<![CDATA[Bill Needs

<![CDATA[Bill Needs - Blog]]>Sat, 23 May 2026 06:35:18 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Tulip Tour]]>Tue, 19 May 2026 23:37:59 GMThttps://www.billneeds.com/blog/tulip-tourIn the Netherlands, during a long-anticipated “Tulip tour”, I was fascinated with what “the dutch” also did with the Linden Tree. This tree has a handsome natural shape that complements Holland canals and windmills. But, it has an unusual characteristic in that, when a limb is broken or cut, branches grow out of the scar giving the tree much more longevity and also expands the size. That quality gives ideas to locals to sculpt all sorts of creative hedges and landscapes.

Sara and I also visited Zeist for Easter. Zeist is a Moravian Settlement village from the early 1700s, an extension of Moravian influence from Herrnhut Germany. Can you see the analogy here? Growth of this little church expanded across Europe and around the world not unlike the Linden tree spreading multiple branches from a “broken limb”? This example from my sketchbook will be used in my Art Exhibit at Moravian University in November.

Oh, and the Tulips? Spectacular!

]]><![CDATA[The Medium and the Messenger]]>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 19:51:32 GMThttps://www.billneeds.com/blog/the-medium-and-the-messengerI’ve been invited to exhibit my art at the Inaugural Conference titled Exploring Moravian History and World Heritage on the campus of Moravian University.

The dominant theme of my exhibition focuses upon the messengers who carried that word and expressed them in languages and behaviors understood by a variety of cultures. In 18th Century Europe, those messengers were called “Herrnhuters in Diaspora"; around the world the messengers were called "Moravian Missionaries".

This exhibition will occur in November. It will require collaborating with others whose academic and intellectual accomplishments far exceed mine. I think you might enjoy this intimidating but incredible journey. Watch for my descriptions in future posts.

]]><![CDATA[This Little Light of Mine...]]>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 20:17:12 GMThttps://www.billneeds.com/blog/this-little-light-of-mineDealing with a lot of issues surrounding and reminding me of mortality lately, causes me to pause to think about my own. It’s another birthday for me and besides having enough breath to blow our all those birthday candles, I thank all those who have shared with me good wishes and good humor about our respective survival stories. It has been fun, hasn’t it?

But life isn’t just about breathing in and out. It’s the quantity of the air expired, the quality of speech that my words convey, the hope found in that message, and the prayer for good health brought about by another good night sleep and promise of another tomorrow with loved ones and those seeking to be loved.

This little light of mine still glows, by the grace of God. For what reason I don’t know. But, what I do know, it has been an undeserved blessing. Here’s another visual reference to that light, that beacon guiding my steps as they become more uncertain with each passing year.

Happy Birthday to all of us who pass into another trip around the sun, and God’s blessing and grace to those who don’t.

]]><![CDATA[Cape of Good Hope]]>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 23:59:55 GMThttps://www.billneeds.com/blog/cape-of-good-hopeWe had an opportunity to cruise around the Cape of Good Hope, at the base of South America. We encountered stormy weather and turbulent seas as expected but shortly after sunrise the skies opened up to reveal spikes of sunlight onto the horizon. It was breakfast. Not many were on deck to capture that moment. Alone, I was given inspiration to create my first drawing using pastel mixed with charcoal.

The Creator still leaves His (or Her) mark on creation - and I am part of that evolving creation. My art exhibit at Roswell United Methodist Church has lifted my art in ways I didn’t expect - an invitation to exhibit my art at Moravian University in November, 2026!

Stay tuned, there’s more…..

]]><![CDATA[A Solo Art Exhibition]]>Tue, 19 Aug 2025 20:24:25 GMThttps://www.billneeds.com/blog/a-solo-art-exhibitionThis is a test. I have not had anything of importance to say for nearly two years. But this post is different so, I'm back, trying to refresh my memory on how to announce this event to the public.

I'm honored to have been invited to exhibit a collection of art (30 pictures) which uses illustrations to tell a chronological history of the Moravian Church. The Exhibition Opening was held last Sunday and will remain in the Charis Gallery of Roswell United Methodist Church until October 12.

One original piece of art was a graphite sketch drawn on the back of a Kroger shopping bag -- and image of chalice, drawn long ago then casually discarded after I took a photograph. The image of the original is shown. A new "original" had to be drawn again - not an inappropriate metaphor for the history of the Moravian Church. Watch for more to come.

]]><![CDATA[Super-Structure Raft ... part 3, the end]]>Tue, 13 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.billneeds.com/blog/super-structure-raft-part-3-the-end First Reno jumped ship - and without her weight holding the structure tight onto the 55 gallon drum, the frame rose skyward out of the water and remained there, releasing one drum to drift silently away. That left 3 of us trying to balance on the remaining drums. Then Penny saw her chance to escape being trampled or drowned. She jumped as we circled again toward the bank where Reno was running and barking!

