The Four Seasons of Yosemite Mural Project
The mural project was conceived while Poulson was on a sentimental journey to his home state of California. In 1986, he spent three months camping in the Yosemite Valley and sketching from different viewpoints.
From this portfolio of sketches, he put together the composition showing Half Dome in the Fall, bathed in the golden evening sunlight.
The Fall Mural is titled “Tissiack” (the original Native American name for Half Dome).
Once the design and composition were complete, he spent 10 months perfecting the full-scale drawings. It then took a full year to do the actual glass cutting and assembling. There are over 2200 pieces cut from the finest American glass available.
The Four Seasons of Yosemite are currently being displayed at the University of California, Merced.
They each measure approximately 14’3″w x 8’5″h
Spring - Cascade Creek
The Spring Mural, “Cascade Creek”, has a mother bear and her cub on a fallen log over the thundering waters of the spring snow melt.
“Cascade Creek” was completed in 2018.
Summer Mural - Valley Life
The Summer Mural, “Valley Life”, features a Native American woman pounding acorns which was their staple given abundantly by the many oak trees in the valley. Sentinel Rock overlooks the Merced River and the deer grazing in the meadow.
The Summer Mural was completed in 2022.
Winter Mural - The Chief
“The Chief” Mural shows a winter’s night with the full moon over the Cathedral Spires and El Capitan on the other side of the snow covered valley.
“The Chief” was completed in 2008.
Fall - Tissiack
“Tissiack” was on display at the Ahwahnee Hotel in 1989, and at the Visitor’s Center 1990 for the park’s Centennial Celebration.
“Tissiack” was completed in 1988.
The culmination of many years of drawing, design and fine craftsmanship
The glass murals of Yosemite are the culmination of many years of drawing, design and fine craftsmanship. The artist, William Poulson, was inspired by the extraordinary beauty of the Yosemite Valley, the words of John Muir, and the paintings of artist Albert Bierstadt.
Exquisite Close-Up Photos Depicting Specialty Glass
Choosing Stained Glass colors and textures are similar to a painter choosing and mixing paint and a sculpturer choosing and mixing their medium.
Poulson drove cross country to the stained glass suppliers’ warehouse, to personally chose the sheets of stained glass that would fit the scene.
Poulson Pencil Drawings
Included in this collection are the pencil drawings depicting the Yosemite Valley from Poulson’s artistic keen eye.
Poulson then transitioned the pencil drawings into a stained glass cartoon drawing.
[A stained glass cartoon drawing is specialized in the field of stained glass. The artisan (both artist and craftsman), not only need to portray the design but include all lead lines to ensure the glass can be cut. Additionally, the structural lines are implemented to blend into the designs in a way to make them disappear into the scene.]
This transition of artwork is highly unusual and adds to the value of the artwork.
Poulson is a true artist and artisan.