Paintbrushes just seem to belong in Wes Whitney’s hands.
The 69-year-old Fort Worth, Texas, native was born into an Air Force family, which allowed him to see the world at a young age. He lived in Germany, Puerto Rico and in five states, though Covington was always viewed as something of a home base. Whitney’s grandparents moved to the area in the 1970s, and he followed suit in 1995—the same year the Atlanta Braves won their first World Series. His love for art accompanied him wherever he went.
“I’ve basically been painting most of my life,” he said. “My family says I was born with a paintbrush in my hand. I put painting on the backburner for my job. I was a graphic designer for over 45 years. When I retired, I returned to painting full time.”
Whitney did not have to search far and wide for inspiration when he was asked to provide the cover for this issue of The NEWTON Community Magazine. “I love painting wildlife and tried to think of wildlife that’s indigenous to the local area,” he said. “We’ve had a family of red foxes in the woods in our backyard in the past, so I picked a red fox. Being the winter issue, I put it in a snow scene.” Red foxes, which weigh between eight and 14 pounds, can be found in various habitats across Georgia, including forests, open woodlands and in urban and rural neighborhoods. Whitney spent a total of 12 hours across three days on the painting. “Some paintings,” he said, “just flow better than others.” Some of Whitney’s art can be viewed on display at the Southern Heartland Gallery on The Square. A more complete collection of his work can be found on his website at weswhitneyart.com.
“I paint for the love of it,” he said. “I like to sell paintings, but it’s not a motivating factor. I don’t like to call it a hobby. It’s more just part of my life now.”
A special thank you to Wes Whitney for providing the artwork for the 2026 winter cover of The NEWTON Community Magazine.
Related Stories
‘A Blessed Life’
No Place Too Dark
