Don was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  He received a bachelor’s degree in advertising design from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master’s degree in printmaking from Wayne State University.  He worked in Detroit ad agencies for over 30 years where he was the head art director on Pontiac, Mr. Goodwrench, Budd and Dow Agricultural.

Don and his wife Joyce moved to Hilton Head in 1986.  He became a freelance graphic designer until his retirement in 1998.  He has received several awards from local and national art director’s clubs, including the New York Art Director’s Club and a Cleo award for television.

“I have always enjoyed drawing. When I retired, I decided to turn to fine arts and the pastel medium was a natural choice.  After 40 years of doing tight little drawings for ad layouts, working large and trying to be ‘painterly’ was very frustrating.  I have found that painting small color studies has helped me to concentrate more on color and design, and less on the details.”

Submitted by Lauren Rogers, Red Piano Gallery