Donna Elizabeth Bero

Artist Statement

My work starts from reality – scenes around my home in Marin, and from travels, particularly the small French villages of Provence. These are places of great beauty and meaning to me – the richness of color, the distinct sense of place – and are inspirational in a thousand ways. Mount Tamalpais with its pale hillsides bounded by deep green windbreaks, the ocean in the distance, an often fogbound sky. And ancient villages surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and flowering cherry trees, all of which carry such deep history.

I begin with an image with real connections to this corporeal world and then begin to work them into abstractions of light and color, shapes, and relationships within the composition. Working in pastels has opened up the potential of vibrant color and endless combinations, which can create unexpected drama, while living in Marin opens up limitless inspiration for new exploration. In my work I try to reflect the beauty and singularity of living in this part of the world – the hills, the trees, the air.

I’m inspired by Richard Mayhew and the way in which he seems to see the spirit of color and form in his work.

Biography

Donna Bero has been making art since she was eight years old. Growing up in California, with its vibrant light and varied landscapes, she wanted to find her own way of interpreting it. She studied under Wayne Thiebaud, William Wiley, Robert Bechtel, and other influential California artists at UC Davis and UC Berkeley, and carries their passion for color with her in her own work.

After college, while raising two children in San Francisco, she launched a window display business, Art in Space, before building a career guiding non-profit agencies in support of public parks, libraries, and education. Over that time she raised millions of dollars and led broad public advocacy campaigns for such projects as restoring the Conservatory of Flowers and windmills in Golden Gate Park, rebuilding 24 neighborhood public libraries, and a variety of environmentally-based educational programs.

In 2017 she decided to reestablish her focus on art, and enrolled in classes at College of Marin, where she learned from the wonderful, dedicated instructors – who became true mentors. She has shown her art locally at the Marin Art and Garden Center, Marin County Fair, various galleries in San Francisco, and with Marin Open Studios.

Donna lives in Mill Valley with her husband, geologist David Bero. They find equal inspiration for their interests together on Mount Tamalpais. She has lived in California all her life, in San Francisco for thirty years and in Mill Valley since 2001.

Art Medium(s)

Oil Paint, Watercolor, Pastel, Drawing, Prints and Printmaking, Jewelry

Building Name

The Art Bloc Sausalito

Studio Or Unit Number

Suite 110

Studio Address

200 Gate 5 Rd, Sausalito, CA 94965, USA

COVID Precautions

None

Artist Full Name

Donna Elizabeth Bero