“Painter of the Blue Ridge Parkway” by Tammi Winfrey

Douglas C. Winfrey is a native of California. For 28 years he was a police officer in Modesto, CA, retiring in 1994. Within 3 weeks of retirement, he and his wife Vivian made another major life-changing decision. They sold their home and headed to North Carolina. A week later they found themselves to be residents in “God’s Country” of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, NC.

In the 1990’s Douglas had thought about painting as a hobby but knew nothing about it. He tried a couple of times and couldn’t even make stick figures. Then one day he saw a Bob Ross painting program on TV and got excited. Later, he saw an ad in the paper for one of Ross’ art classes where he lived. Douglas took a 4-hour class and came home with a finished painting. Vivian titled it “Amazing Surprise”. Douglas still has that painting today. After that, he began painting the Bob Ross style, giving paintings to family and friends.

In Boone, Douglas began painting Blue Ridge Mountains scenes. His inspirational and creative juices began to flow like never before. These mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway have a way of doing that–and before he knew it his paintings began to sell in galleries. Douglas also desired to grow as an artist and began taking classes from well-known regional and national artists, broadening his techniques and skills. He then had the good fortune of painting with James Crompton who trained at NYC Student Art League. Douglas painted under his guidance about once a week for over 3 years. On July 19, 1999, he had a sleepless night in a motel room in Pittsburg, PA.

He began thinking about some kind of lasting art project that would be unique and had never been done before. Douglas loves the Blue Ridge Parkway and thought to himself, “Yes, that was it!” He decided on creating an oil painting for each of the 469 miles. He talked it over with his wife. She thought it was a good way for both of them to spend time on the Parkway and spend time together.

After thinking and planning on the logistics, Douglas and Vivian figured it would be a 4yr project consisting of an average of 3 completed paintings of 8×10 canvas board every week. It would be a commitment of much of their time and energy.

They began their journey across from the Moses Cone Manor at MP294-MP295 on Oct. 2, 1999. Right then Douglas
realized that adjustments in plans needed to be made– finding that painting “En plein air” was too time consuming. He found that he could take photos and paint later in his studio at their home. Then, too, he found he had to work around things like weather, road closures and seasonal changes. It required going back at different times and seasons.

This project was an extraordinary journey from its inception through its fruition filled with “highs and lows”, too many to acknowledge. Douglas finished the last painting on July 10, 2003, of MP271-MP272.

Anyone viewing these paintings can look closely, and see the growth of the artist in his painting abilities from a novice to one who has begun to express himself through his work. Douglas will tell you it was all about the “journey.”

The Blue Ridge Parkway Association is currently working with Douglas and Vivian to display his art throughout the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor in North Carolina and Virginia.