Split Rock Lighthouse
Watercolor 18" x 24" - 1996

Located on the north shore to Lake Superior, Split Rock Lighthouse is one of Minnesota's most famous landmarks. 29 shipwrecks resulting from the fury of a 1905 November gale prompted building of this majestic lighthouse. Its completion in 1910 created a national treasure and a reminder of the days when Lake Superior's North Shore provided the iron ore that fueled our nations great industrial age.

Bill could not have picked a more fitting subject for his first watercolor.

Solitude in Irvine Park
Pen & Ink with Watercolor 40" x 18" - 1998

While visiting the Twin Cities in Minnesota there can be no better place to take a trip back in time then visiting Saint Paul’s Irvine Park neighborhood. Much of the park is surrounded by beautiful nineteenth homes. A charming gazebo, 150 year old oak trees and numerous benches surround the park’s centerpiece, a magnificent fountain.
In the background to the right is Forepaugh’s Restaurant a popular dining establishment. The noted ghost which pays an occasional visit can be seen in the third floor window. Just to right of the building in the background is the Alexander Ramsey house the home of Minnesota’s first governor. Downtown is a short walk from the park. The lone person enjoying the solitude of the park pictured is the artist.

Lake Harriet Bandshell
Pen & Ink 30" x 20" - 1985

Lake Harriet, located in southwest Minneapolis, Minnesota, is one of five in Minneapolis’ famed “chain of lakes”. The lake is named after Harriet Lovejoy, wife of Colonel Leavenworth, who came to Minnesota’s Fort Snelling in 1819. This bandshell, which was completed in 1986, beautifully compliments the adjoining park areas and the well maintained neighborhoods which surround much of the lake. It has features reminiscent of its predecessors, going back to 1888, when the first music pavilion was built on this site. A 1900 era streetcar still runs between Lake Harriet and nearby Lake Calhoun.

From 1988 until 1991, artist Bill Hosko lived five blocks from the lake. Often in the evenings, he would walk his two dogs down to its shores and around its three-mile circumference. He especially found winter-time, when fewer people were out, more appealing. He and his companions enjoyed walking out onto the center of its frozen expanse at night to enjoy the solitude.

Whether there is a concert in progress or not, this structure, and adjoining refreshment stand, is the focal point of the beautiful lake. The sailboats which are moored at its front steps during warm weather make way for ice skaters during the cold weather months.

Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
Watercolor 30" x 20" – 2002

Called “a jewel in the crown” of Minnesota parks, Como Park is home to the Como Park Conservatory.  Opened to the public on November 7, 1915, the conservatory has been a place of year-round beautiful flora and fauna for millions of visitors to Saint Paul ever since.  In 1974 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Evening on Grand Avenue
Oil on Canvas 40" x 27" - 2009

Saint Paul, Minnesota’s capital city, is known as the City of Neighborhoods. Within the Summit Hill and Macalaster - Groveland neighborhoods is Grand Avenue. Several miles in length Grand Avenue is the premier shopping district in Saint Paul. Many fine restaurants, eateries, coffee houses and shops call this avenue home. This painting captures a view of Grand near Lexington Parkway while the day’s last light illuminates the eastern sky and street lamps begin to burn bright for the coming night.

Saturday Morning on West Seventh
Oil on Canvas 28" x 31" – 2009

Saint Paul, Minnesota’s capital city, is known as the City of Neighborhoods.  One of these neighborhoods is below the high bluffs and Summit Hill neighborhood to the north and above the Mississippi River to the south, the West Seventh/Fort Road neighborhood is one of Saint Paul’s oldest.

The first permanent European American settlement in the region was Fort Snelling (1825) located upstream at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers.  In 1839 a four mile property boundary was established around the fort to preserve surrounding river-bottom and bluff top lands for exclusive use of the fort.  Incoming immigrants thus began a small settlement just down river, a village which would become Saint Paul.  From here a trading road, Fort Road, was established to Fort Snelling.  Today West Seventh Street/Fort Road features many commercial businesses including restaurants, pubs and antique shops.

Spring Morning on Summit Avenue
Oil on Canvas 44" x 26" – 2009

Summit Avenue is one of the nation’s great thoroughfares.  The first permanent home constructed on the bluff was completed in 1855, three years before Minnesota became a state.  The bluff commanded a grand view of the young city of Saint Paul and Mississippi River which flowed thru the expansive crescent shaped valley.  It was written at the time by a city booster “Nature never planned a spot better adapted to build up a showy and delightful display of architecture and gardens.” By the end of that century the prediction had become true. 

