I had the pleasure of meeting artist Donna Greenstein, and viewing the life-like images of farm animals she creates, at the King Township Studio Tour last year. Thank you Donna for taking the time to answer the following questions, and permitting me to share your work.
What inspires you?
Nature, greyhounds, Belgian horses, Highland cattle, dreadlocked Lincoln sheep , fresh snow, my garden, peonies, calla lilies, lakes, streams meandering through a snowy path, spruce trees.
Do you have a favourite subject(s)? If so, what is it about that subject that speaks to you?
Animals inspire me; I adore them. I grew up at an animal hospital as my dad was a veterinarian. We always had our own dogs, cats, various birds, piglets, calves, etc. I was a horse “nut” when I was young. I drew horses, read horse books and spent any money I could earn riding horses at local dude ranches. In the summers I went to a horse camp called Arrowhead Ranch near Collingwood Ontario. I have lived on a 50 acre cow-calf operation for 40 years. We owned an ex-racing thoroughbred named Meadowlark.
What is your preferred medium, why?
I prefer both oils and watercolours. I used watercolours for about 9 years then transferred to oils about a year ago. It was a large learning curve to change to the oil medium but a lot of artistic concepts were transferable, such as composition, colour, unity, value, texture.
Where is your favourite place to paint?
I love painting on a large table at a cottage our family goes to near Haliburton Ontario. I can look out over beautiful Lake Kashagawigamog.
Is there anything (else) you would like people to know about Donna Greenstein?
I also am an avid gardener during the summer and a Math tutor.
Artist’s favourite colour?
I like all earth tones. If I had to pick only one I would choose “burnt sienna”.
According to Wikipedia, “Siena earth”, is an earth pigment containing iron oxide and manganese oxide. In its natural state, it is yellow-brown and is called raw sienna. When heated, it becomes a reddish brown and is called burnt sienna.[2] It takes its name from the city-state of Siena, where it was produced during the Renaissance.[3] Along with ochre and umber, it was one of the first pigments to be used by humans, and is found in many cave paintings. Since the Renaissance, it has been one of the brown pigments most widely used by artists.”
To learn more about Donna visit http://donnagreenstein.com
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