Only beginning my art journey 10 years ago, it was born out of a desire to capture the beauty before me, especially with the immersive experience of plein air painting.

More important than my academic training, I feel fortunate to have learned so much from some of the best artists and teachers in the country including Lorenzo Chavez, Kim Lordier, Jill Carver, Skip Whitcomb, Eric Merrell and Matt Smith. Through these teachers I have discovered a true connection to the beauty of the landscape through plein air painting, or simply, painting outside, the thrill of capturing the light and consuming the beauty before me. To me, handling the pure pigment of pastels is fascinating and beautiful, offering the ability for delicate glazing creating a vibration of color not possible with other mediums.”

Donna Merchant-Crooks has a kinship with nature, where she finds solace and inspiration. She spent years cooking and pulling mule strings in Idaho’s wilderness, developing an appreciation for the rare and untouched.