The Alberta prairie has always been a source of inspiration for Donna. Living in a rural setting, just West of Calgary gives her a first hand opportunity to observe much of the indigenous plant and animal life and to consider various ecological and cultural issues facing our fragile environment.

Her body of work as an artist is undertaken in response to her observation of urban encroachment upon wild spaces. She wishes to examine various culturally held notions and values concerning our co-existence with wild spaces and animal habitat.

On her daily walks with her two dogs, she often has the privilege of encountering a multitude of wildlife, like deer, moose, coyotes, porcupines, owls, hawks and numerous members of the ‘corvid’ family (magpies, ravens and crows). These encounters never cease to lift her spirits and allow her to honor and respect the natural world and enable her to find her place in it. She champions these subjects as survivors, which seem to thrive and adapt exceedingly well to urban sprawl and now have become an urban problem and concern.

Her artistic process is to paint the subject in a representational manner on an abstract background, setting up a juxtaposition of subject and environment.

Donna strives to open a dialogue between the art and the viewer which may challenge how we perceive culturally charged thoughts concerning ourselves and our co-existence with wild spaces and indigenous animals.

Donna earned a BFA ‘with distinction’ as a painting major from the Alberta College of Art and Design in 2003. Her work can be found at the Gilded Gallery in Didsbury, the Saffron Gallery in Cochrane and in many private and corporate collections.

She is an active member of SAS, State of Art Society, and the FCA, Federation of Canadian Artists.

Education

2003 Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary AB., Bachelor of Fine Art with “Distinction”( painting major).
1996 Alberta College of Art and Design Continuing Education, Watercolor
1995 Alberta College of Art and Design Continuing Education, Painting
1971 Mount Royal College, Calgary AB., Interior Design Diploma

Work Experience

Active member of State of Art Society ( SAS)
Active member of the Federation of Canadian Painters ( FCA).
Currently works from a home studio.

Solo Exhibitions

2002 “Urban Coyote”, Marion Nicoll Gallery, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, AB.

Group Exhibitions

2009 SAS presents ‘Smashing New Art’ Strathcona Community Centre, Calgary
2008 SAS presents “Contemporary Art in the City”, Al Azhar Centre, Calgary
2007 SAS presents “Contemporary Art in the City”, Al Azhar Centre, Calgary
2007 SAS presents “Contemporary Art on the Ranch”, Bearspaw, AB
2006 “Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts 2006, Studio Art Sale”, Calgary, AB.
2006 “The Urban Landscape”, Image 54 Gallery, 709 -11th Ave.SW. Calgary AB
2004 “Four Directions”, # 408 – 319 – 10 Ave.SW. Calgary AB
2004 “Untitled Artist Run Centre” #428 – 319 – 10Ave.SW. Calgary AB
2004 “Poland Group Show”, #371, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary
2003 “Alberta College of Art and Design Graduation Show”, Calgary
2003 “Alberta College of Art and Design Spring Show and Sale”, Calgary
2003 “Celebrating Watercolor”, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary
2002 “Alberta College of Art and Design Christmas Show and Sale”, Calgary
2002 “3rd Year Painting Show”, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary
2001 “Sun and Salsa Art Show”, Kensington Area, Calgary
2001 “Alberta College of Art and Design Spring Show and Sale”, Calgary
2001 “Alberta College of Art and Design Christmas Show and Sale, Calgary
2000 “New York/New York” Show and Sale, Alberta College of Art, Calgary

Donations

2009 ‘Gems of Hope’ Fundraiser, Bearspaw
2009 Bearspaw Ladies Legacy Dinner and Fundraiser
2008 Bearspaw Ladies Legacy Dinner and Fundraiser
2008 Alberta Mentor Foundation for Youth, AMFY
2007 Ducks and Company “Fashion With Compassion”
2007 “Gems of Hope” Fundraiser
2007 Alberta Mentor Foundation for Youth, AMFY
2007 Bearspaw Ladies Legacy Dinner and Fundraiser
2006 Alberta Mentor Foundation for Youth AMFY
2006 “Cocktails for Critters”, Humane Society Fundraiser
2005 “Gems of Hope” Fundraiser
2005 Alberta Mentor Foundation for Youth, AMFY
2004 Alberta Mentor Foundation for Youth, AMFY

Awards

2002 Illingworth Kerr Scholarship
2000 Masters Gallery Scholarship
2000 Illingworth Kerr Scholarship
2000 Simon Chang and Phyllis Levine Award
2000 Liquitex/Davis International Prize

Publications

2003 Contemporary Fine Art Review, Current Projects, issue number 4, April 2003. Nicole Thiessen writes on Donna Jopling “In the Spirit of the Coyote”.