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Donahue, who has lived in Memphis all his life, gravitated toward painting the figure when he was a young child and drew cartoons just for fun. Painting a bowl of fruit just didn't make him happy, he says with a laugh. After attending the University of Memphis and Memphis College of Art, Donahue launched his career by creating decorative murals for area offices and restaurants. He began painting a few portraits on commission for several of his parents' friends and word spread about his work. The Germantown Arts Alliance honored his work last year when he received the arts and humanities award for visual arts. "I feel blessed and fortunate to have painted all over the country, but I still love my hometown clients, too," Donahue says. When he does travel for his work, his wife, Terri, comes along and they take an extra day to relax and spend time together. He believes that the secret to his art is in the posing of his subjects. "You can judge an artist by how the hands are arranged so that they appear natural," he explains. One single painting by Donahue can take up to 40 hours because he believes in live sittings, not just photographs, so that he can get a feel for the client's form and for scale and proportions. His portraits, explains Donahue, can capture a subject for posterity and serve as a historical document. As a way to contribute to the field, Donahue serves as a founding board member of the Portrait Society of America, a national nonprofit organization that meets annually to offer guidance to beginning artists. All three of his grown sons are gifted artists, says Donahue, although they don't pursue art professionally. Donahue is just happy that they enjoy art, too. For Donahue, painting, and life, is more than just a bowl of fruit. |
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