10 Jul NJ350 Prosper – Liberty, Diversity & Innovation.
This painting, “Prosper”, was created live by William Butler at the New Jersey 350th Birthday (NJ350) Celebration on June 22, 2014, at the Capital Complex in Trenton, NJ. William designed and painted “Prosper” in a visual sequence to creatively celebrate the liberty, diversity, and innovation of the people and the places of the great State of New Jersey.
The beginning layers of “Prosper” reveal the brilliant green silhouette of the State of New Jersey which represents the vibrancy of the people and the land throughout the Garden State. The State of New Jersey is striking as it rests on a field of red adjacent to a field of blue. These colors represent New Jersey’s history of liberty and patriotism. Next to the State of New Jersey is the bold inscription NJ350 which is the acronym for New Jersey’s 350th Birthday Celebration.
The next layers of “Prosper”depict a flowing spectrum of color representing New Jersey’s diversity and creativity. Also, the texture & patterns which transition throughout “Prosper” reveal New Jersey’s innovation and cutting-edge technology throughout its 350 years.
Then, a typographic layer was inscribed beginning with New Jersey’s creation date of 1664 and the words “New Jersey”. Also, the words “LOVE”, “Liberty”, and “Prosperity” are included to commemorate New Jersey’s historic motto of liberty and prosperity.
The final layers represent the beauty and diversity of the people and the land of New Jersey. First, layered with the word “LOVE” is a New Jersey city scape highlighting the State House in Trenton. This represents the importance of the vibrant cities throughout the State. Second, the textured color pattern especially prominent in the word “LOVE” reveals the rich landscape of New Jersey including farmlands, forests, waterways, and more. Finally, the lighthouse represents the beautiful seascapes of the New Jesey’s Atlantic Shore, and the light of the picturesque lighthouse is shining brightly over the word “Liberty” and then reflecting to highlight the word “Prosperity”.
The upper half of the finished painting depicts New Jersey’s rich past with the words 1664 and other layers. Yet “Prosper” also reveals especially in the lower half of the painting the hopeful future for those in New Jersey. The light is shining out brilliantly over the people and places of New Jersey.