Warren Godfrey

"My first painting was a four-foot by six-foot primitive family portrait inspired by a series of early American paintings. That was over 45 years ago. Now, I paint our grandchildren."

As a Madison Avenue art director, Warren Godfrey's artistic side was inspired by the simplicity and originality of America's folk and primitive art. He developed his style working in acrylic to interpret America's landscapes, seascapes, farms, activities, and celebrations. His Weathered Vane series utilizes rusty weather vanes to represent the patina of America's past.

Godfrey is self-taught, and he uses his creative background in advertising to determine the subject matter of his art. Some of his inspiration comes from local events in his hometown of Nutley, New Jersey. Edward Hicks and Grant Wood are two of his favorite American folk artists.

Godfrey's path to becoming a painter started when he was a child in public school art class, continuing as he attended the High School of Art and Design and studied advertising design at NYC Community College. It was in a photographer's studio that he first saw folk art painted on the walls. That was the moment: he was hooked. He went home and painted the family portrait and never stopped.