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Rachel Collins considers herself primarily 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 pastime in Israel, became her primary medium. Her interest in natural science subjects has continued, but with a fine arts approach. Recently she has embarked on a series of paintings that brings together the close-focus viewpoint seen in her nature paintings with her strong interest in music. 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 a co-president 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 on 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 beginning and intermediate painters. Offered in fall, winter, and spring on Thursdays 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Know Your Watercolor Palette. (2-day workshop) Tues. - Wed. Nov. 29 - 30, 2011
Jumpstart in Watercolor. (2-day workshop) Sat. - Sun. Jan. 7 - 8, 2012 and
Wed.-Thurs. June 20 - 21, 2012.
At The Yellow Barn Studio, Glen Echo, MD:
Negative Painting: A Positive Experience for Watercolorists. (2-day workshop) Sat. - Sun., July 16 - 17, 2011.
Watercolor by Design. Tentative dates: Sun. Oct. 16 and Sun. Oct. 23, 2011 (2-day workshop)
Registration for Art League classes for the academic year 2011-2012 begins on August 8, 2011.
Registration for fall 2011 and winter 2012 classes at the Yellow Barn begins on August 6, 2011.
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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