ARTIST STATEMENT
Having had many birds as pets, I feel a special connection to them, and unsurprisingly, they have become the primary theme in my art. When painting birds, I try to capture the mystery and intelligence in their beautiful, delicate qualities.
I feel inspired by the graceful freedom and endless variety of these abundant creatures. Birds symbolize freedom to me, so if I had to pick a “Spirit Animal,” it would most definitely be a bird.
While birds are my primary painting subjects, a lifelong appreciation for Japanese and Chinese design often inspires me to explore other motifs, including kanji calligraphy, cranes, ginkgo leaves, bamboo, chinoiserie, koi fish, and water lilies. A new series currently in development will focus more on these enduring sources of inspiration.
Rarely does a single photograph capture everything I envision for a painting. Drawing on my background in graphic design, I combine images of birds, skies, vegetation, and landscapes to create compositions that inspire me.
A painting method I really enjoy begins with an intuitive abstract background. Rather than thinking about where it might go, I simply enjoy the creative expression. After completing the abstract, I study it for some time to consider which bird would most naturally inhabit the painted environment.
This process brings together the freedom of abstract expression, the excitement of discovering the perfect subject, and the focused attention required to render a bird with realistic detail. It is a way of working that I truly love.
Exploring new ideas and working through creative challenges have always appealed to me. Painting allows me to shut out the rest of the world and become completely absorbed in the shapes, colors, values, and details of my subject, often with inspirational music playing in the background.
There is a wonderful sense of freedom in being fully present and in the flow of creating something beautiful. Creating is my favorite state of being, and I hope you enjoy my art as much as I enjoy making it.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONNECTING WITH YOU!
donna@donnapalmersheim.com
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