Don Scott Macdonald American, b. 1955

Overview

Don Scott Macdonald, a San Francisco native currently living and working in Denver, is an accomplished artist renowned for his soft-focus landscapes that combine elements of minimalism, abstraction and traditional landscape painting. Drawing inspiration from the enchanting landscapes of Colorado and the enigmatic mysteries of the cosmos, Macdonald's artworks exist within a unique realm that gracefully oscillates between serenity and dynamism. Macdonald's artistic journey has been shaped by his education, earning a B.F.A. from California State University, Chico, and further refining his skills at The Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. His meticulous approach to painting is evident in every canvas. Using the sfumato technique, each composition is carefully crafted through the delicate layering of oil paint, sometimes using 15 to 30 layers. He discovered the power of a sable brush, traditionally associated with watercolors, which has enabled him to achieve flawless, almost photographic gradations in his work. His paintings are not mere reproductions of static landscapes but rather a distillation of their very essence. Through his art, Macdonald explores the balance between stillness and movement, representation and abstraction, and the tangible and the intangible. His atmospheric renderings become a visual metaphor reflecting the intricate interplay of human experience - a dance between mystery and beauty, darkness and hope. In every stroke of his brush and every layer of paint, Don Scott Macdonald brings to life a harmonious convergence of nature's contrasts and the human spirit's intricacies.

 

Macdonald's artistic accomplishments have been showcased in numerous solo and group exhibitions across the US. His solo exhibitions include "Between Earth and Ether" at Pamela Walsh Gallery in Palo Alto, "Mirada Gallery" in Denver, and "Illusion of Life" at Kathryn Markel Gallery in New York. His work can be found in esteemed corporate collections around the world, including The Ritz-Carlton, Bank of Marin, and the corporate headquarters of American Automobile Association, as well as private collections of notable figures such as David Hockney, Chrissie Hynde and the Carrie Fisher Estate.

Works
  • Don Scott Macdonald, Coastal
    Coastal Reserved
  • Don Scott Macdonald, House of Earth and Fog, 2023
    House of Earth and Fog, 2023
  • Don Scott Macdonald, Lazuli, 2023
    Lazuli, 2023
  • Don Scott Macdonald, Prairie Diffusion, 2023
    Prairie Diffusion, 2023
  • Don Scott Macdonald, Respiro, 2023
  • Don Scott Macdonald, Stella Calma, 2021
    Stella Calma, 2021
  • Don Scott Macdonald, Trinity
    Trinity
  • Don Scott Macdonald, Young Clouds Learning to Climb, 2023
Biography

Born 1955, San Francisco, CA

Lives and works in Denver, CO

 

EDUCATION

1982  The Art Center College of Design, Los Angeles, CA

1980  California State University, Chico, CA, B.F.A.

 

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2023

Vistas, Pamela Walsh Gallery

2021

Between Earth & Ether, Pamela Walsh Gallery, Palo Alto, CA

2017    

Mirada Gallery, Denver, CO

2015    

Foundry Corporate Gallery, 500 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA

2014    

St Supéry, Contemporary Art Gallery, St. Helena, CA

201 California Street, SF, CA

2012    

St Supéry, Contemporary Art Gallery, Napa, CA

2010    

Palette Gallery, Healdsburg, CA

455 Market Street, San Francisco, CA

Gary Farrell Winery, Healdsburg, CA

2009    

The Stanford Faculty Club, Stanford, CA

2008    

Gallery at the Geary, Union Square, San Francisco, CA

 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

 

2024

Summer Collection, Pamela Walsh Gallery, Palo Alto, CA

4th Anniversary Group Exhibition, Pamela Walsh Gallery, Palo Alto, CA

2023

3rd Year Group Anniversary Exhibition, Pamela Walsh Gallery, Palo Alto, CA

2022

Summer Collection, Pamela Walsh Gallery, Palo Alto, CA

2020   

Seeking Nature, Pamela Walsh Gallery, Palo Alto, CA

Hindsight 2020 in 20/20, Pamela Walsh Gallery, Palo Alto, CA

 
Exhibitions
News