Life

Painting is my Life is not only the story of Albert Dolmans’ varied life and travels, but a show-case of his life’s work. The color plates of his universal and timeless paintings take the reader on a fascinating trip, while revealing not only his talent to capture the majestic and the mundane in our changing world, but his deep affinity with nature and his passion for his craft. Here is a window into the life of this Dutch-American figurative artist, whose possibilities changed completely when in WWII, just weeks before the Germans marched into his Dutch village, he was able to escape to the United States. Thanks to his talents he studied under George Post, Karl Bouwman, and Otis Oldfield at the prestigious California College of the Arts Inspired by his home state and following his passion, he not only became part of the Society of Western Artists and the North Californian Figurative School, but an American citizen. The war over and travel again possible, and with interest in his work growing on both sides of the Atlantic, he returned several times to his native Holland and travelled extensively in Europe. Whether in oils, watercolors or simply pen and ink, the book shows how well he catches the subtle characteristics and the differences in mood of each country. From its magnificent National Parks, to the simplicity of California's back-country; from major European cities, to the wide horizons of the lowlands; a boat-yard in Venice, ancient hill villages in Provence, a quiet Welsh graveyard and much more, Albert shares such unique experiences with his work, tapping into the diversity of nature, a nature that grounds and inspires him. Here is a window into the life of this Dutch-American figurative artist, whose possibilities changed completely when in WWII, just weeks before the Germans marched into his Dutch village, he was able to escape to the United States. Thanks to his talents he studied under George Post, Karl Bouwman, and Otis Oldfield at the prestigious California College of the Arts Inspired by his home state and following his passion, he became part of the Society of Western Artists and the North Californian Figurative School as well as an American citizen. The war over and travel to Europe again possible and with interest in his work growing on both sides of the Atlantic, he returned regularly to his native Holland and travelled extensively in Europe. Whether in oils, watercolor or simply pen and ink, the book shows how well he catches the subtle haracteristics and the differences in mood of each country. From the magnificent National Parks, to the simplicity of the Californian back-country; from major European capitals to the gentle wide horizons of the lowlands, a boat-yard in Venice, an ancient hill village in Provence, or a quiet graveyard in Wales, Albert shares these unique experiences in his paintings. He taps into the diversity of nature in such places, a nature that grounds and inspires him. Painting is my Life is the story of a contented man, a Dutch-American landscape painter who modestly shares his experiences and the art they have inspired. Now in his mid-eighties, he continues to enjoy painting, which without any doubt, is his raison d’etre.