Our cover this month, Billy Hassell’s “Morning on the Trinity River, Ft. Worth, 2010” (40 in. by 36 in.), sold for $25,000 at Heritage Auctions’ Texas Art Signature Auction in Dallas on May 21, 2016. A Texas native, Hassell was fascinated and inspired by the creatures he saw as a child in his neighborhood, which he would bring home and draw.
Hassell’s mother and the monks at the school that he attended recognized and supported his natural talent. His artistic style was further shaped by his education at the University of Massachusetts, where he received a Master of Fine Arts degree. Hassell’s works are most notable for their pattern element and his ability to create an abstract sensibility without completely abandoning recognizable subject matter. Referred to as “Mother Nature’s stylist” by The New York Times, his vivid and colorful interpretations of nature allow his collectors to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside their homes. Those who’ve traveled through Terminal D of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport may also be familiar with Hassell’s 20-foot mosaic on the floor, aptly titled “Early Morning Flight.”
Estate planners are faced with a reverse task when crafting wills—they must be able to turn the abstract thoughts of their clients into concrete and realistic estate plans that reflect the clients’ wishes. As you’ll read in this month’s Committee Report, this responsibility becomes even more difficult when dealing with elderly clients who may be suffering from diminished capacity.