Raised in the vineyard region of Northern California, Donna moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to complete her academic education. She now credits the years at Rudolph Schaeffer’s School of Design to be the most influential in the path she chose to pursue. Years of periodic independent study and encouragement from several accomplished artists have contributed toward her development in oil painting.

While operating her own commercial/residential interior design company Donna began working with art dealers in San Francisco and Sausalito doing commissions for private collections, lobbies of office complexes, medical facilities and hotels.

Donna recalls, “ Toward the end of a European trip in 1995, I was surprised to realize that I had been viewing most everything as a potential painting. It was then that I made the decision to follow my heart.”

In January of 1996, Donna opened her own gallery/studio and began teaching adult oil painting classes in downtown San Anselmo. She continues to teach four days a week throughout the year in her San Rafael studio and also offers periodic plein-air workshops as well as leading groups on exotic travel excursions. Her family of five grown children, six grandchildren and an enthusiastically supportive husband provide the essential balance to her life.

Donna is an associate member of Oil Painters of America and has displayed her work at Christina Gallery in Edgartown, MA. in many Marin Designer Showcases, exhibitions with the San Francisco Impressionist League, Marin Arts Council, The Water Dragon Gallery in Fairfax, CA, the San Anselmo Art and Wine Festival, Marin Open Studios and Marin Scapes. Local community commissions have included the cover for the San Anselmo City Map and the 2001 poster for the San Anselmo Art and Wine Festival.