Orville Bulman: An Enchanted Life and Fantastic Legacy Book

Blue Heron Press is proud to announce the recent publication of Orville Bulman: An Enchanted Life and Fantastic Legacy by Deborah C. Pollack.

This important hardcover art book is the only monograph about the Palm Beach and Grand Rapids artist and the most complete compilation of his artwork to date. It is 264 pages comprised of an extensive annotated biography along with over 365 illustrations including over 190 in color and over 170 in black and white. The book is an ample 13 high X 10 inches wide -- perfect for a gift. Molly Charland, Director of Library Services at the Society of the Four Arts has written the foreword. The book has already received critical acclaim from highly esteemed art critics such as Gary Schwan of the Palm Beach Post and Sylvia Krissoff of the Grand Rapids Press and has been the #1 bestseller in Palm Beach.

Learn the authentic story about this marvelous artist while enjoying the highlights of his enchanted life and fantastic legacy of art. Vicariously experience his exotic adventures in Haiti where he lived among the islanders in the hills who loved and encouraged his art.

Be a part of his subsequent whirlwind fame in towns and cities such as Palm Beach, New York, Chicago, Beverly Hills, Paris and London. One of the most successful American artists of the mid-twentieth century, Orville Bulman (1904-1978) remained humble, kind and generous despite his world-wide fame. (Almost all of his one-man exhibitions sold out before they opened to the public.)

The roster of Bulman's collector's reads like a Who was Who, from Hollywood stars such as Henry Fonda, Greer Garson, George Hamilton and Joan Fontaine to high society doyennes such as Marjorie Merriweather Post (who had around 38 Bulman paintings) and royalty such as the Duchess of Windsor. Corporation magnates and United States politicos such as Robert F. Kennedy and President Gerald Ford owned Bulman paintings as well.

From Richard Vettese, History and Special Collections Manager of the Grand Rapids Library: "The new book by Deborah C. Pollack, Orville Bulman: An Enchanted Life and Fantastic Legacy, is an art treasure to behold. Filled with important and new biographical information about one of Grand Rapids' major 20th century artists, the colorful book will also remind you of what humor in painting is all about. Bringing many smiles to your face, the book is filled with beautiful reproductions of Bulman's classic works of art, now scattered throughout the world. This re-interpretation of a master mid-century artist reminds us of the unity of all peoples, animals, and plants in a truly diverse world."

Feel the joy that his art can bring.

Maine Antique Digest

In a letter to a friend in the mid-1970's, Orville Bulman (1904) wrote that when he first started to paint, 'there was so much sadness, strife and outright mayhem in work back then, that I decided to bring, if I could, some laughter into painting.' This book offers an in-depth look at the work and life of Bulman, a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a largely self-taught painter who was also a successful businessman and society figure in Palm Beach, Florida.The book features over 190 full-color and 170 black-and-white images, including many of Bulman's whimsical views of Haiti and an imaginary place he called "Bulman's Island.