Artist Portfolio Magazine’s 10 Art Competition

Donna L. Byers – Osoyoos, Canada

Art is a very personal thing to me, bringing me tremendous joy since I was a small child. I look for the beauty in everything around me, especially those things that may not reveal their true beauty at first glance. Beauty is all about perspective and truly is in the eye of the beholder; we are surrounded by marvellous things that often go unnoticed. When I paint, I want to transfer the beauty I see onto the canvas, so that others can see what I see, through my eyes. I want the viewer to experience an emotional moment when they are looking at my work…feeling happy, sad, wistful, curious .
My work is detail-oriented, strongly influenced by my fascination with the fine details of things, like the subtle colour changes in a rock formation or the intricate veining in a simple leaf. I believe the longer one studies something, the greater their perception of depth and detail…the more you look, the more you see. I try to bring that forth in my paintings.
I find myself emotionally attached to my work, so my choice of subject matter is very closely connected to how I might be feeling at that moment and I am often surprised by the direction that leads me in! Once I have chosen my subject, I think carefully about the medium I am going to use and how it will lend itself to the piece to achieve the desired effect. My final decision involves choosing the correct size to showcase the piece for maximum impact.
Art has enriched my life in countless ways, and I strive to make each painting a unique piece that will enrich the life of someone else.