Don was born in Omaha, Nebraska, but his time there was brief. His father soon moved the family to Southern California, having obtained a solid position with Lockheed Aircraft Corporation as a hydraulics engineer. Don's mother was a librarian, giving her son the love of books. Don was raised in the Southern California State education system focusing on art in his Middle and High School years. He eventually obtained a BA in Two Dimenstional Art, with an emphasis in Drawing, from California State University, Northridge. Don did not recieve much instruction in painting, and is basically self-taught. He applied his visual skills to theatre arts as a set, costume, and wig designer. As well as acting,singing, and dancing in regional theatre. In 1993 Don took a trip to Paris, which was inspirational and awakened his desire to paint. In 2003 he discovered the nationwide organization, The Plein Air Painters of America.Don attended workshops and increased his knolwedge of the craft of painting. He regained the love of paint through the inspiration of such talented contemporary artist/teachers as: George Strickland, Ken Backhause, Ken Auster, Jean Perry, Phil Levine, and others. Oils and watercolors, internalizing methods learned, while continuing to find his own artistic voice and personal painting handwriting. Don enjoys painting in the Northwest region around Portland, Oregon, where his work is shown in several galleries. He has also won several ribbons and regional honors. Don is a member of the Alla Prima of Oregon, The American Impressionists Society, and the Oregon Society of Artists.Résumé: He is a member of the Oregon Society of Artists and Alla Prima PortlandDon was a ribbon winner in the Yamhill Lavender Festival.He was featured artist at Fort Vancouver Historic Reserve and has work exhibited there.He has illustrated books, CD covers, program covers, and has recently completed writing and illustrating a children’s book, “The Cats of Vernazza” Don has taught Plein Air workshops in Portland and Vancouver.Statement: In my paintings I seek to evoke a mood, moment, or momory with expressive brushwork. An enthusiast of the Impressionist and Post Impressionist schools, I utilize some of their methods, while re-inventing them for myself. In striving for simplicity of design, I seek to recreate the way light hits the scene rather than to render things. I have a sense of adding the light into a painting, and when it starts emanating from the canvas itself, I know I'm near completion. I'm often drawn to the timelessness or nostalgia of a scene, or perhaps it's universality. In a world often filled with violence and unrest, I seek to reflect beauty, peace, and the joy of the Creator.