Dottie is a first generation American. Her parents immigrated
from Belgium and France before settling in Paterson, NJ, where she
attended PS#10. She was always interested in drawing, would draw
on any piece of paper she could find. She grew up watching the
John Gnagy Art Snow on TV every Saturday morning. As a teen in
high school, she had little time for art.
She married shortly after graduation, and while raising her two
children, Mary and Raymond; she liked to watch Bill Alexander on
TV. She enjoyed the art, but didn't pursue it because her free time
was limited, but she never lost interest. Years later, after a divorce,
she found a job that again sparked her artistic energy. She became
an assistant baker, whose job was to create all those fancy designs
and pictures on cakes. One Christmas, her children gave her a
painting kit as a gift and she was hooked. She again turned to TV,
The Bob Ross Show. Having no equipment to tape the show, she
learned to paint quickly to keep up. Dotie is mostly self-taught and
began by using oils.
Dottie remarried and her husband was very supportive. He bought
her more art supplies and helped her to build a very special easel.
He converted a stepladder with many special features. She can
adjust the height easily; the shelf holds paints, etc. She is able to
put everything she needs in one spot and isn't also portable. It is
really quite unique.
Dottie now has time to pursue her dream. She attended an artist
group under the direction of Eleanor Baginski, and began to paint
with acrylics. The past four years, painting has become a very
important part of her life.
She is now quite proficient in her chosen field and has entered
several juried shows, winning third place in Long Beach Island in
Acrylics, third place at Ocean County College and second place in
Ocean County Artist Guild with an unusual mixed media effort
called, "Duke.: Duke is her pet coca-a-too, her painting is almost
three dimensional, she added a little padding to the body and
covered it with some of his real feathers. The real Duke is happily
entertaining and enjoying the company of his friends in a nursing
home. Duke, the paining, was entered in a garden show and hung
next to a floral arrangement made, quite successfully, to resemble
his picture. Her paintings have been exhibited in the clubhouses of
several villages and in local banks, such as Washingto and Sun
Banks. Her home is filled with a wonderful collection of her
paintings. She has offered them for sale to make room for the new
ones that she is constantly painting.
Dottie owns a sweet little dog, Zoe, resembling a poodle, but with a
French name I can't spell. Of course, she had to paint Zoe, also.
The painting that is really special to her is a portrait of her brother,
Morris. Sadly, Morris died before he got to see her tribute to him.
Dottie would like to say, "Not only has my hobby allowed me to
make friends with very nice people, who share my interests, but
some of the more advanced artists, who use their professional skill
to help me along the way. I would like to say 'thank you' to all of
them." And thank you, Dottie, for inviting me into your home and
life, it was an honor.
Lois Sperling.
from Belgium and France before settling in Paterson, NJ, where she
attended PS#10. She was always interested in drawing, would draw
on any piece of paper she could find. She grew up watching the
John Gnagy Art Snow on TV every Saturday morning. As a teen in
high school, she had little time for art.
She married shortly after graduation, and while raising her two
children, Mary and Raymond; she liked to watch Bill Alexander on
TV. She enjoyed the art, but didn't pursue it because her free time
was limited, but she never lost interest. Years later, after a divorce,
she found a job that again sparked her artistic energy. She became
an assistant baker, whose job was to create all those fancy designs
and pictures on cakes. One Christmas, her children gave her a
painting kit as a gift and she was hooked. She again turned to TV,
The Bob Ross Show. Having no equipment to tape the show, she
learned to paint quickly to keep up. Dotie is mostly self-taught and
began by using oils.
Dottie remarried and her husband was very supportive. He bought
her more art supplies and helped her to build a very special easel.
He converted a stepladder with many special features. She can
adjust the height easily; the shelf holds paints, etc. She is able to
put everything she needs in one spot and isn't also portable. It is
really quite unique.
Dottie now has time to pursue her dream. She attended an artist
group under the direction of Eleanor Baginski, and began to paint
with acrylics. The past four years, painting has become a very
important part of her life.
She is now quite proficient in her chosen field and has entered
several juried shows, winning third place in Long Beach Island in
Acrylics, third place at Ocean County College and second place in
Ocean County Artist Guild with an unusual mixed media effort
called, "Duke.: Duke is her pet coca-a-too, her painting is almost
three dimensional, she added a little padding to the body and
covered it with some of his real feathers. The real Duke is happily
entertaining and enjoying the company of his friends in a nursing
home. Duke, the paining, was entered in a garden show and hung
next to a floral arrangement made, quite successfully, to resemble
his picture. Her paintings have been exhibited in the clubhouses of
several villages and in local banks, such as Washingto and Sun
Banks. Her home is filled with a wonderful collection of her
paintings. She has offered them for sale to make room for the new
ones that she is constantly painting.
Dottie owns a sweet little dog, Zoe, resembling a poodle, but with a
French name I can't spell. Of course, she had to paint Zoe, also.
The painting that is really special to her is a portrait of her brother,
Morris. Sadly, Morris died before he got to see her tribute to him.
Dottie would like to say, "Not only has my hobby allowed me to
make friends with very nice people, who share my interests, but
some of the more advanced artists, who use their professional skill
to help me along the way. I would like to say 'thank you' to all of
them." And thank you, Dottie, for inviting me into your home and
life, it was an honor.
Lois Sperling.
| Dottie Breen's Gallerey: Page One |
| 1 Old Pots |
| 2 Mimosa At Night |
| 3 Winter Is Comming |
| 4 The Bridge |
| 5 Under The Sea |
| 6 The Villa |
| 7 Sand Dune |
| 8 Lamp Light |
Please click on thumbnails for larger pictures