As a child, New England became the breeding ground of imagination for the eventual development and evolution of the free-flowing works of artistic imagery by watercolor painter, Donna Lovely.
Having been raised in the part of our nation that is, in and of itself, the essence of natural beauty, no matter the season, Donna especially enjoyed the visual flavors and energy that she felt while romping around as a child in her grandfather’s rather large vegetable garden with all the many streams and wetlands surrounding it.
To this day, such wonderful childhood memories linger, presenting to Donna the capacity to create her impressionistic watercolor styles that lend itself to more simple and defined expressions of innocence that resides just below the surface of what she paints. Thus, although you and I may see a visual imagery of a flower from within her painting, Donna perceives and paints its energy of which lies deepest within, a spirituality that links a sub-reality with our own.
More than thirty years ago, Donna found her way to Colorado to explore further her love for art, and the beauty of how art and life are intertwined so tightly. Initially, she found oils soothing, but never quite as challenging and mysterious as was her love for the watercolor medium.
In later years, she wanted to find new arenas in which to be able to express ever more succinctly, her feelings that sometimes were limited by even the love of her watercolor paintings. That is how she found her way into journeying to China, to learn the ways of this culture. While there, she discovered the essence of Chinese ink painting, the brushstrokes almost mesmerizing, and filled with energy and power and Life.
Incorporating such Asian influences with her watercolors gave to Donna a whole new vision of the reality that lies just beneath the surface. She was intrigued.
Still exploring possibilities, Donna had also found beauty in the curvilinear lines of more exotic dance and the Middle Eastern music rhythms. As well, and for a better portion of her life, she also thrilled at the dynamics of circus performers, of the free-spirited Gypsies, the fortune tellers of future and past, the adventure, the freedom. All and everything along her way became the elements of her art.
The basic foundation of what makes Donna tick truly lies within one word: water. It flows. It has a surface, but what lies between, is itself – a dichotomy. It has complete freedom of movement in any direction. Its movement is curvilinear, not angular in Nature. Thus, what makes the power live within Donna’s art comes from all the ingredients in her life that seem to possess the same essence of curvilinear types of structure. From music to dance to the free spirits of the Gypsy, the twirling and spiraling circus performers to the grasses that sway in the winds, all and every part of the recipe yields the power, the energy, and the spirit of what lies within each of her paintings.
The newer addition of Asian art influences with her watercolor styles now affords Donna greatest impact on the creation of a new generation of stylized work that is always in a state of evolving into something ever more woven into the strands of energy, and movement, and the spirituality of the beyond.
Memberships:
- Signature Member of Colorado Watercolor Society since 1993
- Member of Asian Art Association
- Member of Denver Art Museum
- Member of Foothills Art Center
Exhibitions:
- 2006, 2008 - Lawrence Street Studios, Denver
- 2004 - Oxford Hotel, Denver
- 1992 thru 2004 - Colorado Watercolor Society
- 2003 - Foothills Art Center, Golden
- 2003 - Dark Light Designs Gallery
- 2002 - Brushwood Studios
- 1994 - Rockland Studio
- 1992 - Clover Basin Gallery, Allenspark, CO
- 1980, 1981 - Rick’s Café, Denver
Mentors:
- Nationally acclaimed artist, Don Coen
- Master Chinese Calligrapher, Yunn Pann
Workshops:
- Ghost Ranch, NM