| |
Don realized the importance of a college education
while he was in the service and upon leaving the Air
Force, he attended Michigan State where he earned
his Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering. After
graduation, Don was quickly recruited by General
Electric where he enjoyed a 30 year career.
Throughout his stay at GE he relocated several times
including Ohio, Puerto Rico, New York and West
Virginia. Don and his family experienced all the
expected ups and downs of moving from place to
place. Don’s two children were born while he lived
in Ohio. His daughter presently resides in Denver,
Colorado and his son lives near Ocala, Florida. He
also has a stepson who is currently attending George
Washington University.
After Don left G.E. in 1990, he moved
to Danville, CA east of the San Francisco Bay area. Since
Don wasn’t ready to retire just yet, he began his own
consulting business which he successfully ran for the next
five years. He provided a valuable service to companies as
he helped them improve their methods of operation. When Don
finally hung up his business attire, little did he know what
opportunity still awaited him.
Don had an artist friend who was involved in a project of
photographing the homeless in San Francisco. After the
images were captured he would create paintings from his
photographs. Since the areas of town his friend was
venturing into were not always safe he asked Don to
accompany him. In fact, he convinced Don to bring along his
own camera to take some of the pictures. The two friends
ended up traveling into Oakland, Berkley as well as San
Francisco to photograph those who found themselves without a
home to live in. With his friend’s encouragement, Don picked
up a paint brush and embarked on a hobby that has given him
great satisfaction.
| |
 |
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
Don without any previous training in art tackled what many
consider the most difficult aspect of painting – portraits.
It took 2-3 years before Don produced a painting that he was
comfortable with and willing to share with others. As time
passed he invested in art classes and began producing
paintings of landscapes, seascapes, flowers and figures. He
has always painted in watercolors but said one day he may
try to paint in oil. On one occasion his wife Laurie gave
him a trip to Provence, France, for a two week painting
course. He later attended a course in Booth Bay Maine,
taught by the very well known water color artist, Carlton
Plumber.
|
 |
Even though today Don’s art work is
very impressive and he has sold numerous paintings, he
questions whether or not he would have ever made it as a
starving artist. Don mainly paints for his own pleasure;
it’s a hobby for him. He prefers to mostly share his
paintings with his relatives and friends. After Hurricane
Charley Don lost some of his momentum to paint, but recently
has begun to paint again in earnest.
Don and his wife Laurie bought property
in Punta Gorda in 1997 and now make Punta Gorda Isles their
permanent full-time home. Don enjoys boating, fishing and
golfing in his new found paradise as well as spending time
with a plethora of new friends. Don and Laurie look forward
to several boating trips this spring where he will likely
collect new visions to paint. We certainly hope it is so… 
|
|
|
