Meet Douglas! We are so excited to introduce y'all to another fabulous talent that is joining the Well + Wonder team, Douglas Williamson! Douglas is a painter and interior designer in Nashville, a city so close to our hearts, who is always designing and when not knee deep in fabric and swatches is painting! With a love for both the built and natural environments, the combination of architecture in work and botanical-focused painting feels only natural. Painting for her combines the tediousness of design with the freedom of creative vision. Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Douglas attended the University of Georgia, earning her BFA in Interior Design. She now lives in Nashville, working for McAlpine as an interior designer and painting as much as she can. We are so excited to introduce Douglas! Read more about the woman behind the artist as well as her inspirations in this post Pardon Me, Douglas Williamson.
What is currently on your nightstand?
I have a stack of interior design coffee table books, McAlpine’s latest book - where I work as an interior designer, and Rose Tarlow’s being my favorites. On top of the stack, I like to rotate out small pieces of artwork that make me happy. I also always have my kindle with a good book ready to go.
Who is your biggest influence as an artist and why?
I look to nature. There is so much beautiful creation out of our control. Making art allows me to study and honor that, while also forcing me to slow down and take in my surroundings. Some of my favorite artists paint florals in unexpected, fresh ways, like Amy Wright out of Australia, creates these stunning compositions based on the landscape that become a greater abstract. Kate Zimmerman Turpin is creating whole atmospheres in her pieces that just feel like home or a place you know.
Tell us about your childhood. What is the most memorable moment as a young person?
I can’t say I have one most memorable moment, but I always was creating, crafting, baking something. My parents encouraged it, which definitely instilled a confidence in pursuing what you’re called to.
If you could only have one supply in your art studio, what would it be and why?
Yellow ochre paint. I’m so drawn to the happiness and lightness of the color; it truly is sunshine in a tube. It can make the richest buttery color, add depth to a warm ivory, or liven up a green by adding the faintest touch in.
What is your favorite room in your house? Describe it.
I have to defer back to my childhood home for this one. We have a den in the center of the house with no windows, painted a deep rich navy and bookshelves lining the walls. Centered around the fireplace, I love the intimacy and security you feel in the small space.
What is your biggest score online?
An antique bobbin leg wood desk dug up on Facebook Marketplace.I just love it and the layer of depth the worn wood brings to my home. Pairing antique finds with new furnishings is my favorite way to add character to any space.
What is the benefit of buying art through a collective? What do you recommend for those that are new to buying original art?
A collective is a great way to discover new artists. Maybe an artist you love is a part of a collective, it’s likely you will connect with the work of another artist in the group. They were drawn to that same community for a reason.
If you have the entire day to spend in an art museum, which one and why?
The Louvre - the range of pieces, so many of which we’ve studied in art history classes and read about, are truly amazing to see in person. I’ve only been once and barely touched on the enormity of the collection.
What is your favorite hotel and what makes it special?
The Sanctuary in Kiawah is one of my favorites, being on the beach, getting a good cocktail after a day in the sun.
If you were a lipstick color would you be red, pink, or clear and why?
Clear, I like more of a gloss enhancing a natural look rather than a bold color.
I can never get on a plane without....
My kindle
How did you get into the world of art?
It is more of a means of living and meditation for me, calming my brain and forcing me to slow down. I think if I wasn’t selling work, I’d still need to be making something for myself.
What do you do to relax?
Go on a walk with my chocolate lab, Dave. It gets me out of my head into the fresh air. That's often how I stumble upon new inspiration.
When do you get the biggest surge of inspiration?
Referring back to the last question, walking Dave around my neighborhood or exploring new areas.
Prediction for the Color of 2026?
A rusty, copper red
What is your idea of a date night? Dinner and a movie or dancing all night?
Going out to a fun spot for a good dinner or out with friends. Nothing better than a chip and a dip with a skinny margarita.
Tell us about your favorite painting that you have created.
“A Summer Night in New York City”, this piece I painted after a weekend visiting three of my best college friends in New York. The weekend was just the shake up to my routine I needed. My friend took a picture of the of us walking down the street, it wasn’t a particularly good picture, but it made me happy. I painted it and it is still one of my favorites, more for the memory it evokes than anything else.
One piece of advice for buying original art?
Buy what you connect to. Half of the experience is the artists in creating it, but the other half is the collector’s own reaction and interpretation in their connection to the work. If it is something you keep thinking about, get it. Slowly collecting a range of work you love is such a gift to yourself.