Late nineteenth century mansion lined streets like Summit Avenue were not uncommon; Chicago, New York, Cleveland and Minneapolis had them, but it is only Saint Paul whose monumental boulevard streetscape remains largely intact.  In 1978 an author wrote, “thus, St. Paul’s Summit Avenue stands as the best-preserved American example of the Victorian monumental boulevard.”  This view is of timeless Cochrane Park at Summit and Western Avenues.

Sunset on Saint Paul’s Waterfront
Oil on Canvas  42" x 22" - 2009

Saint Paul, Minnesota’s capital city population 280,000 is located along the banks of the Mississippi River. Saint Paul was founded in 1849 and was then the northern most navigable point on the river.

The tallest buildings of downtown in this painting are from the left: the Quest Buildings, City Hall, Crown Plaza Hotel, First National Bank Building, Galtier/Cray Plaza and Kellogg Square. The Wabasha Bridge is prominently featured as well. In the foreground are the River Boar Grill and just some of the many boats which are members of the Saint Paul Yacht Club which are docked along Harriett Island.

The University Club
Oil on Canvas 37" x 17" - 2007

Summit Avenue is one of the nation’s great thoroughfares. The first permanent home constructed on the bluff was completed in 1855, three years before Minnesota became a state. The bluff commanded a grand view of the young city of Saint Paul and the Mississippi river which flowed thru the expansive crescent shaped valley. It was written at the time by a city booster “Nature never planned a spot better adapted to build up a showy and delightful display of architecture and gardens.” By the end of that century the prediction had become true. By the late nineteenth century mansion lined streets like Summit Avenue were not uncommon; Chicago, New York, Cleveland and Minneapolis had them. But it is only Saint Paul whose monumental boulevard streetscape remains largely intact. In 1978 an author wrote, “Thus, St. Paul’s Summit Avenue stands as the best-preserved American example of the Victorian monumental boulevard.” Perhaps a mile from its beginning at the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Summit Avenue ends its course following the bluff line and heads due west. At this juncture is where the University Club can be found. Constructed in 1913 and fully restored in recent years, the magnificent Tudor Clubhouse with its beautifully appointed banquet and meeting rooms, is Saint Paul’s premier social club.

Majesty in Saint Paul
Oil on canvas 48" x 33" - 2005

The Minnesota Capitol Building, completed in 1914, located on a hill overlooking downtown Saint Paul and the Mississippi River valley, is noted internationally for its architectural excellence. One of the best views of this building is from Cass Gilbert Park, named after the building’s architect.

In the distance is another domed masterpiece overlooking the city, the Cathedral of Saint Paul, it was completed in 1915. This impressionistic painting depicts morning’s first light upon Saint Paul’s landscape.

Stillwater Morning
Oil on Canvas 42" x 20" - 2009

Stillwater is known as the ‘Birthplace of Minnesota’. Nestled along the bluffs of the St Croix River, across from Wisconsin, this community’s origins lie with the arrival of its first European American immigrants in the late 1830’s. The town quickly became a logging and trading center. Today, the St, Croix River is one of America's protected Wild and Scenic Waterways and the Stillwater Bridge, completed in 1931, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The community of Stillwater, twenty miles east of Saint Paul, now has a population of 18,000 residents. With many of it’s earliest homes lovingly restored and Main Street largely preserved. Stillwater has become a popular and very scenic destination.

September Morning in Rice Park
Oil on Canvas 36" x 32" – 2009
 
On May 16, 1849, a plat was filed by Henry M. Rice & John R. Irvine, the first addition to Saint Paul proper.  They designated Block 11 as a “Public Square”.  Thus, Rice Park was created, though for many years the land was simply known as City Park.  In 1860, Mayor Prince acquired the first trees for the park and Chief Gooding and other officers planted them.  In the center of Rice Park is a large circular water feature, its fountains dance around a bronze sculpture entitled The Source – 1965.

Rising beyond the park is Saint Paul’s premier hotel, The Saint Paul Hotel - 1910 and the handsome Landmark Tower office building – 1982; This timeless building’s top five floors feature the beautiful Park Towers condominium homes.