Meet 'Prints' William

7th December, 2023

Sharpham people are creative people!

Many of us here have a creative practice as well as a mindfulness practice, while retreatants continue to impress with stories and imagery of their own artworks.

Here we zero in on former Sharpham Trust chair William Lana, who dons a printmaking apron for several hours of each week.

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When William was a teenager, the 1980s streets & subways of his home city New York were being decorated by a soon-to-be famous artist.

"Keith Haring was operating in my area so when I came out the door there might be a new Keith Haring there on the wall...I loved it," said William.

William was interested in street art - and sculpture and oil-painting too. He visited the Museum of Modern Art regularly because he had free student entry, witnessing Rothkos and Monets close up.

Yet when an esteemed NYC art college talked about offering him a scholarship to attend, he turned it down. 
Said William: "I realised that I'd be too close to my parents and as a 17-year-old, I didn't want that. I mean, I love my parents but..."