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Text by Elise Maclay
Now in its 11th printing, Over 440,000 copies in print
Full color throughout - Hardcover, jacketed
"One of the most unusual of this season's art books this definitive collection of all the published prints and some works never shown before, by contemporary artist Bev Doolittle. The phenomenally popular Doolittle is known for her "camouflage" art that renders Western wildlife scenes, featuring horses and Indians with a meticulously detailed realism. That, on second glance, her art proves to be highly suggestive, with faces and figures emerging from the background into which they have been blended. The effect is haunting, investing the simplest landscape with unseen presences and an aura of my and magic." - San Diego Magazine
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Bev Doolittle’s phenomenal success has been a by-product of her desire to work
hard at what she loves to do most – create art with meaning.
“My love for nature, as well as man’s relationship with it, is the driving
force behind all of my artwork. Painting is a growth process. By giving each
of my pursuits my best effort, and by learning from my mistakes, doors have
opened for me that I could not have anticipated.”
For Bev, one of those doors was with The Greenwich Workshop, who produced her
first limited edition print, Pintos, in 1979. It sold out at the publisher
within weeks. “I am not a prolific painter,” Bev explains. “My art style
prevents that. Reproducing my painting in print was the perfect answer. I was
able to concentrate on my most important ideas while still having my work
represented in galleries around North America as well as abroad. My
relationship with The Workshop and its extended family of artists, galleries
and their customers has been a joy for me for more than twenty-five years.”
Nearly all of Bev’s prints have been sell-outs and five books of her art have
been released. Her first, The Art of Bev Doolittle, is truly a phenomenon,
having sold over half-million copies of its hardback edition. Her second
book, New Magic, continues the story of her painting career. She has since
released three children’s books. The Forest Has Eyes was a hit with readers,
both young and old. It was followed by Reading the Wild. Her illustrated
novel for young readers, The Earth is My Mother includes dozens of drawings
and paintings, four of which were released in print. Her desire to try new
mediums as well as her fascination with sculpture, led to the creation of five
limited edition porcelain boxes, each featuring one of her most popular
paintings. In 2004, after a five year hiatus, Bev returned to the print art in
the form of original, hand-pulled, stone lithographs. With some editions set
at fewer than 20 pieces, these original prints are already rare. Bev’s work
reflects her love of horses, passion for the natural world and her affinity
for the Native American’s spiritual relationship to the land. Her work can
also be found on calendars, journals and note cards.
Bev and her husband, Jay, both graduates of the Art Center College of
Design, began married life as art directors for an advertising agency in Los
Angeles. Five year of living in the city made them more aware of what they
were missing: the outdoors and creating their own art. “We hoarded our
savings and struck out on our own, living out of our camper for a year.
Calling ourselves, ‘Traveling Artists,’ we painted our way through the western
United States, western Canada and Baja, California. It was a tremendous grown
period for me. I not only developed my painting skills, but I discovered that
I possessed enough self-discipline to paint every day.”
Afterward, they displayed their work in malls and outdoor art venues. “Yes, we
were ‘starving artists’ for awhile!” admits Bev with a grin, “But, we were so
happy doing what we loved.” Life is full of hard choices and the path of the
artist is no different. “My advice to aspiring artists is simple: paint what
you know, paint what you love and always paint for yourself!” For me, success
followed my passion. Passion is what drives me.”
Bev, Jay and their son Jayson live close to nature in the California high
desert. Joshua Tree National Park is their backyard.
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