My name is Jeff Watts; I’m an artist living in Forestville, California.   Whether it’s an animal, a person or a flower, I consider all of my paintings to be portraits.  I’m inspired by the techniques of the old masters and like to take advantage of the movement of the paint and the visible brush marks. While I strive for a sense of realism in my paintings, I always want the viewer to know they are looking at a painting.   Why this is called No Goat Hill. Well, because I have no goats.   When we left San Francisco and moved to the country, the plan was to get a few goats and maybe some chickens…  We were going to have fresh eggs and make our own goat cheese…fun, right? Well after we bought a house on a hillside in Sonoma County, I bought a book about tending goats and making cheese.  It turns out to be a lot more work and time than I have to offer.  So here I am with my studio, on a hill with no goats. Six years later on No Goat Hill, we now have chickens…six lovely little hens, who are now laying eggs.  Check out out my chicken page to see their baby portraits. I suppose if I ever get a goat I’ll have to rename my website….  I’ll worry about that when the time comes.
Visit my blog to see what's currently on my easel. Pets have become such an important part of our lives and a portrait is beautiful way to celebrate that bond or honor an old friend.  The very nature of the oils and brush marks of the paint breathe life into a portrait.   There is a presence and character to a painting that can’t be achieved with a photograph.  My paintings are done on stretched canvas or hardboard panels.  And of course, all of my work is 100% satisfaction guaranteed.    For information on pricing and ordering  click here.