Artist Statement
I love color and I love the water medias of watercolor and acrylic. Watercolor, in particular, holds a fascination for me. I love how the colors can be pushed around the paper and when allowed to mingle together create wonderful effects as only watercolor can do.
My watercolor box paint box is like a small box of jewels that have the potential to produce a visual and emotional experience of a moment in time. With the use of color and bold brush strokes I wish to capture the attention and curiosity of the viewer and transport them into the painting whether it be through the artfully painted soulful eye of a horse or dog or by eliciting a feeling of being in the forest experiencing a sublime moment. I want the eye to linger and explore the gestures, brushstrokes and colors used to create a piece that when brought together culminate in producing what I visualized in my mind’s eye.
I have progressed from producing hyper realistic artwork to where I am now- developing a more painterly, confident approach to a subject that captures the mood and emotion of the moment.
Enjoy~
Epona -Pan-Celtic) [ey-PONE-ah, AY-paw-nah or Ay-PAWN-nuh] "Divine Horse"; "The Great Mare"; Goddess of horses; Mother Goddess. Fertility, maternity, protectress of horses and dogs, prosperity, dogs, healing, springs, crops.
Artist Bio
Deborah O’Sullivan is a self taught artist who works out of her Studio in Pawling, New York. Working in the water medias of watercolor and acrylic her subjects range from horses to dogs to landscapes. Her work can be found in private collections world-wide. She experienced brisk sales in 2009 adding many new collectors. Look for an entire new body of work for 2010. Sign u for the newsletter to get advance notice of new paintings. Sign up for Newsletter
Although primarily self taught she has worked with sought after watercolor master Alvaro Castagnet, whose style has strongly influenced her work
The artist utilizes her 30+ years of experience in the horse industry in creating equine art that appeals not only to the collector but to the horseperson. Her years of dedicated work as a trainer/rider and, always, student of the horse has given her an extensive working knowledge of rider and equine biomechanics, movement, behavior and anatomy. Her specialty as a trainer is in rider and horse biomechanics while utilizing classical dressage (no rolkur spoken here- hyperflexion of the neck) to produce thinking horse people.
Deborah's dog knowledge is wide and varied as well. She has spent man years devoted to her studies in canine holistic nutrition and health, canine movement and biomechanics, genetics and performance. She was a breeder of Champion Golden Retrievers and has lifelong experience as a trainer/handler and has titled various other breeds of dogs in performance venues. She has a passion for Border Collies. All of this experience comes together to produce dog and horse art that not only comes from the heart but connects to the viewer in a soulful and emotional level.
Shows & Exhibitions
August 2011- October 2011- McKinny & Doyle Restaurant, Pawling, NY
June- August 2011- Rockwell Gallery, Ridgefield,Ct
May 2011 - Maplebrook Art Show, Maplebrook School, Amenia, NY
April 2011- Front Street Gallery ArtWorks Show
Awards & Noteworthy Stuff
Jump! -Fine Art Views Bold Brush Competition Finalist –September 2010
Border Collie Joy- 2010 Canine Art Guild’s Helping Paws Peoples Choice Award First Place
Juried into the prestigious Art at the Dog Show, 2008-2009-2010
Collection ~Cover of The Chronicle of the Horse for March 2011
Fall 2010 See/Hear John Kane House, Pawling, N.Y,
Spring 2009 Slide Slam, Pawling, N.Y.
La Cadeau du Cheval (The Horse Gift) Mural. This is a collaborative effort involving artists from around the world. The unveiling was on September 3, 2008 at the “The Masters” at Spruce Meadows in Alberta, Canada. The mural stands 3 stories tall and is currently on tour. I painted panel 156.
Invited to exhibit work at the 2008 HITS (Horse Show in the Sun) Equine Art Gala and Exhibitor Mixer in Saugerties, NY.
I have had the privlege of working with noted watercolor master Alvaro Castagnet whose style has strongly influenced her work.
Commission requests are considered on a limited basis. I am a member of the Equine Art Guild, Canine Art Guild, League of Animal Artists.
Border Collie Joy
I live in Pawling New York with my 12 year old son and I share my home with a Border Collie rescue,, Tess, Edward the Vampire Cat,a Rat Terrier and a variety of chickens and guinea hens.
