I am an Abstract Expressionist artist working in oil and cold wax, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media and printmaking (monotype, monoprint, collagraph and lithography) media. I allow obscure thoughts and feelings to emerge into forms which are then expressed in art pieces. Being in my imagination allows me to think freely. The images reflect emotions or thoughts from the day they were created. My art is playful and has a sense of rhythm and energy that is design oriented.
Oil paint mixed with cold wax and medium is applied onto cradled panel boards, Arches oil paper or on top of unfinished acrylic paintings. Drawing or painting with oil pigment sticks help build up the layers. Scraping through the multiple layers of paint can reveal delightful surprises.
For the acrylic monotypes, pigment is applied directly to multiple Clearbag plates. Layers of paint can be viewed from the back side of the plate to see the development of the image. As a printmaker, one visualizes what will show as the first layer versus the additional layers when the monotype is pulled from the plate without using a press. Working spontaneously and intuitively, my mind is absorbed in the process, and I can no longer speak. Lost in thought, my actions dominate the moment.
Oil-based monoprints, monotypes, and etchings are produced on aluminum plates submerged in a copper sulfate solution. Printmaking images appear in reverse on the plates. After ink is applied to the plate, BFK damp paper is placed over the image and pulled through a press. Acrylic gels/mediums and textural materials are glued to Styrene or Polycarbonate plates to make collagraphs. Chine collé papers are used to add color, rhythm, texture and mood to the images. Diluted watercolor paints in small bottles are sprayed over stencils and other materials to make delicate, non-objective artworks.
To view videos of me, visit: http://donnaorme.com/artwork/2513387_Inking_an_Etching_Plate.html
I studied printmaking at the College of San Mateo, CA and at the Pacific Art League in Palo Alto, CA. I have won many national, state and local awards, am a Signature Member of the National Collage Society and my work was selected by VISA for the 2007 Wall Calendar. My work appears in the American Art Collector, Book 1, Volumes 2 and 3 – Western States (2005/06). I am a member of abstract7 (a group of seven contemporary artists), belonged to California Society of Printmakers, was past president of Allied Artists West, and newsletter editor for the Santa Clara Art Association. My work is currently on view at Gallery 24, 24 N Santa Cruz Avenue, Los Gatos, CA
My work is collected nationally and internationally. I have exhibited my work in California at the Performing Arts Center, Mountain View; Firehouse Art Center, Pleasanton; Pacific Grove Art Center; Intel, Santa Clara; the Foster City Art Gallery; Advanced Micro Devices, Sunnyvale; the Pacific Art League, Elizabeth Norton Studio, Palo Alto as well as national exhibitions with the National Collage Society, Ohio; Ottawa Ecole School D’Art of Art, Canada; The Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County, Georgia; Northwest Cultural Council, Illinois; Cambridge ART 10th Annual National Prize Show, Massachusetts; 19th Parkside National Small Print Exhibition, Wisconsin; Visual Arts Society of Texas; Art Center of Estes Park, Colorado and Mesa Contemporary Arts, Arizona.