Bev Doolittle can create layers of detail on one canvas.
In the 1970s Bev Doolittle found fame in her technique of camouflage art. Her distinct process of hiding images in paintings lead to a deeper meaning besides what is primarily visible on the canvas, and her craft of storytelling through these layers of details is unmatched. While her original work is coveted by private collectors, her limited edition prints of "Sacred Ground" are numbered, signed and readily available.
Bev Doolittle
Referred to as a visual storyteller, Bev Doolittle captures people who view her artwork on several levels. Her signature painting, "Pintos," depicts her talent for challenging the eye by blending white and brown paint horses into the background of snow covered cliffs. Viewers can depend on finding nature, wilderness, or native peoples in her work, as well as veiled surprises upon further inspection, as in her famous piece, "Sacred Ground."
"Sacred Ground"
This painting contains all of the elements that made Bev Doolittle famous: earth, man interacting with nature, and hidden details. At first glance the viewer sees a man on horseback, trekking through rough terrain and bare trees while pulling a packhorse. A closer look, however, reveals a sense of panic not only in the man, but the horses. They have intruded on Native American land and feel as though they are being watched, so they begin to run away. In the trees Doolittle has hidden the face of an Indian chieftain and three eagle profiles, ever watchful of their land.
The Original
Bev Doolittle's original "Sacred Ground" watercolor sold at the B&R Art Gallery for an undisclosed price. It is 12.25 x 41.5 inches and is privately owned.
Limited Edition Prints
Limited edition prints are numbered pieces of artwork limited to a certain number of reproductions. In 1989 the Personal Commission Print elicited 69,996 requests for "Sacred Ground," a record for limited edition prints. They are 42 x 15 inches, signed by Bev Doolittle, and are valued at $1,779.
