Featured Artist Tanis Bula

Artist Tanis Bula presents a portfolio of watercolors and mixed media paintings filled with vibrant color and life. View more of her work by visiting her website.

 

 

I’m an internationally collected watercolor painter. I have exhibited my work in one-woman shows, juried events and corporate and gallery venues around Colorado, and have been featured in Watercolor Magazine.

 

 

I have also exhibited and sold paintings in Europe and Japan. My work is included in corporate and individual collections. I was one of three American watercolorists selected for individual shows in Japan, and I traveled there several years to meet with buyers and sign my paintings.

 

 

It was so much fun to meet the people of Japan. I have also painted in France, Italy, Portugal, Japan, the Caribbean and Mexico.

 

 

Before I became a watercolorist, I was the owner of an award-winning graphic design firm in Denver where we created brochures and packaging for various clients. I eventually started taking painting workshops around the country and decided my new passion was watercolor painting.

 

 

Soon enough, the recognition I received allowed me to turn to painting full time.

 

 

Painting is a calling that draws me to my studio in my home each day. When I have some spare time and I am wondering what to do next, I think “Oh good, I can paint!”

 

 

I pay special attention to light and shadow and the way it affects a landscape or subject—forming shape, texture and pattern. My graphic background and training help me to paint these elements and graphic contrasts into my paintings.

 

 

I’ve painted a variety of subjects including landscapes from Colorado and Europe. I love to travel in Europe and take photos—a wonderful painting is around every corner! I am probably best known for my iris paintings both large and small. Irises have such an incredible softness that translates well into watercolor painting.

 

 

I studied at Iowa State University for a Bachelor of Science degree and the Kansas City Art Institute when I worked at Hallmark Cards as a package designer.

 

 

I have participated in and taught numerous workshops, both nationally and internationally. I’d like to see watercolor gain more stature as a painting medium as it seems to have a hard time competing with oil paintings.

 

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