Unleashed Bakery and Style - located in Destin, FL

Beautiful, graceful, boldly yet hauntingly hued are the watercolor paintings of Wheeling, LW "Bill" Rettig, Jr.

Bill's work is gentle and tranquil yet strikingly alive in a soft effusion of color and tones which are the glory of the subjects of what he sees all around him. The almost delicate style of Bill's work becomes even more fascinating when you meet him, for Bill, in contrast to his art, is a bear of a man. He is a former PENN STATE fullback/linebacker who has lost none of his intimidating energy.

Although essentially self-taught, Bill has studied watercolor and pencil with Yar Chomicky at Penn State University and has worked with Richard Nitowski and Homer Hacker-AWS, who recognized early in Bill's career his unique passion and energy in his works; winner of many regional and national awards, he has held solo exhibits through out the United States and overseas. Bill's works are part of many private, commercial and University collections.

In 2008 Bill was commissioned by a close friend to paint a portrait of their beloved family pet which they had lost to bone cancer. This first work has led to several additional commissions. Bill finds this type of work particularly rewarding in that through his art he is in some way able to ease the grief felt by the loss of a beloved family member. Below are a few of the portraits he has created from snapshots of pets both living and passed. If you are interested in contacting Bill about creating a custom work of art of your pet, please contact us.