Don is a nationally recognized artist. He displays his work in local galleries around Wisconsin. He is currently working on his new Web Site, which will soon be available in 2007. I grew up born and raised in beautiful Wisconsin. I always loved the outdoors and nature in all that it had to offer including its wildlife. My passion for painting started when I was a young boy. I especially loved the challenges I found when painting in watercolor and the unexpected surprises that would occur when you mix watercolors into the water making beautifully rich flowing shapes and exciting blends of color. What I enjoy most about painting in watercolor is that you can paint very loosely or abstract and very realistically which makes for very exciting results in your paintings. I also enjoy the many techniques you can apply to watercolor giving you extremely beautiful and unique qualities in you painting unlike any other medium. I love to paint with brilliant rich colors continually exploring new ways to express myself. I find painting is a way for me to escape reality and go to a place I can call my own. I find when I paint I relax and forget about the day-to-day grind totally in tune with what I am painting. My devotion to painting in watercolor always gives me great joy.
I released my first Limited Edition Print in 1994 titled “Snowblind”. Since then I have created two very special Series. My Midnight Series, which consisted of three paintings stating in 1995 into 1996 Midnight Intruder, Midnight Storm and Midnight Song. In 1996 into 1998 I worked on my Spirit Series which included, “Spirit of the Wolf”, “Spirit of the Himalayas,” and Spirit of the Sea Turtle.” In 1997 Spirit of the Himalayas was entered in La Jolla Village Art competition in California, a National art competition. My painting was awarded Artist’s Favorite Choice including $500 dollars in cash. The show exhibited the Top 100 Artists from September 1 through October 1 1997.
My unique style in painting continues to grow and expand in many exciting ways. Spirit of the Himalayas was a very contemporary piece featuring an abstract look of the natural habitat of the Snow Leopard and an almost ghost-like image of the animal in it’s surrounding environment. In the Spirit Series I choose groups of animals, which were endangered. The contemporary style I choose to paint in this series has brought a new and wonderfully exciting dimension to my painting. Currently I am working on a new Series titled “Four Seasons,” a series of four paintings depicting Wisconsin’s Four Seasons Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. These paintings capture nature’s beauty in Wisconsin with all of its splendor, painted in a very contemporary style. This Series is being painted so it can be viewed as a panoramic view.
Nothing is beyond painting as long as I enjoy painting it.
In addition to my painting I am a Manager at the Bradford Exchange. The Bradford Exchange is a mail order company specialized in selling collectables and based in Illinois. While managing four to seven designers I also utilize my illustrative and creative skills to develop unique products for Bradford. All of the illustrative and creative work I do at Bradford is created on a Mac Computer. My job at Bradford is my primary job to support my family, which I enjoy. However my true love will always be Painting in Watercolor. With the loving support of my terrific wife Betsy I am able to continue painting. I am pleased to say have three beautiful girls Shanna, Erin, and Jessica whom I am very proud of.