Watercolor artist Al Friedman was born in Brooklyn, New York and lived in Matawan, New Jersey with his wife and three daughters until 1984, when he gave up a successful real estate career to move to the mountains of Chittenden, Vermont to devote more time to his painting.
Al's watercolors express his love of the outdoors and the seasonal beauty of Vermont. When not painting, he spent a good deal of time on the trout streams or cross country ski trails that bordered his studio and gallery near Mountain Top Inn. Although hidden away in the mountains, the gallery attracted literally thousands of visitors and collectors. Says Friedman, "It was an artist's dream come true to be able to have my own gallery, paint and hang my art and meet personally with people who appreciated my work."
The magical setting in the mountains inspired him to paint "Winter Workout" his powerful rendition of a stablehand leading two draft horses back to the barn after a day pulling the sleigh. This painting was included in the prestigious National Arts Club Watercolor Show in New York City in 1986. He has since exhibited in numerous group and solo shows nationally, and he is represented in many private and corporate collections in the United States, Canada, Israel and Europe.
In 1985 he founded the Art Workshops of Vermont, where he taught painting and hosted seminars for visiting artists.
For several years artists from all over the country attended these workshops.
In 1996, Al and his wife Linda left Vermont and relocated to Asheville North Carolina in the Blue Ridge Mountains----a little less skiing and a lot more fishing.
They now live in Sun City Carolina Lakes in Fort Mill, South Carolina,, just south of Charlotte North Carolina.
The many lakes, nature trails, awesome sunsets and the Beautiful Catawba River are an endless inspiration for his paintings, which now include pastels.
Several of his paintings can be acquired as signed and numbered limited edition prints. New Original watercolors and pastels are available subject to prior sale..
