I'v started getting out and painting again after taking a bit of a break. I have missed painting outside and haven'n doing it as much as I would like to this fall. BUt I'm back at it. I have a cople of others and I'll get those posted as soon as I scan them.

This is a quick sketch that I did en plein air at a lovely park in Pawling, NY where I like ot run my dog every morning. The light was changing quickly so I did finish up some of the darks in the studio. Measuring 7.5 x 10 this watercolor is  painted on Fabriano, 140 lb Rough Press Paper. Available for purchase ..here. Unmatted and unframed.

Midnight Rendezvous - is the title of this original acrylic painting. This painting depicts a very manly stallion that I brought a mare to. After a late start with horses not wantng to load I  arrived up at Saratoga around midnight. When the mare was being prepped for breeding I caught a glimpse of this very handsome boy peering out at us from his backlit stall watching us. I thought it would make a wonderful impromptu painting. So here he is. Gallery wrapped canvas.

Patterson, NY – What happens when fourteen artist meet for an artist salon? They plan a show. ArtWorks, an Artist Salon Show will open Saturday, April 9th, at The Front Street Gallery, Front Street, Patterson, NY. The opening reception will take place from 5-8pm.

Focused on art and marketing the ArtWorks salon meets at the Front Street Gallery every other week and currently has 14 members. The salon is led by equine artist Deborah Bollman O'Sullivan, using the book, I'd Rather be in the Studio by Alyson B. Stanfield, as a reference. Members vary from artists who have shown widely and with great success to artists just getting started. For each artist Bollman-O'Sullivan's salon is an opportunity to focus on how give their their work greater exposure and make use of new technologies.

“I was sitting at the first meeting of the marketing salon,” says Jeremy Wolff a co-owner of Front Street, “when I thought, why not finish with a group show? Most of the artists have experience exhibiting but this is an opportunity for them to put new marketing skills into practice.”

Participatng artists are Deborah Bollman-O'Sullivan (Pawling) painter of equine, canine and nature themes in water media, Amy Brenner (Wingdale), a studio art potter showing sgraffito stoneware portraits of iconic musicians, Tela Cook (Pawling) a photographer specializing in the alternative process of Polaroid transfer, Victoria Hayes (Pawling) who creates pastels and prints inspired by the landscape, and ceramic artist Kathleen Heidemann (Holmes) who hand-builds pieces with a sense of whimsy and animation.

Anne Huibregtse (Wingdale) will show her iconic cow sculptures in steel and bronze, Lonna Kelly (Pawling), photographer, will show contemporary scenes with an eye for the ironic, Elizabeth Palmer-Buchman (Pawling) designs and handcrafts one-of-a-kind beaded jewelry and wearable fiber art, Donald Partelow's (Pawling) pencil illustrations of spirits are semi-realistic distortions of the human form and Karen Presser (Pawling) – creates nature, architectural, and Buddhist images using digital photo collage.

Jeanette Rodriguez (Patterson) will show her richly colored kiln fused dichroic glass pendants, Mary Smoot Souter (Pawling) is a contemporary, fine art oil painter of still life, landscape and portraits, Rebecca Tocci (Pawling) brings a background in painting and love of vintage photography to her photography, and Liliana Washburn's (Holmes) abstract watermedia paintings focus on emotions.

The Front Street Gallery opened in Patterson in April, 2010, as a artists’ cooperative and community resource. Front Street features nationally recognized artists, as well as group shows of local and regional artists. Art classes, for children and adults, and musical event are on-going. For more information call the Front Street Gallery at 917-880-5307 or email info@frontstreetgallery.

I had mentioned a few weeks ago on my Face Book page that I had bought a new brush and I received a flurry of emails in reference to what exactly it is, could I post a photo, where did I get it and why do I like it. So I thought a perfect subject for today would be about my favorite brush. I am primarily a watercolorist and I adore my brushes. I have only a few that I use regularly. As you may know any good quality natural hair brush is very expensive but well worth the investment. My most used brushes are my Rekab Kazan 320S Pointed Squirrel Mops. I use the #4 and the # 8 most often and an Escoda Tajmyr Sable in a #8. For today I am going to talk about the Rekab Mops.

The Rekab brushes are superbly made and are surprisingly affordable considering the quality. These brushes have a quill ferrule wrapped four times with brass wire and short black handles. You can paint all day without having to recharge the brush.They come to a very sharp point and you can paint the tiniest of details with them or do large juicy washes. Unlike othe squirrel mops that I have tried they are not a floppy brush. I have an Isebey Squirrel Quill that I like but for my purposes this brush outperforms the Isabey every time. I did bring these to an Alvaro Castagnet workshop I attended and he said these were very, very nice brushes.

The only place I know to purchase these is through Armadillo Arts . You need to send them a request for prices on these brushes. To give you an idea I paid $24 + shipping for the #4.

Happy painting!

Deborah

As many of you have noticed I have a name change now. Due to divorce I have decided  to change back to my maiden name which is Bollman. So my new business name is Deborah Bollman Fine Art.

