When a Bollinger original or reproduction hangs in your home or office, it's surprising how often people will look at it...and ask you about it.   Richard Bollinger's work has inspiring elements of peace, serenity, drama and vitality - qualities his special talent brings to every painting and later to every print.

   "Much of my work is bolder now than it was in the 70's and 80's when I began," according to Bollinger. "Now my palette includes far more than just color. I use light and shadows and water and emotion to help create an image that has far more dimension and meaning to people."

   In the past few years, a new horizon has appeared in some of Bollinger's work. In 1997 he released the first paintings in an ongoing series of marine scenes from the Chesapeake Bay area. The first collections focused on Annapolis and were immensely popular. In future years Rick Bollinger plans to explore more historic areas of the Bay and offer additional works.

   Born in Delaware County, Bollinger grew up in Lansdowne. He attended art school at the Hussian School of Art in Philadelphia, and began his art career as a commercial artist at a Philadelphia design company in 1969. After freelancing for a few years illustrating children's books, Bollinger became an art director at a small agency in Chester County, Pennsylvania. There he began to develop his watercolor style. He took several of his pieces to the Chadds Ford Gallery in the early 70's, and when his first solo show in 1976 sold out, it provided the springboard for him to switch from commercial arts to fine arts.

   Bollinger's home and studio are located in West Chester, PA