How To Draw Eyes! Upcoming class

Visit the website at Donnadowney.com soon for the upcoming class in the studio and online!

Portrait classes with my students.

If you have ever been interested in learning how to draw people, you have to go for it! No two people are exactly alike and therefore you will never run out of people to work with and draw.

Here are a couple images. First you will see my student Reagan and I have drawn her portrait from her picture. We first diagramed the image measuring for proportions. Then we get to work having fun the whole time!

The second image is my drawing from a photograph of another of my students named Ben.  He wanted to keep his drawing and he wants mine too! I told him I needed to scan it first before giving it to him so I have a record of it.  I am pretty proud of it myself.  He looks like a young Indiana Jones with that hat.

Adam Peter Shinn - Heat Seeker Album

I just finished Adam Peter Shinn's Instrumental Album Cover for his brand new release! It was a blast to work on.  He gave me complete freedom to do as I wanted and this is what I came up with. I hope you like it!

"Heat Seeker"

Album cover for Adam Peter Shinn's Instrumental release 4/2013.

Artist: Stephen Lursen

Acrylic and white pen on canvas

8" x 8"

4 / 2013

"Heat Seeker Bonus Cover"

Bonus Album cover for Adam Peter Shinn's Instrumental release 4/2013.

Artist: Stephen Lursen

Photoshop collaged image of Heat Seeker painting

4 / 2013

Thanks Adam!!!

Huntersville Art Festival May 11th!

My Top 10 Paintings

A friend of mine recently asked me to pick my top ten paintings because he was interested in learning about new and old artists that he may not be familiar with.

It was no quick task.  Lots of reminiscing and searching provided me with this list.

These are the paintings I would love to have hanging on my walls.  Everyone likes different styles, colors, artists, etc. I am also sure this list will continually change.  But for now, these are my favorites. They are in no particular order... For now.

Andrew Gifford

Angelo Franco

Arthur Rimbaud by Pedro Covo

Brian Rutenberg

Kyle Stewart

Moon and June, Shannon Stamey

Vincent Van Gogh, Cafe terrace at night

Stadia II, 2004. By: Julie Mehretu

Artist: Théophile Steinlen (1859–1923)
Title: Tournée du Chat Noir de Rodolphe Salis (Tour of Rodolphe Salis' Chat Noir)
Object type: Poster
Date: 1896
Medium: Color lithograph
Dimensions: Height: 1,359 mm (53.5 in). Width: 959 mm (37.76 in).

Matthew Davis

Commissioned Painting (Work in Progress)

Family Portrait

Commissioned by my Uncle Tommy and Aunt Trish in Rock Hill, SC.

They are sitting on an overturned metal boat in front of the water on their property.

This is just the beginning. I haven't begun the underpainting for the figures nor have I resolved the boat or the grass in the foreground, and I also need to add some shrubs/plants behind the left and center figures (My Uncle Tommy and Cousin Christopher).

"Family Portrait"

Acrylic on Panel

60" x 48"

2013