  After a very productive holiday season painting lots of portrait commissions I took January off from my regular blog updates. Now that all of my portraits are completed and gift certificates redeemed I can turn my attention back to my watercolor.  Once I get through the holiday commissions my attention for a good portion of the winter turns to working/improving  on technique, studying color theory and implementing my new business plan for the year and marketing.

      I am starting the year with a nice line-up of events including two solo exhibits, a return to the Maplebrook School Art Show in May and a 3 day watercolor workshop with renowned watercolorist,  David Taylor. I have a few other irons in the fire and will update you as information becomes available. So bookmark or subscribe to my newsletter if you would like updates. To subscribe.. Deborah Bollman Fine Art Newsletter.

   In addition, I am teaching a bi-monthly Artist Marketing Salon for local artists based on Alyson B. Stanfield's book, I'd Rather be in the Studio. Our first meeting was last Friday and we had a really great turnout of wonderful local artists and artisans. I will be highlighting each of them in my upcoming blog posts.

  Watercolor classes are back in action. Classes are Tuesday evening at the Front Street Gallery in Patterson, NY . They run from 6:30 - 9:30.  Drops ins are welcome. Contact me for more info at Deborah@DeborahBollman.com

Watercolor Classes For Adults

Artist Deborah Bollman-O’Sullivan and  Front Street Gallery are pleased to present a watercolor painting course for adults. We will cover basic techniques such as getting to know our materials, wet on wet, wet on dry, finding basic shapes, basic color mixing and color value. We will then jump in and explore the wonderful world of watercolor.

Students will work from still life and photographic reference material.

Come and join us for a fun, creative evening in a relaxing environment. All levels welcome.

Classes are taught by professional painter Deborah Bollman-O'Sullivan.

Classes will run for 4 weeks. Tuesday evenings from 6:30 -9:30. Classes start Tuesday, November 23.

4– 3 hour classes- $175

Drop in fee- $38.75

Art supplies provided by student. Materials list available upon sign-up

Great Swamp Plein Air

©Deborah Bollman-O'Sullivan 

Good Tutors and Good Students

I have been prompted to give my opinion because I conduct a lot of workshops both in Australia and overseas and have been teaching watercolour painting for many years. I have a number of pupils that have attended many of my workshops and continue to do so. Recently these people have been criticized or mocked because they choose to continue to come to my workshops. Mocked by students that seem to change their tutors as often as the wind changes.

So the question is - Should a student go to many different tutors to learn or should they stick to one? I think I have already indicated what I think, but let me expand on this.

Well from my experience and observation over twenty years of teaching I strongly recommend choosing one, but it is conditional. The student must try different classes until they find a tutor that they are happy with. A tutor than has the pupils best interest in mind and will push the student and point them in the right direction for them to discover their own way of expression...kind of like a guiding hand. A tutor that does not let his or her ego get in the way!

I think as a student if you find that your work merely looks like a second rate copy of the tutors work then I would suggest you find another tutor. It is not the tutors job to produce 'parrots" that mimic what they do. It is all about pushing, questioning and getting the students to explore possibilities until they start to discover themselves. If you can find a tutor that can do that then stick with them. For those of you out there who criticise these students and call them groupies, fans or try to convince them that they should go to someone else, then I would say to you..."continue to go to your dozen tutors in a dozen workshops and continue to produce inferior copies with no self expression....you have missed the whole point of being an artist and the journey that it involves".

Having said that, if that is what you want to do...go ahead ....it obviously satisfies some need, but be aware that others may wish to go further and demand more of themselves.

So in summary:

A good tutor:

1. Someone who pushes you to question everything!
2. Someone who does not paint by formula.
3. Someone who will not spoon feed you.
4. Someone who recognises your contribution.
5. Someone who is not there to boost there own ego.
6. Someone who takes there work seriously.
7. Someone who plans lessons well.
8. Someone who will give you time.
9. Someone who believes they are still learning.
10. Someone who doesn't want you to merely be a "parrot"

A good pupil:

1. Someone who will work hard.
2. Someone who will take risks.
3. Someone who will work in between workshops
4. Someone who will ask questions.
5. Someone who will not only be interested in the final result.
6. Someone who is persistent.
7. Someone who is open minded.
8. Someone who is not there to boost their own ego!
9. Someone with a sense of humour.
10. Someone who has a love of Art.

So these are just 10 points I consider important for both tutor and student (there are more!)

In closing I would like to congratulate Sharon...one of these so called "groupies" of mine who entered her first exhibition recently and won the award for best watercolour. The wonderful thing about that is that I had not input or influence over that painting. She did the whole thing on her own and it was her own expression in paint! Well done!

I also congratulate these group of students that do continue to come to my workshops and tours...I am looking forward to continuing the journey with you....you have become not just students but friends! So let us all ignore the comments from others and continue to do what we do best...work together and move forward!

By the way, just to make it clear - I don't mind who people go to! I am not saying it has to be me (because even though I am good :), my style of teaching may not suit everyone ). It is not about me...it is about you...the student!

See you at the next workshop :) 

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This article is reproduced with permission.
Copyright 2010 - Charles Sluga

For more on Charles and to view or purchase artwork visit.....

Charles Sluga Website