November Featured Artist

November at the Artist Within:

The Artist Within will feature the work of Daralee D. Donathan during the month of November. First Thursday, November 5th from 5-8pm will be the opening reception and the public is invited to come meet the artist.

Daralee D. Donathan is a lifelong resident of Indiana, and a self-taught artist. At the age of 13, she was mentored by local artist Ruth Starlin. Daralee remembers entering several school art contests while growing up and that she won quite a few. During her high school years Daralee, along with other student artists, exhibited and sold artwork at a local bank in Portland. She also worked as a decorative tole painter with acrylics at home for a period of seven years, while her sons were in school. Her work was sold all over the Tri-State region, along with the work of other artists she worked with. Daralee has taught many people to tole paint and several to oil paint. She is quick to point out, "many have found that they really enjoy the experience of painting once they know where to begin and have someone to ask questions about different methods." She goes on to say that she has found that giving students a foundation in painting and then letting them experiment with the processes involved is very gratifying for both them and me. It is her hope that anyone with a desire to try painting in either acrylics or oils would feel free to ask her about classes.

Daralee states that oil painting was and is her first love, but admits she has experimented with different techniques all her life. She tries to express the awe of nature's beauty that is all around us but that many of us never take the time to actually see. She also paints portraits and animals to show the many personalities of each. "There is so much beauty all around us and I try to show it through my eyes." The painter tends to use strong colors and subtleties in her paintings that require people need to look closely at to find...such as a tiny bird, and other small details that every time someone looks at her paintings, they find something new that had been overlooked before.

Donathan's inspirations have come from artists such as Bob Ross, Thomas Kincade, and Nancy Noel. She is drawn to the colors and the light they use, and admits to using some of their techniques along with her own. She believes every artist strives for the best within themselves and never stop learning!
An artists' reception will be held from 5-8 pm, Thursday, November 5, 2009.

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October Artist: Debra Gindhart Dragoo





The Artist Within will feature artwork by Debra Gindhart Dragoo during the month of October.
"POETRY SLAM IN PAINT: Observations of a poet painter" is the title of her one woman show that will be showcased in both the main gallery and the upper level gallery.
An opening reception for the artist will be held from 5-8pm during First Thursday. October 1st and her work will remain on exhibit through October 31st.


Debra Gindhart Dragoo is a local visual artist, poet, and arts educator whohas created a collection of sculpture paintings using repurposed materials.These sculptural paintings, as well as traditional 2-D pieces using acrylics with found objects and repurposed elements, comprise the majority of the artwork in the show.


Debra grew up in Muncie and attended St. Mary's Elementary, Burris Laboratory School, and Ball State University before going off to Bloomington to study at Indiana University. Looking back Debra recalls the late Pete Carr, Jackson Pollock, Eric Carle and Richard Love(great grandfather) Co-founder of the Indiana School of Art, Indianapolis, IN. to be the "art heroes" that played a significant role in encouraging her pursuit of art.


Debra is currently teaching visual arts for Very Special Arts of IN, Muncie district and is quick to point out a quote that reflects her philosophy:"Use the magic of your mind to create and to serve." Wilfred A. Peterson 1966 from the book entitled MORE ABOUT THE ART OF LIVING.


Through her extensive work with local community centers she is able to share this philosophy with those she comes into contact with.Local work includes ECI mural projects: Muncie Center for the Arts, Gillespie Towers,Black Expo, Riley Alternative School, Wilson Middle School, Youth Opportunity CenterBig Brothers and Big Sisters, Cop Shop #9, Wabash Valley Hospital, C.A.P.E,
A Better Way, The Rise and Hancock at the ARC.


Debra describes herself as, "A lover of music, repurposing, my three beautiful children, Paige, Emma, and Peter, and my five siblings. Not necessarily in that order!"

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