Don Longo Gallery Show

   
     
 
I grew up in the small town of Lee, in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts. The famous American painter, Norman Rockwell, lived within 5 miles of my home. As often as possible, I would ride my bike to his studio and watch him paint from a distance. His realistic paintings of everyday life inspired me to pursue my own artwork. At the age of ten, I help design my grandmother's tombstone, and I knew then that art was going to be a major part of my life. I had various one-man art shows during high school and enjoyed every high school art class I took.
 
My college career was spent at Westfield State College in Westfield, Massachusetts where I majored in Physical Education with a minor in Art. After graduation, I came to Texas to pursue my Master’s Degree in PE/Kinesiology at Stephen F. Austin State University. After graduation, my teaching career began at Sherman High School in Sherman, TX where I taught PE and Art. Five years later I moved to Irving, Texas to continue teaching art at Irving High School for the next 2 years. During that time, I went back to school at the University of North Texas to get my Art Certification. Once that was completed I transferred over to J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson, TX teaching art classes for the next 32 yrs.  retiring in 2017 after 39 yrs. in the profession. 
 
I have taught art at all levels but I find teaching introductory art most rewarding. This is where the students learn the basic skills of art and design. Seeing their talent and confidence grow is the most satisfying part of my profession.
 
I now work in my backyard studio on weekly basis creating “intuitive abstracts” using a variety of techniques and applications of paint and three-dimensional materials. I love experimenting with abstraction as you never know what you’re going to get out of it especially when you allow yourself to see where your process takes you.  There is never a mistake, only a learning experience.
I also continue teaching art classes at a local gallery – The Artists Showplace in Dallas, TX.  This allows me to continue educating new artists and seeing what great art comes out of them.