DON HAMILTON

A Colorado native, Don’s paintings evoke a strong emotion, the sense of “being there.” Don has traveled extensively throughout Colorado and the west, painting and sharing his personal vision that draws people to his work. “If someone can view my work and sense the cols, smell the dampness, or feel the sun beating down, then I have been successful.”

From the early age Don loved to draw. He would spend hours watching his grandfather, a master stonecutter, work at his craft. Later, Don would bring his drawings to his grandfather to be critiqued. It was not until he was older that Don realized the lessons he was learning about design, layout, and just plain hard work. He also recognizes the strong work ethic instilled in him by his father, who taught Don the importance of commitment to excellence.

As a young adult, Don studied privately with Joe Brand, a respected wildlife artist and instructor at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. During this four-year period, Don focused exclusively on wildlife, learning structure, anatomy, and strong fundamentals in working with oils.

Don’s desire to work from life and to vary his subject matter led him to branch out into other areas and, most importantly, to begin painting outside, “en plein air”.

“Painting from life, especially outside on location, is critical in learning to see colors, understanding value relationships, and capture the unique feel of the subject that a photograph cannot.”

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• Evening Sentinels Evening Sentinels
• Sunrise Sunrise
• Rocky Mountain Morning Rocky Mountain Morning
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