Donna Pierce-Clark Fine Art

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I was 2 when my mother awoke to my lipstick drawings on her walls. I was 8 when I had my first art class in third grade in the basement of an old public school. Mother saved forever that little drawing which was done on wet paper with white chalk: a snow scene. I was 16 when I succumbed to my mother’s pleadings to sign up for an art class in high school where I again was introduced to working wet into wet with inks and watercolors. At that time, my teacher, Helen Worral, a graduate of Cranbrook Academy of Art, presented classic teachings to me: perspective, painting, & great artists of history (Michelangelo and others). At that time, the traditional watercolor approach of layering was taught to me. Although a great foundation, these teachings were later in my life hard to break! But break them I did, as I explored many mixed media venues.

Throughout those growing up years, I was repeatedly privileged to explore the icons of the “Stations of the Cross,” stained glass windows, and paintings in many Catholic churches throughout Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus areas (and beyond) of Ohio. In my parent’s home, always hung a beautiful drawing of Notre Dame. My paternal grandmother had a gorgeous very large tapestry of Daniel in the Lion’s Den, hanging above her couch in Columbus, Ohio. We yearly traveled to my maternal grandmother’s in the heart of southeastern Ohio, where I was privileged to visually soak in the beauties of that area. Most of my landscapes are in direct response to exploring hills, meadows, and wooded areas during childhood, in the southernmost regions of my home state of Ohio. Visits along the Atlantic sea coast (northern & southern) have inspired paintings of rocky cliffs, waterfalls, serene beach scenes, and lighthouses. More recently, travels to the southwestern states of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico have given me new inspiration.

I went on to study art education and subsequently special education in college. I taught both art and special education as my husband and I raised our two sons; one now an engineer, the other an architect and project manager. As well, I continued my explorations of watercolor during workshops under renowned artists: Elin Pendleton (2010), Sandy Maudlin (09), Judi Betts (07), Stephen Quiller (05), Pat Dews, (04), Joseph Fettingis (00), Cheng Khee-Chee (99), Paul St. Denis (95), Tom Lynch (94). All of these experiences helped me to continue to apply the early teachings of traditional watercolor; but also, afforded me the opportunity to break away and explore the uses of gouache, rice paper, yupo, and many other surfaces & mixed media approaches. I still prefer wet into wet. I still love traditional layering/glazing. However, the surface of yupo is the single most liberating surface I have experienced.

Today, not only do I enjoy painting in my studio, but I love to paint with the Ohio Plein Air Society throughout Ohio. As well, I teach both private and group art classes.

Artist Statement


Images of nature and religious themes dominate my works, which are done primarily in watercolors, but also in acrylics, oil, and gouache. Early in my painting education, I was exposed to the wet-into-wet technique and I use that profusely for most of my works.

I am thankful for my talents and have always felt that what I create should magnify the Giver of those talents. Consequently, among the subjects I portray are “religious” works and are a result of being exposed as a child to the “Stations of the Cross,” and the ”Saints” of the Catholic Church. Many of these “religious” paintings contain overt and recognizable images of Jesus. My other works, although not overtly Christian, are created as I paint “in the Spirit.” Many times, I begin a painting without any direction, except to contemplate aspects of design, composition, color, shape, space, line, etc. I turn on a particular Christian CD, sit quietly for a few minutes in prayer and then paint as the Spirit of God leads my brush and influences the colors I choose. Working wet-into-wet in watercolor, I wet the paper all over with a large brush or a sponge, and then randomly drop in colors. Before letting this dry, I sometimes like to cover the paint with plastic wrap to create abstract shapes and lines or bubble-wrap for textures. When this initial stage is dry, I will normally sit the painting up on an easel and not touch paint to this particular painting for several days. I will turn it in different directions, searching for subject matter.

When viewers look at my paintings, more than the subject is seen---something is “felt.” My watercolors on yupo express fluid, abstract brushwork; while plein-air paintings on canvas & watercolor on paper exhibit a more controlled, but impressionistic feeling. Recently, smaller still life studies in oil have approached a more realistic look.

Most of my landscapes are in direct response to exploring hills, meadows, and wooded areas during childhood, in the southernmost regions of my home state of Ohio. Visits along the Atlantic sea coast have inspired paintings of rocky cliffs, waterfalls, serene beach scenes, and lighthouses. More recently, travels to the southwestern states of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico have given me a new direction. A recent workshop with Stephen Quiller has influenced my palette of colors and their mixtures. I am striving to have a nice balance throughout the canvas, of complimentary colors and the gorgeous grays that are made by those mixtures. Textures are found within the interplay of mixed media, spattering, and scraping.

Resume

Juried Shows
2010 2010 Aquarius Watercolor Exhibit, Pueblo, Colorado
1993 to Present Western Ohio Watercolor Society, Springfield, Ohio
2008 Art Association of Randolph County, Indiana
2007 Art Association of Randolph County, Indiana
2006 Art Space/Lima, Lima, Ohio (Plein Air)
2005 Western Ohio Watercolor Society, BEST OF SHOW
2005 Ambience Benefit, Springfield, Ohio
2004 Chautaugua of the Arts, Columbus, Indiana
2003 Munce Fine Art Fair, Zionsville, Indiana

JURIED Memberships
DPIAG--Daily Painters International Art Gallery (an exclusive group of 100 international artists)
Western Ohio Watercolor Society, active status
Landscape Artists International

Galleries Steelepointe Gallery (Springfield, Ohio) Studio 4 (Nelsonville, Ohio) The Cappucino Room (Englewood, Ohio).

Collections
Zionsville, Indiana Presbyterian Church, “He Gave All”
Private collections, “Hampton Poppies,” “Battleship Rock, Clifton Gorge,” “Living Stones,” “Tea Time,”
“Buck Creek Marina,” “Ohio Caverns Farm Vista,” “West Milton Falls,” “Farrington Falls,” “Beached,” “Hampton 4th of July” and others
Private Collections, commissioned works

Awards and Recognitions
2008 Art Association of Randolph County, Indiana, Honorable Mention, Professional level watercolor
2007 Art Association of Randolph County, Indiana, Honorable Mention, Professional level watercolor
2005 Western Ohio Watercolor Society, BEST OF SHOW

Education
Drake University, 2505 University Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa
Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio Masters: 1996, with Honors, member: Kappa Delta Pi, 1995-96
Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio Bachelors: 1971, with Honors
Certification in Visual Arts K-12 and Education of Handicapped
Reading High School, under the tutelage of Miss Helen Worral, herself a graduate of Cranbrook Academy of Art

Workshops
Elin Pendleton, 2010
Sandy Maudlin, 09
Judi Betts, 07
Stephen Quiller, 05
Pat Dews, 04
Joseph Fettingis, 00
Cheng Khee-Chee, 99
Paul St. Denis, 95
Tom Lynch, 94

Art Teaching Experience
Troy Hayner Cultural Center, Art, adults, Troy, Ohio, present
Christian Home Educators of Clark County, High School Art Teacher
Private Classes (architecture and design) grades 7-12, 96-98
Troy Hayner Cultural Center, Art, adults, Troy, Ohio, 88-95
Tecumseh Local Schools, Substitute, 80-87
Tecumseh Local, Secondary Art, 76-79
Fairlawn Local Schools, Secondary Art, 71-75