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"God is the most subtle of designers.
The artist works to bring something of the excitement of this
design and form in the natural world to the attention of all
viewers, so that our vision of even the mundane may be changed."
Rachel Collins considers herself
a realistic painter of nature's abstract form. She grew up
in a home in New York State where her mother taught oil painting,
design and composition, but did not pursue art on her own
until many years later, after a first career serving as a
librarian at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel. Upon
her return to the States in 1990, an interest in natural science
illustration led her to an internship in the Department of
Entomology at the Museum of Natural History. But eventually
watercolor, originally taken up as a once-a-week hobby in
Israel, became her primary medium. Her interest in natural
science subjects has continued, but with a fine arts focus.
Her paintings have earned recognition and awards on the regional
and national level, and are frequently included in nationally
competitive watercolor exhibits.
Rachel Collins is a signature member of
the National Watercolor Society, the Watercolor USA Honor
Society, and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America,
and served as one of two co-presidents of the Virginia Watercolor
Society in 2009. She teaches classes and workshops in watercolor
in the Washington metro area, elsewhere in the U.S., and abroad.
Outside the visual art world, she plays the bassoon and currently
serves as chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is
of Mount Vernon, Virginia.
Classes and Workshops in the Washington
area:
At The Art League, Alexandria,
VA:
Watercolor from Start to Finish: a nine-week
course for beginner and intermediate painters, offered in
fall, winter, and spring on Thursdays 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Can This Watercolor Be Saved?: a weekend workshop in problem-solving,
April 10-11, 2010
Know Your Watercolor Palette: a weekend workshop on color,
June 26-27, 2010
At The Yellow Barn Studio and Gallery,
Glen Echo. MD:
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Painting Nature Up Close in Watercolor,
Feb. 6-7, 2010 |
| Weekend workshops: |
Still Life in Watercolor,
May 15-16, 2010 |
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Glazing in Watercolor, July
10-11, 2010 |
Rachel Collins is available to present
watercolor workshops ranging in length from one to five days.
For further information and a list of references, please contact
her at 703-838-9695 or
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