About the artist
Donald, better know as ‘Donny’ to his friends, sold his first painting to a friend of his Mother when he was eleven years old. Thirty-six years later that painting was returned to him thru a will request from his Mother’s friend. It hangs in his home today in the owners original frame.
Donny is an American Modern Impressionist painter. His mediums focus on oil but also include pastel, charcoal, and graphite.
His Art Education began as part of the curriculum while earning a Bachelors of Architecture Degree at The University of Kentucky. In1983 he and his brother started a Design/Build company that focused on the Entertainment Industry. During that time Donny designed and prepared presentation illustrations for such companies as Paramount, Nickelodeon, Warner Brothers, NASA, SeaWorld, Crayola and KSL Resorts in such locations as Squaw Valley, and the Hotel Del Coronado.
“All presentation illustrations were done by hand at that time, not computers, and I did them. The expectations for creativity and quality demanded from that level of clientele drove me to set my skills bar pretty high. That drive has transferred over to my current Fine Art career. Donny was a founding Board Member of the Kentucky School of Art at Spalding University in Louisville, Ky and sat on the Executive Committee for two years. The Kentucky School of Art offers Bachelors of Fine Arts Degrees. He also is a past member of the Deans Advocacy Board for the College of Design at the University of Kentucky and is currently a visiting juror for student design work.
Donny has been asked to be the Head Judge for the New Mexico MasterWorks Annual juried art show on two occasions. Past judges include Wilson Hurley, Albert Handell, Laura Robb, Robert Daughters, David Laffel, Sherie McGraw, and Marilyn Yates.
Donny and his wife Debra live in Louisville Kentucky and travel extensively in their Airstream with their two dogs Maggie and Willie.
Donny currently shows in galleries across the United States. Locations include Santa Fe, New Mexico, Charleston, South Carolina, Amelia Island, Florida, and in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
“I love to paint.”“I love the work of it. It’s a very physical activity for me and I am connected to it thru my senses. I love the feel of the materials in my hands, the smell of the paint, the light in studio, and painting on site. For me the mental and physical activities become one and that allows me to be in the moment entirely. I can’t think of anything else that comes close. Exercising mentally while painting, what a gift!”