Weight shift repeated. Out came the next drum, leaving Dick and me stumbling over each other and our sapling poles, trying to remain upright on two remaining barrels while the deck began to separate and disintegrate beneath our feet.

Finally we both fell off laughing and splashing as the raft broke apart with no barrels to support the frame. We learned the meaning of "flotsam" as we watched our creation float away in pieces.

We were wet, muddy, and smelled like something between fishy stagnant water and the inside of an out-house. Our boat building took probably 7 hours; our voyage had lasted less than 15 minutes.

As we walked homeward, bluejeans sticking to our legs while drying in the setting sun, our dogs danced ahead, happy to be on firm ground. We began devising a story that we agreed would convince our parents what caused our miserable condition. It had to be believable, in order to assure we weren't sent to bed without supper.

]]><![CDATA[Super-Structure Raft ... part 2]]>Sat, 10 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.billneeds.com/blog/super-structure-raft-part-2I watched Becker's Barn burn down one summer evening. When cleanup began, farmers nearby joined in to haul most debris down to the fence line adjoining Sugar Creek. We were 10 years old and that trash pile would beome our secret treasure for the remainder of the summer in 1949.

Dick was the first to concoct the plan to build a raft. Drawing his plan in the mud, we laid charred framing timbers on the ground. With baling twine we lashed together 2 frames that would hold 4 empty 55 gallon barrels. On top we lashed a deck of short planks to carry crew and cargo; namely Dick with his dog Penny, me with my dog Reno.

Ready for sea-trials we pushed the contraption into the swirling waters, then boarded her along with our dogs, and each of us armed with a fresh cut sapling to control direction.

It did float! Off we went - but mostly in circles because my sapling was longer than Dick's. We never decided who should be captain. While Dick and I argued who should push when and how, the dogs became agitated.

Reno became the first to abandon ship., not without consequences.

]]><![CDATA[Super-Structure Raft - part 1]]>Wed, 07 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.billneeds.com/blog/super-structure-raft-part-1"Growing up" in rural small-town Ohio provided children a vast amount of freedom to create from imagination. One example of this freedom was a day-long summertime project of creating a raft cobbled together by me and my buddy, using trash from a burned-down barn dumped beside a creek.

Dick and I named our creation Super-Structure Raft. So memorable was our little adventure that it became an example when offering a drawing class encouraging my also-aging students to illustrate a personal story in cartoon fashion.

Let me present on my website this 3-part illustrated story of our adventure: Dick with his dog Penny; and me with my dog Reno.

(P.S. I recently heard from Dick's adult daughter, still living in Ohio. She had probably heard this story from her father, well before his death from ALS.
I dedicate these February post series as a personal remembrance of our private celebration - "Ursa Major Day".

........................ To be continued .............

]]><![CDATA["Now that young man has potential ..."]]>Tue, 23 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.billneeds.com/blog/now-that-young-man-has-potentialSurprised, and grateful for so many responses to my "early sketch" of a Pot, I thought I should followup with my EARLIEST Artistic WORK ever recorded (and salvaged), on the back of the envelope containing my 2nd grade report card, circa' 1946.

Imagine me sitting one Sunday in church between Mom and Pop, bored, swinging my legs and fidgeting; my 5 year old sister, positioned on the other side of Mom to keep her safe from my poking her and stirring up an commotion.

I imagine Mom retrieved from her bottomless purse my report card which she intended to return Monday, signed to prove she had reviewed my grades. To avoid meltdown she shoved the envelope and pencil into my lap praying I might entertain myself through the sermon.

80 years later, I find my very first artistic rendering .. maybe titled Portrait of a Preacher in a Pulpit or View from the Pew ... complete with all the background detail I perceived then from that little church in Akron Ohio.

PS ... I was a straight "B" student in the 2nd grade. 'Teacher's comment said nothing about my artistic potential....

]]><![CDATA["Pot" - not intended for smoking, but intoxicating nevertheless ...]]>Thu, 18 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.billneeds.com/blog/pot-not-intended-for-smoking-but-intoxicating-neverthelessRearranging pictures hanging in my studio, I came across my sketch of a pot at the end of a driveway in Fernandina Beach. Dated March 2008, I recall sitting alone in my car in a driveway with sketch pad leaning against the steering wheel, waiting for a shower to pass.

At the time, I was taking an "Introduction to Drawing" class at KSU and found myself awakened by my newly discovered talent - suddenly seeing things, everything, with a different sensitivity - a new sensibility. With the sound of rain on the roof, and my pencil in hand, I did not realize I was creating my first "plain air" drawing. (only later did I learn the proper way to spell and pronounce this new term) I also, encountered a mild form of intoxication, relaxation induced by my focus upon capturing the calming scene on a piece of paper. Little did I know where this little exercise would take my "life after retirement".

Thought it worth sharing some "pot" this wintery morn.

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