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Lois Donaghey is a contemporary oil painter and digital artist who lives and works in Santa Rosa, CA. Lois worked as a part-time artist until 2017, when she retired from her job as a school psychologist, and began painting full time. During her “life of art,” Lois has been active as an Artist-Member of Santa Rosa Art Guild, the Marin Society of Artists, Healdsburg Center for the Arts, and the San Francisco Women Artists’ Gallery. Lois is prolific painter/digital artist. She currently exhibits at Healdsburg Center for the Arts, at Corrick’s in Santa Rosa, and at the SFWA Gallery in San Francisco. She is also a Sonoma County Art Trails juried artist, and she has exhibited her work at the Santa Clara Triton Museum of Art (2021), the NUMU Museum of Art in Los Gatos (2020), The Falkirk Museum in San Rafael (2021), and was accepted into the Nation Crocker-Kingsley Biennial Art Competition (2021).
Published on March 23rd, 2022. Artist responses collected in months previous.
What are you currently excited about in your art practice?
The thing I am most excited about in my art practice is that I have come to that place in my 'art career' where I deeply feel connected with loosening the societal constraints from the exhibition of my art. I am so aware that absolutely nothing in my background, in my present, or in my future is as important as the honest execution of my artwork. I am so aware that I don't care to muddy or confound my artwork with societal constraints or expectations, or family constraints or expectations, of peer expectations, or art-world expectations or direction. I feel very connected with those places that come to me during my meditations and desire only to stay connected to those places and the images I have when 'there' in those moments, in those OBE's, and with that part of the art-of-me. However gross others think of that art; or how much ever it frightens them is not something I feel particularly in tune with right now. So am I excited about this year that I have to demonstrate the free me? Yes I am! And, so happy to be here.
What were some of the challenges you faced last year as an artist? Was your work/ art practice affected by the pandemic this year, if so how?
My work was over-the-top affected by the pandemic. Many of my artist friends felt freer and say that this was the most prolific time for their artwork. But I join other artist friends who found themselves feeling emotionally paralyzed by the pandemic. Paralyzed yes, but also free to 'think' and explore digital art options... art that did not require physical strength or standing, or moving actually. Art that was more in tune with how depressed my body and heart felt. The pandemic was and is difficult. There have been so many losses and so much instability for our planet. I could not get away from it all. I was locked on, so to speak; just paralyzed. But it was a good period for meditating and healing in that way.
What does a typical day in the studio (or wherever you're making work) look like for you these days? What time of day are you at your studio, what are your studio must haves (ex: music, coffee, tools, etc), and what does your creative space look like?
I am still locked on to making digital artwork. A typical day is take care of most chores then hit the computer and/or iPad and enjoy a strong cup of coffee while I review what I did the day before. I do this all from my office area, which is separate from my painting studio. I do spend some time with my oils, but compared to pre-pandemic, I'm out in the studio very little time. I have developed a large number of digital pieces, which I am glad to say I can print from home.
What resources for artists have you found helpful that may be helpful for other artists?
This is a HUGE question! The answer for me is reflection. Anything that helps me reflect on what has been going on in my life (or been absent from my life), is a plus for me. All of those Zoom calls and art meetings, and the strengthened relationships that came out of those Zooms. They became important to me. I whined and complained about having to Zoom, but once I dragged my 'heart' across the Zoom threshold things changed.......
What in your art career are you looking forward to in the upcoming year? Do you have any specific goals or projects in mind?
During this upcoming year, I am looking forward to exploring this fairly new-to-me medium of the digital world. I love the versatility of this medium and am glad that it fits with my very 'bright' and loud painting style. And I love how mobile the medium is. I have been developing my digital 'Greek Goddess Series', and plan to continue to make that a stronger body of work. This year during the County's open studios, I used 75% of my studio space for my new digital Greek Goddess Series pieces, and left 25% of the open studio space for my oil paintings. My visitors loved this new artwork of mine. My plan is to expand this series, and develop a new series based on my more recent skill acquisition in this art medium.
What are you currently excited about in your art practice?
The thing I am most excited about in my art practice is that I have come to that place in my 'art career' where I deeply feel connected with loosening the societal constraints from the exhibition of my art. I am so aware that absolutely nothing in my background, in my present, or in my future is as important as the honest execution of my artwork. I am so aware that I don't care to muddy or confound my artwork with societal constraints or expectations, or family constraints or expectations, of peer expectations, or art-world expectations or direction. I feel very connected with those places that come to me during my meditations and desire only to stay connected to those places and the images I have when 'there' in those moments, in those OBE's, and with that part of the art-of-me. However gross others think of that art; or how much ever it frightens them is not something I feel particularly in tune with right now. So am I excited about this year that I have to demonstrate the free me? Yes I am! And, so happy to be here.
What were some of the challenges you faced last year as an artist? Was your work/ art practice affected by the pandemic this year, if so how?
My work was over-the-top affected by the pandemic. Many of my artist friends felt freer and say that this was the most prolific time for their artwork. But I join other artist friends who found themselves feeling emotionally paralyzed by the pandemic. Paralyzed yes, but also free to 'think' and explore digital art options... art that did not require physical strength or standing, or moving actually. Art that was more in tune with how depressed my body and heart felt. The pandemic was and is difficult. There have been so many losses and so much instability for our planet. I could not get away from it all. I was locked on, so to speak; just paralyzed. But it was a good period for meditating and healing in that way.
What does a typical day in the studio (or wherever you're making work) look like for you these days? What time of day are you at your studio, what are your studio must haves (ex: music, coffee, tools, etc), and what does your creative space look like?
I am still locked on to making digital artwork. A typical day is take care of most chores then hit the computer and/or iPad and enjoy a strong cup of coffee while I review what I did the day before. I do this all from my office area, which is separate from my painting studio. I do spend some time with my oils, but compared to pre-pandemic, I'm out in the studio very little time. I have developed a large number of digital pieces, which I am glad to say I can print from home.
What resources for artists have you found helpful that may be helpful for other artists?
This is a HUGE question! The answer for me is reflection. Anything that helps me reflect on what has been going on in my life (or been absent from my life), is a plus for me. All of those Zoom calls and art meetings, and the strengthened relationships that came out of those Zooms. They became important to me. I whined and complained about having to Zoom, but once I dragged my 'heart' across the Zoom threshold things changed.......
What in your art career are you looking forward to in the upcoming year? Do you have any specific goals or projects in mind?
During this upcoming year, I am looking forward to exploring this fairly new-to-me medium of the digital world. I love the versatility of this medium and am glad that it fits with my very 'bright' and loud painting style. And I love how mobile the medium is. I have been developing my digital 'Greek Goddess Series', and plan to continue to make that a stronger body of work. This year during the County's open studios, I used 75% of my studio space for my new digital Greek Goddess Series pieces, and left 25% of the open studio space for my oil paintings. My visitors loved this new artwork of mine. My plan is to expand this series, and develop a new series based on my more recent skill acquisition in this art medium.
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