Donna Theresa
ARTIST STATEMENT
Several years ago I was fortunately introduced to the world of birds. After learning my craft depicting the local landscape of the Central Coast and the seascapes of Monterey Bay, I find myself drawn to the endless amusement of my feathered kindred spirits as they beckon me to continually look up to the canopy and beyond. My intention is to render my subject with the aliveness that I study and observe daily. I wish to depict birds not as illustration but as art alive with expression and movement in their natural habitats.
BIO
Donna Theresa (b.1961) is an American artist from Los Angeles, California.
Her artistic journey began after a career in the medical field followed by the raising of her two now adult children. While studying in a community college figure drawing class, the introduction of color theory with soft pastel spurred the daily painting practice she now enjoys. Mostly self taught, Donna Theresa has studied under Marla Baggetta and other prominent pastel painters.
As an avid bird watcher, bird advocate, and human to a rescued parrotlet, she has found her calling in her feathered muses. Backyard birds are a daily observance and inspiration for her works in soft pastel and watercolor.
Donna Theresa is a signature member of the Pastel Society of the West Coast and an associate member of the Pastel Society of America, the International Association of Pastel Societies, and others. Her work hangs nationally and abroad in private collections. She has been juried into national and international competitive exhibitions.
EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS
Pajaro Valley Art League Members Exhibition/ Jan-Feb 2025
Santa Cruz Art League Members Exhibition / November 2024
Open Studios Art Tour Santa Cruz County / October 2024
Pure Color International Exhibition Pastel Society of N. Carolina/ Sept. 2024
Make Your Mark International Exhibition Pastel Society of S. California/ July 2024
Spirit of Pastels Online International Open Exhibition / May 2024
2024 IAPS Juried PastelWorld – 44th Open Division./ May 2024
Pastel Society of the West Coast MOOS/Member Exhibition SignatureCategory/2024
~Open Studios Art Tour Santa Cruz County/ October 2023
~Pastel Society of the West Coast / PSA - 37th International Exhibition / August - Nov. 2023
~Left Coast Pastel Painters Society / Pastels in Paradise / March 2023
~International Association of Pastel Societies / 2022 Webshow / October 2022
~Pastel Society of the West Coast / Signature Status
~Pastel Society of the West Coast / PSA - 36th International Exhibition /
July - August 2022 / Third Place Award / Contemporary Impression Category
~Coastal Art League / Kindred Spirits All Media Show / June - July 2022
~Pastel Society of the West Coast / MOOS (Members Only Online Show) / February 2022
~Left Coast Pastel Painters Society / Pastels in Paradise / March 2022
~Randy Higbee Gallery / 12th Annual Online Juried Exhibition / Dec - Jan 2021-22
~Open Studios Art Tour Santa Cruz County/ October 2021
~Pastel Society of the West Coast / Pastels USA ~35th International Exhibition /
August 2021
~Adirondack Pastel Society 7th Annual National Exhibition / July - August 2021
~Central Mass Pastel Society Marks of Distinction 2021 / June-July 2021
~Pastel Artists of Oregon International Juried Exhibition / October 2020
~Pastel Society of America Enduring Brilliance Online International Juried Show /
September 2020
~Adirondack Pastel Society Online Juried Show / July 2020
~Central Coast Plein Air Painters Wine and Canvas Exhibition/June 2020/
~Honorable Mention
~Pastel Society of the West Coast / Member Online Exhibition / March 2020
~Art Council of Santa Cruz County Art Exhibit @ Santa Cruz County Government Center/
Jan - March 2020
~Central Massachusetts Pastel Society Online International Show/Nov-Dec 2019
~Capitola Plein Air 5th Annual Competition/Oct 31 - Nov 3 2019
~Open Studios Art Tour Santa Cruz County/ October 2019
~Central Coast Plein Air Painters / A Toast to the Coast Exhibition / Sept. 2019 /
~Third Place Award
~Pastel Society of North Carolina / Pure Color Online International Exhibition /
August 2019
~Pastel Society of Colorado / 15th Annual Mile High National Pastel Exhibition /
May - June 2019
~Pastel Society of the West Coast / Pastels USA International Pastel Exhibition /
May-July 2019
~Society of Southern California/ Pastel at the Ebell / April - May 2019
~California Central Coast Pastel Society 1st Spring Exhibition/April 2019
~Pastel Society of the West Coast: Online Member Juried Exhibition / February 2019
~89th Annual California Landscape Exhibition / March - April 2019
~Central Coast Plein Air Painters Exhibition: Art, Love, and Wine/February 2019
~Third Place Award
~Pikes Peak Pastel Society "The Color of Light" / Jan 12 - May 5 2019
~Fourth Annual Capitola Plein Air Paint Out / Nov 1 – 4 2018
~Open Studios Art Tour Santa Cruz County / Oct 2018
~Santa Cruz Art League ; Planet Pulse – A National Art Exhibit /
August – September 2018
~Pastel Society of North Carolina – Pure Color 2018 National Exhibition / Aug – Sept 2018
~Spotlight Gallery Solo Show / Santa Cruz Art League / July – August 2018
~Sierra Pastel Society 12th Biannual PASTEL-ON-HIGH Internantional Exhibit/
July – August 2018
~The Pastel Society of Colorado / 14th Annual Mile High National Pastel Exhibition/
July -August 2018
~2018 Northeast National Pastel Exhibition / June – July 2018
~Pacific Grove Library / “Built for Books”/April – July 2018
~Pastel Society of Southeast Texas / Art of the Pastel National Exhibition /
April - May 2018
~Arizona Pastel Artists Association / Open Juried Pastel Exhibition / March - April 2018
~Central Coast Plein Air Painters Exhibition/ Art, Love, and Wine / February 2018 ~Excellence in Pastel Award
MEMBERSHIP
Pastel Society of America
International Association of Pastel Societies
Pastel Society of the West Coast
Santa Cruz Art League
Pajaro Valley Arts League