|
|
|---|
PAINTINGS (click on image for larger view and details)
Inspired by the forms and structures of Modigliani and encouraged by Van Gogh’s daring with colour Donna’s work presents an emotional impact that challenges the viewer to share the experience.
Raised and educated in Saskatchewan, Donna’s teaching , her husband’s career and family travels have offered this artist inspiration and creative opportunities from the prairies to Ottawa, from the Caribbean to the suburbs and from Paris to Montreal.
After studying at the University of Saskatchewan Donna taught for four years before starting a family. For two years in the 70’s the family lived in Jamaica. Her work in textiles started there.During the 80’s while being a stay-at-home mom she continued work in textiles and established her Ottawa business ‘Pottery Portraits’ creating characters and portraits in clay shown in area craft shows.
Back to full-time teaching in the 90’s Donna studied watercolours but upon retirement in ’99 Donna moved with her husband to Paris. In this inspirational artistic environment Donna enjoyed two years of gallery exploration and independent studies in oils on linen.
Moving back to Canada, Donna studied multi-media approaches in life-study classes for two years in Montreal. Her work was shown in galleries there.
With the return to her Ottawa neighbourhood Donna set up a studio and The Drawing Room Gallery in the family home. Painting daily and continuing to study figurative work at every opportunity her gallery offers a wide variety of character studies and explorative works. Extensive studies in figurative expressionism and especially the face and portraiture find unique expression in this artist’s work.
Membership in the Nepean Fine Arts League, the Manotick Art Association, the Ottawa Mixed Media Association offer opportunities for interaction with other working artists and for exhibitions of her work.
Donna continues to teach classes in Figurative Expressionism for the City of Ottawa.
