Butterfly and Vineyard Paintings by Donna S. Schaffer

Monarch Sanctuary 18x24 Oil Painting by Donna S Schaffer

Fine Art Oil Painter, Donna Schaffer, says she feels privileged to live in the Dry Creek Valley, just to the northwest of the town of Healdsburg. In recent years she's planted heritage zinnias, salvia, cosmos, black-eyed susans and milkweed in order to attract the widest range of butterflies. Quietly sitting next to the flowers, with her camera ready, she's had quite a bit of success, and uses these reference photos to compose and create her paintings. 
In addition to butterflies, Schaffer says her "neighborhood" landscapes have glorious seasons and personalities. She captures these scenes on canvas so she can share the best seasons and the best times of day with her collectors. Some of her paintings are accomplished on-site or "plein aire", other paintings are based on her sketches, color notes and her personal reference photos. Schaffer's original oil painting interpretations range from using thick paint (impasto) on some creations to smooth, detailed observations on others.

Donna has lived amongst the vineyards in Dry Creek Valley since 1990, a place where she can paint her passion for northern California's flora and fauna, especially her very popular and widely collected vineyards. Not limited to the land, she has painted a vast collection of marine life paintings. Her curious mind pushes her to learn scientific knowledge about each subject that she paints. Donna says, "Sometimes I think I should've become a botanist or biologist instead of a fine arts painter".

Artist reception: Saturday, November 3, 3 - 6pm
Featured Artist Show runs to November 25

Donna will also be in the gallery
November 3 & 4, 11-6
November 10-11, 11-6