10″x10″, acrylic on canvas
Inlet
30″x30″, acrylic on canvas
2023 Summer Festivals
Falls Festival of the Arts June 23-25th (Menomonee Falls). website
Firefly Art Fair August 5th, 10am-5pm (Wauwatosa)
Upcoming Classes!
Classes held at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center, Brookfield
ABSTRACT COLLAGE
Thursdays, May 25 – June 8, 6:00 – 8:00pm
With a focus on design, self expression, and composition, students will start with a theme or idea and create abstract collage mixed media works. This class is open to all levels of experience.
Supplies not included. COST: $65
Register: website
Classes held at the Cedarburg Cultural Center
THE LANDSCAPE IN ACRYLIC FROM PHOTO
Saturday, August 12, 9 am-2 pm
This class will focus on painting landscapes in acrylic. Working from photographs, students will develop multiple paintings. We will be focusing on how to achieve things in a landscape like depth, atmosphere and feeling. We will discuss techniques and compositions that help create a successful image.
Supplies included. COST: $35 CCC Members / $43 Non-Members
REGISTER: website
Spring Classes!
Open Studio!
Ice Ridge
30″ x 30″ acrylic on canvas, 2023
PAINTING SKIES IN ACRYLICS (AGES 14+)
Held at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield, WI
Thursdays, April 6 – 27 (4 sessions)
6:00-8:00pm
Learn about blending, layers, and wet on wet mixing acrylics through the muse of skies. Open to all levels of experience. In this class we will cover a different type of sky each week. Technique and observation will guide students through the acrylic painting process.
Supplies not included. COST: $80 Register online
Mini Paintings
I have a number of smaller framed works for sale at $100 each at sizes 8″x8″ (9″x9″ with frame) or 8″ x 10″ (9″x11″ with frame). Contact me schedule an appointment to see the full collection at my studio!




Climate Transformed
January 26 to May 14, 2023
Opening Reception: January 28, 2023, 2 to 4 PM
Closing Reception: May 6th, 2023, 2 to 4 PM
Rain Space
30″ x 30″, acrylic on canvas
Workshop in Fish Creek this summer!
Wetlands
10″ x 10″, acrylic on canvas
Shoreline
36″ x 48″, acrylic on canvas
Winter Classes 2023
Classes held at the Springs Gallery/Studios 521 Wisconsin Ave. Waukesha
Colorful Paintings from Photo
Working from photos of all kinds (blurry, discolored, black and white, etc.) we will focus on expressive color palettes to create unique and vibrant acrylic paintings.
Tuesdays, February 21 – March 28, 10am – 12pm
Cost: $120 supplies not included.
ONLY 2 SPOTS REMAINING!
Intro to Pastel Drawing
Working from life and photo, this class will offer techniques and tools for using pastel.
Mark making, layering, blending, and more will be covered.
Thursdays, February 23- March 30, 10am – 12pm
Cost: $120 supplies not include
ONLY 5 SPOTS REMAINING!
To register for either of these classes, please contact me via email: bekiborman@gmail.com Payment options will include cash, check, PayPal, and Venmo.
Please note that by registering for a class at my studio, you agree to hold The Springs Gallery/Studios and Beki Borman harmless of any liability of injury or loss.
Your Brain on Art
I recently picked up Unthinkable by Helen Thomson at the local library. It is a book about unique brains. Each chapter explores the story of a patient whose brain is notably different than the “norm” for various reasons. My favorite Chapter, “Seeing Auras”, is about a gentleman who sees colors with people not in a psychic reading sort of way, but as an add on to things like body language, emotion cues, etc.
Thomson goes on to discuss a brief overview of synesthesia. Synesthesia is defined by Merriam Webster as: “a subjective sensation or image of a sense (as of color) other than the one (as of sound) being stimulated”. A synesthete can hear color or see colors with music. There is an overlap in sensory experience. Thomson explains that these sensory pathways in our brain already run close together, and it is believed that synesthesia is a result of “pathways of communication between sensory regions that don’t normally exist”. (Thomson, 80).
Thomson then suggests that we may all have aspects of synesthesia and can
strengthen or build these crossovers with use. Now to get to why I am writing about this on my blog: I think artists inherently build unique ways of seeing the world through the act of making art. A plein air painter will begin to notice colors in light that a non painter might not. A sculptor my feel the sensation of certain sounds or smells in the molding of clay or bending of metal. From personal experience, I know that I see shapes and colors in places I once did not. And many of my students have expressed similar sentiments.
Simply put, the practice of art is not just about developing the skills of mixing greens, using the right marks, or understanding perspective. The repetition and practice of art regularly is literally rewiring your brain and changing way you experience the world. This cannot be learned. You must grow it by making art regularly like building a muscle. Artists of all experience levels benefit from challenging themselves and being uncomfortable. It is only when we step out of our comfort zone that we create new connections, break mindless habits, and add complexity to our senses.
Helen Thomson, Unthinkable, Harper Collins, 2018
Plains
acrylic on canvas, 24″ x 35.5″, available
A Note on My Teaching Philosophy
I have been teaching art for over a decade. Most of my classes are designed by me and are geared to embrace a range of experience levels.
Being an artist takes WORK. But it is never too late to start. I believe one should start in a way that will be less intimidating. Don’t spend thousands on supplies and then be afraid to “waste them” on “bad paintings”. The hardest part of making art is not to learn the tools or techniques. The hardest part is breaking old habits and being fearless in trying new approaches.
As a teacher, my goal is to help the individual on their unique journey while providing general goals and lessons for everyone in the class to learn from and respond to. I hope you will consider taking a class with me at some point. I offer classes in painting (acrylic), abstraction, pastel, mixed media, landscape, drawing, and more. Click on the classes link above to see what’s coming! Feel free to contact me with any questions . I hope to make art with you soon.
Best Regards

Redfin Blog
I recently contributed a quote to Redfin’s latest blog post:
Opt for strong color combinations for the best effect
As an abstract landscape painter, I believe that simple but strong color combinations (such as complementary colors like orange and blue) create the best effect. – Beki Borman
You can see the full article here.
Waterways
acrylic on canvas, 30″ x 40″
available for sale
Golden Dawn
20″ x 20″
acrylic on canvas