As a child growing up in Texas, Donna’s mind was always delving into new adventures of art and how to master the result she wanted. Donna realized a wonderful desire and love for art, as a child. With that desire leading the way to travels, schools, and mentors, she now captures the mood of her scene in her paintings.

     Donna is from a small East Texas Town, Palestine, Texas. At Tyler Junior College she majored in Elementary Education, but found herself very excited about oil painting classes at the College. Getting the basics in college, she began to spend her spare time being creative with what she had learned. Then, she took time away from her art to be a mother. Being with her children was a blessing as well as a creative outlet.

     In 1991, after moving to Roswell, Georgia, she studied under Greta Schelte at the Dutch Pallet. Studying watercolor, she believes gave her a greater sense of color and composition. While working full time at AIG and continuing classes, she created her first commercial Christmas card that went to thousands of customers as well as overseas offices of the company she was working for. After two years of studying under Greta, she and her family moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Again, she joined classes at the Parthanon in Nashville where she studied for two years.

     Donna and her family moved to Athens, Georgia, in 1998, where she again took oil painting and watercolor at University of Georgia. She began to realize the depth and richness she could get with oil painting. She studied at the University for a year and found a mentor and friend, Dee Beard Dean. Donna has painted under Dee and worked with her for three years. Donna has also studied with Ken Backhaus, President of the Plein Air Painters of the Southwest. Ken gave her a desire to paint with clean colors and a feel for the beautiful shadows that are found in nature.

     Having the opportunity to paint with accomplished artists has strengthened her ability to catch the beauty of the endless skies of the Hill Country, the waves lapping against the shore, or the glow in a child’s face. “What inspires me comes through. It is my desire to convey my spirit of enthusiasm and love to all who see my art,” Donna says.

     In her paintings, she sees and connects to her subject and then conveys this to her viewers.

    Knowing that her collectors find happiness with her paintings, makes her journey as an artist meaningful.

ART STUDIES

Felice Hrovat, Instructor, California
Jeff Watts Portraiture Workshop, California
John Cosby, Landscape Demos, Laguna, California
Jeff Horn, Landscape Demos, Crystal Cove, California
Ken Auster Workshop, Laguna Studio and Demo Plein Air
Camille Prezwodek Workshop, Study of Light, California
John deLaVega, Portraiture Workshop, Georgia
Charles Groupe, Workshop in Spain
Kenn Backhaus, Workshop in Alabama
Dee Dean, Mentor and Assistant, Georgia
University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
Greta Schelte, Roswell, Georgia
Tyler Junior College, Tyler, Texas

EXHIBITS AND SHOWS

July 1, 2004, Artisan Stroll, Round Rock, Texas
April 2004, Juried into Western Show, Norco, California
December 2003, Heritage Park, Corona, California
September 2003, Back Bay Paint Out, Newport Beach, California
October 2003, Portrait Demo and Exhibit, Lemon Festival, Corona, California
June 2003, Corona Art Exhibit, Heritage Park
April 2003, One Person Show, UGA Botanical Garden, Georgia
October 2002, Lyndon House, Member Show, Athens, Georgia
September 2002, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation Member Show, Watkinsville, Georgia
May 2001, Athens Art Association Member Show, Athens, Georgia

AWARDS

Sponsor Award Ribbon, Western Show, California
Third Place at Heritage Park, California
First Place Ribbons, Corona Art Association, California

MEMBERSHIPS

Austin Plein Air Painters
Williamson County Art Guild
Salado Art Association
Laguna Plein Air Painters Association
Athens Art Association
Corona Art Association