2024 Small Works Show Artist Don Hamiltion
A Colorado native now living in Arizona, Don Hamilton’s paintings evoke a strong emotion, the sense of “being
there.” Don has traveled extensively throughout Colorado and the US, painting and sharing his personal vision
that draws people to his work. “If someone can view my work and sense the cold, smell the dampness or feel the sun beating down, then I have been successful.”
From as early age, Don loved to draw. He would spend hours watching his grandfather, a master stone cutter,
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 Hamilton studied privately with Joe Brand, a respected wildlife artist and instructor at the
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. During a 4 year period, Don focused exclusively on paintings of
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.” The exhilaration of standing face to face with the subject, challenged by the changing light, unpredictable weather and the need to distill the scene down to its essence continue to be the motivation that drives him to venture out in all types of weather and to “capture the moment.”