Something new and challenging… a BLOG! Stepping out of my comfort zone… sharing the knowledge, thoughts and experiences of my journey as a painter.

It seems appropraite to start out with telling you just a little about myself… (for some this will be redundant but for the sake of being the initial entry), here I go. I made the decision to become a professional artist at a very early age. By age 15, I was selling my work and by 18, I was exhibiting side by side with seasoned artists as an established painter.

In 1982, my faithful friendship with Russian master painter - Sergei Bongart began. During this period with my mentor, I was taught in the “old academic way” not how to paint by formula, but how to “see” the relationship of color, form and design in nature. When Sergei died, I moved to New Mexico to begin a new era. What could I do?... it was hard. I stopped painting as a student and began my journey as a painter, with my own voice. I found discovering my own way to be exhilirating!

When I look at a painting, I want it to bring me back to when I was on the scene. I want it to convey the drama and emotion that first captured my attention, the atmosphere, and the soul of the place. This is the goal of my work – to go past just the image to touch the viewer in a way so emotion is felt.

My teacher taught, his teacher taught, for me, it is a matter of keeping a tradition alive and of giving something back, but it’s also a critical aspect of the artistic process... it helps one articulate what one is thinking and doing. In 1995, carrying on the legacy of my teacher, I opened Sahli School of Art in Evergreen Colorado, to give the “hungry” student a safe place to learn and work. Then in 2008, with the help of Mediabound Productions, an Interactive Art Instruction DVD Collection was produced. You can “bring” me to your studio for your own lesson.

There’s more to tell; but that’s for another day. I’ll be musing as things come to mind!

That wasn’t so bad… Like Art of Painting, I think blogging will take much hard work, discipline; it will be a long journey full of many questions to ponder; ideas to consider; an opportunity to support and encourage. So here is to the journey!

-DS