About the Artist

Thanks to the encouragement of a high school teacher who nurtured Dona's abilities, she knew for her it will always be about art.  She spent countless hours in museums studying the master like Bouguereau, Sargent, Cassatt, Fraser, Kassan and Monsted, analyzing their brushwork, color palettes, and ability to capture the essence of their subjects.

Dona further her skills at art leagues on both the East and West coasts before settling in Colorado and earning a graphic arts degree in 1993. Mostly self taught, she has, at times, expanded her artistic horizons taking small classes from internationally renowned painters like David Kassan and Scott Waddell.

For Dona, the act of painting is a privilege, allowing her to strive to bring to life the spirit of her subjects, whether in a vivid portrait or in dynamic still life composition. Even though her focus is to try to capture inner dynamics of her subject, she hopes that the viewer is left with a feeling, a understanding of each subject.

Constantly learning, she is hungry to learn new techniques and approaches.


Artist Statement
It is my quest: to find and faithfully render the inner essence of my subjects. Totally obsessed with layers.