "Keep America Beautiful" campaign by President Jimmy Carter in 1978. In 1998, he painted "White House Christmas" for an exhibition sponsored by the White House Historical Association.
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Realist watercolour paintings
Bob Timberlake is an American realist painter known for his watercolour paintings. Realistic watercolour paintings are carefully planned and rendered in intricate detail, with techniques such as photographic blurring and vignetting to create a "bug's eye view" effect.
To achieve a realistic style, artists must pay attention to light and detail, as well as the careful observation of their subject. This includes the use of sketching techniques, such as the grid technique and measurement technique, to create an accurate drawing. Values and contrast are also important, with watercolour blocks by Arches providing a convenient option for small and medium-sized paintings as the paper does not require stretching.
When creating a realistic watercolour still life, artists often use a detailed drawing as a roadmap. Tracing paper, tape, and masking fluid are used to protect the whites of the paper, creating a dark background and allowing for the exploration of textures. For example, in "Magnolia Still Life," the artist first created a detailed drawing and then used masking fluid to protect the condensation on the cup, mint leaves, and ice mound. They then painted the background, using multiple layers of colour to achieve the desired values.
Realistic watercolour paintings require patience and a careful approach to planning. By mastering techniques such as masking and underpainting, artists can create impactful and appealing works that capture the beauty of everyday life.
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Lithographic reproductions
Bob Timberlake is an American realist artist known for his watercolour paintings and designing home furnishings. His gallery in Lexington, North Carolina, offers original and signed lithographed artwork by Timberlake, as well as home furnishings and other items designed by him.
Lithography is a planographic method of printing based on the immiscibility of oil and water. The printing is done from a stone (lithographic limestone) or a metal plate with a smooth surface. Lithography can be used to print text or images onto paper or other suitable materials. The image to be printed is drawn with a greasy substance such as oil, fat, or wax onto the surface of a smooth and flat limestone plate. After the oil-based image is put on the surface, a solution of gum arabic in water is applied, with the gum sticking only to the non-oily surface. During printing, water adheres to the gum arabic surfaces and is repelled by the oily parts, while the oily ink used for printing does the opposite. This process is known as offset lithography or offset printing.
The method of offset lithography was patented by John Strather in 1853. It eventually became the standard method for creating large quantities of high-quality printed materials such as newspapers, magazines, and posters. Offset lithography differs from the original lithography method, as the image is transferred to a rubber blanket cylinder or plate before being applied to the paper or stone. This keeps the paper dry and allows fully automated high-speed operation.
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North Carolina landscapes
Bob Timberlake is a self-taught American realist artist, born in 1937 in Salisbury, North Carolina, and raised in Lexington, North Carolina. He is known for his watercolour paintings and for designing and licensing lines of home furnishings, clothing, and other products. Timberlake's work captures the soul of the American South, and he is celebrated as one of the South's most renowned painters.
Timberlake's paintings often depict North Carolina landscapes and everyday life in the state. He pays close attention to light and detail in his work, using watercolour, tempera, and gouache. One of his notable paintings is "Gilley's Cows," which portrays the Melton family home in a snowy landscape with a leaden sky and bare tree limbs. The painting captures the sparse life of the family, despite the absence of human figures.
Another example of Timberlake's North Carolina landscapes is his painting "Wanda at the Well House," which depicts a woman named Wanda standing inside a shed in deep shadow, with sunlight washing out the colours of her floral print dress. The pose suggests she is rooted in a place she loves and is ready to face whatever life has in store.
Timberlake's artwork has gained national recognition, and he has held numerous sold-out exhibitions, including his first art exhibition in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 1970. He has also received various awards, including the Albert Schweitzer Medal for Artistry and North Carolina's highest civilian honour, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, in 2006.
In addition to his artistic career, Timberlake designed and crafted furniture, partnering with Lexington Furniture (later renamed Lexington Home Brands) to create the best-selling furniture collection "The World of Bob Timberlake." He also founded Linwood Furniture, LLC, in 2006, and designed four different postage stamps for the United States Postal Service.
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Andrew Wyeth's influence
Bob Timberlake is an American realist artist, designer, and painter. He is known for his watercolour paintings and designing home furnishings, clothing, and other products. He began his career as an artist in 1970 and has since exhibited his work at museums in the United States and Japan.
Timberlake was influenced and mentored by Andrew Wyeth. In 1965, Timberlake read an article about Wyeth in Life magazine and was deeply moved by his work and philosophy. In 1969, Timberlake met Wyeth and showed him his paintings. Wyeth encouraged Timberlake to pursue his passion for painting full-time, and for a few years, Timberlake was even referred to as "the Andrew Wyeth of the South".
Wyeth's work is known for its stark realism, while Timberlake's art evokes a sense of place and captures the soul of the American South. Timberlake's paintings often portray everyday life in North Carolina, and he is known for his use of colour and attention to detail and light. He finds inspiration in his immediate surroundings, just as Wyeth did, painting what he is "most familiar with and loves the most".
Both artists have had their work exhibited together in shows of realist paintings, with Wyeth's work demanding the highest prices of any living American painter by the late 1950s. Timberlake's work has also achieved commercial success, with his furniture line becoming one of the best-selling in history.
Thus, it is clear that Wyeth's influence on Timberlake was significant, encouraging him to pursue his artistic passion and shaping his unique style and subject matter.
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Frequently asked questions
Bob Timberlake is a self-taught artist, primarily known for his realist watercolour paintings. He has described his artistic process as determining which ideas in his head he will act upon.
Bob Timberlake is known for his watercolour paintings and designing and licensing lines of home furnishings, clothing, and other products. He is considered one of the South's most celebrated painters, turning North Carolina landscapes into visual stories.
Bob Timberlake began his career as an artist in 1970 at the age of 33.
Bob Timberlake uses offset lithography for his reproductions. This method provides clear and detailed images, making it suitable for his work, and is also cost-effective.
Bob Timberlake's artistic style captures the soul of the American South and brings authenticity to his work. He pays attention to light and detail, and his paintings often portray everyday life in North Carolina.






































