Don’s journey to becoming a professional artist was prodigious. He was doing professional quality work at 10 and began to sell to friends and family. By 15, he was represented in galleries in Taos, New Mexico and in Texas.

During high school, he was honored as a gold key finalist at the National Scholastic Art Competition for an unprecedented four consecutive years.

Sahli attended the University of Texas in Austin, TX, signing up for a slate of senior-level courses. As a freshman, he made the Dean's list and his work was selected for the student-faculty show.

In 1982, Don met Sergei Bongart, the famous Russian colorist. "I attended a painting demonstration by Sergei Bongart at his summer workshop in Rexburg, Idaho. There I saw Bongart use color, paint, and confident brush strokes as I had never seen before. At that moment I knew I wanted to be a painter. My life was changed forever in an instant”.

At Bogart's invitation, Don moved to Los Angeles, CA and became Bongart’s last scholarship student and apprentice. Sahli was also a pupil of Sunny Apinchapong Yang, Bongart’s teaching assistant. Don studied with Bongart for three years, until his passing in 1985.

In 1995, Don opened the Sahli School of Art in Evergreen, Colorado where he continues the tradition of color and temperature in the lineage of the Russian masters. “My teacher Sergei Bongart taught, his teacher Peter Kotov was taught by Nicolai Fechin and Fechin was a pupil of the fountainhead of all modern Russian painting Ilya Repin”. Sahli keeps this tradition alive in giving back to the student as this is a critical aspect of the artistic learning process. “I am a better painter because I teach and I learn from my students. The Russian tradition of painting continues. Bongart's heavy steps are still heard in my classes and studios”

Presently, Don’s work is represented by galleries across the country and in private collections nationally and internationally. Don has been a professional painter earning a living as an artist for over 35 years. He has a firm pedigree and is prolific, producing large studio pieces, and numerous plein air works — including public and corporate commissions. Known for his use of paint; his brushstroke is exciting and carries a positive emotion to the viewer. His work is diverse carrying many labels, plein air, prolific, impressionist, colorist, realist, luminous, modern, alive with the spontaneity of stroke, and contemporary.

What’s Included

Every workshop at Bluebird Studios includes a mix of complimentary food and beverages. Included are the following:

• Ice breaker with non-alcoholic beverages and appetizers to set up the gear and get a briefing of the week.

• Complimentary continental breakfast each morning: Yogurt, fruit, coffee, teas, juices, hard-boiled eggs, and pastries

• Coffee, hot and/or iced tea, lemonade, soft drinks, sparkling waters, and fruit-infused still water are available all-day

• Catered lunch brought into the studio or painting location for $15 each day (optional)

• Complimentary afternoon treats

• Complimentary lunch of chili Frito pie on the last day with a veggie platter

Supplies

The supply list for this class can be opened via the button below and printed at your convenience.