Click Image for Full View

Don Simasko
Don Simasko’s alluring, evocative scenes of people and places are powerful in their simplicity. Nuanced colors, soft light and shimmering reflections complement the “strong bones” and superb sense of perspective in his paintings, each of which whispers a story to the captivated viewer.

Five words that describe Don’s art
Clean, thoughtful, painterly, sensitive, inviting

Style & subject matter
Representational urban and rural landscapes and characters, reflecting a love
of the American West and of picturesque places abroad

Favorite media
Mostly acrylic, with occasional oil

Being an artist makes me feel…
Complete. It gives me a real sense of accomplishment. It’s like releasing a pressure valve. I love it!

My artistic journey
My artistic journey began in the theater arts, in which I hold a degree from the University of Denver. However, my career was primarily in the oil and gas exploration industry in five western states (including 21 years in Alaska), after which I co-founded a training and consulting firm that served leaders and managers of global organizations. I made a conscious decision to reclaim my artistic roots in 1999, when I began studying with Colorado artists Marie Ungemah in Littleton, and Rob Gratiot and Mitch Caster at the Denver Art Students League.

When I paint, the work takes on a life of its own, and the inspiration flows not from me, but through me. As an artist, I try to follow a path of unconscious self-expression in order to access the sensory elements of a scene and bring them into the choices I make about composition, color and focal point. I’m constantly seeking new inspirational sparks, by painting words, feelings or moods, by exploring new techniques and materials, and by learning from other artists, who become my muses.

To see more of Don’s art, visit www.donsimasko.com.